The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline 261 engine swap questions

Hey All

I am putting in a 1955 261 into a 1946 2 ton truck. It originally had a babbet 235

Im putting the generator, waterpump, and balancer from the 46 235 onto the 261. Im using the adapter plate.

A couple of questions.
1) does anybody have the actual install instructions for the adapter plate? I have lost mine. specifically, I wanted to know if the two bolts (not the drilled ones) that hold on the water pump come from the inside out and have the nuts on the outside. Additionally, are people drilling all the way into the water jacket? I saw posts that some were some werent. People were saying you can drill 1/2 inch into the block without going into the water jacket. Is that accurate? Sort of makes me nervous. There is space between the adapter plate and the drilled holes. Are people using spacers?

Next topic. I believe the starters are different between the 235 babbet and the 261. Unfortunately my 261 starter is locked up until tuesday.
Do I just go ask Napa for a 1955 261 starter? Is there a part number I can use? Just want to go tomorrow and pick up a starter.

thanks in advance

jay brown

I am not sure with regard to the water pump. I used a water pump of a 235 insert engine because that is what I had laying around. It might be helpful to post a few pictures to get some better answers.

The difference between the starters lies in the voltage they use and the starter drive (bendix). If you are using the original starter with your 1955 261, it will be 12 volt and I believe the flywheel ring gear teeth are finer. Anything older than 55 second series in pickups was 6 volt. The 261 I put in my 51 had a starter meant to be operated with a push button. I wanted to keep the stomp starter, so I had to use the flyweel and 6 volt starter from an old 235 I had laying around. I am running the 6 volt starter on 12 volts and it works fine. The key thing to remember is that if the starter has a solenoid on it, it is meant to run on 12 volts and the flywheel ring gear (and starter bendix) are different than the old stomp starter setup.

Hy Jay_Brown, the starter you need will depend on which flywheel you are using, if you are using the old six volt flywheel from the original 235 then you will need a six volt starter. If you are using the the 261s original flywheel you'll need a twelve volt starter. Incidently both six and twelve volt starters were available in solenoid activated, and foot linkage activated (stomp) versions, hope that helps.

all i want is a part number or some more info on a 6v starter that would work with a 162 tooth flywheel.

its a 46 2 ton, so its a floor activated starter.

its a 46 2 ton, so its a floor activated starter.
or is the 261 a 168-tooth flywheel?

basically i want to go buy a starter tomorrow that will fit my 261.

OK found this info...
'55-'62 flywheels use a ring gear with 168 teeth, and must be used in conjunction with a 12 volt starter. All 6 volt flywheels have 139 teeth on the ring gear.

You can use a flywheel from '55 - '62 model 6 cylinder engine...

i guess im counting teeth tomorrow...

Why don't you PM Pre68Dave and I am sure he will send you the instructions for the water pump adapter.

The instructions are on my blog.
There is no need for spacers between the plate and block at the drilled points.

Hy Jay_Brown, the o.e.m. p/n for the twelve volt starter you seak is 1107634 that is Napa p/n WIL91013684 $164.00, hope that helps.

thanks dave and 3b!