The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 235 Straight 6 to V8 Swap

How tuff is it to change from a straight 6 to a small block Chevy V8 in a '55 2nd series? I want to retain the stock trans and everything, just change engines. Can I use the same flywheel and bellhousing? I know I'll have to do exhaust work and wiring, but want to know how much stuff will bolt right up.

Thanks!
Andy

You're going to need the bellhousing and front motor mounts from a V8 truck to make it work. For the front, they OE style are being reproduced, or if you're not too concerned about 100% originality, you can use an aftermaket side mounts. There's 2 styles of those, the more common is a crossmember style, there also is a frame mount type, I beleive thet Speedway has those specific for the '55-'59 truck.
The bellhousing will need to be sourced used, they pop up on E-Bay, plus check the Parts For Sale. Or if you hunt the salvage yards,look for a Low Cab Forward truck, '55-'59. Those came standard with the V8, and the bellhousing will work for what you need.
You'll also need to have a flywheel for the smallblock, the 235 won't fit the V8. Plus, adding a shroud on the rad due to the fan being set back from it.

Longbox pretty well covered it. Ive done 2 of them & they are pretty easy & the results are fantastic. One bonus is the v-8 is lighter in weight & the weight is further back gives easier steering & better handling. The 55-2 with a 6 has a gearshift linkage settup all by itsself. It has a 2 piece rod sistem with a bellcrank on the bell housing. You will have to get the complete system from a 55 V-8 or any 56-59 including the side cover from the trans.

Wow. I had no idea the shift linkage would be different. Does this mean I'll need the whole steering column from the V8 truck?

What's different about the side cover on the trans? I never would have guessed that to be different...

Thanks guys!

Just a side note about the radiator in a stock V8 55-59. The radiator was spaced back from the support by a sheet metal shrouding. If you are going for originality and you find a V8 truck to use the bellhousing from, get the support also.

I wouldn,t guessed it to be different either till I got into it. The lower lever on the shifting box comes straight out & interferes with the exhaust manifold on the v-8. The 55 v-8 & all from 56 up the lever curves up like a Z too clear it. You don,t need the whole column but you need the box that mounts on it, The rods, & the trans. side cover with the levers.

not quite right on the rad mount Lonnie, the 55-57 core support mounts further back with some shrouding between it and the grille/gravel pan - that's why the 55-57 has the flat areas on the inner fenders just behind the rad - there's holes there where the support mounts, and a reinforcing plate attached to the wheel side of the inner [that always makes them rot there] .... in 58 they went to a factory fan shroud, similar to the cars, cheaper to make, the inners last better too cuz no holes or plate ... those setups to move the rad/support back on the 55-57 [shown in the assembly manual, which is actually from '55] are scarce to non-existant, a fan shroud is the realistic solution

Bill

red58,

Thanks for the correction. I knew something was different on the V8 models. I never owned a V8 model truck, all were I6s that I converted to V8s.

Lonnie