The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop How Hard Is It To Installing a 283 Engine In Stovebolt????

My truck is a 1942 Chevy 1-1/2 ton duel wheel panel truck. I can get a running complete Chevy 283 engine cheap $300.00. Has anyone installed one in a Stovebolt and will my 4 speed bell housing bolt to the block and will the clutch set up work also? Any other things should I need to know? Thanks for your help!!! 1-262-392-2989 or mribbich@wi.rr.com

Marv.

Not a bolt in deal using the original bell housing.

The bell housing from the 216/235 engine would not bolt to the 283 Chevy V-8 engine, different bolt pattern....
John

Can I use a 283 stick bell housing and also use my clutch set up and trans?????

Marv.

Do your clutch and brake pedals mount to the bell housing?

Not sure about the clutch/pressure plate.

Hy marvin ribbich, there is no bellhousing for a V8 that I am aware of that will allow you to bolt up your crashbox four speed to it without redrilling the mount pattern and possibly making a shim to center the transmission in the bellhousing center hole. There are no V8 bellhousings that will bolt to your crossmember, as the closest style of mount is angled, and your crossmember is set up for a flat mount. You may be able to swap in a crossmember from a 1954 or 55 1st series, these are setup for the angled bellhousing mount, but you would have to measure the widths of both frames at the crossmember area to confirm the fit. There are no V8 flywheels that I am aware of that are drilled for a nine bolt clutch pressure plate attachment, but you should be able to find a six bolt pressure plate to match up to your clutch disc, hope that helps.

Sounds like more work than I would be able handle, I guess I will keep the 6 cylinder in it. Thanks!!! to all for your input.

Marv.

you could always go with an automatic, it will slide in pretty easy, but you would have to do some fabricating, (move the master cylinder to the firewall and a new brake setup) not hard to do, they sell the transmission crossmember and motor mounts pretty cheap, does it have a torque tube setup?

No torque tube but I do have an auxiliary overdrive transmission in the truck now and want to keep that. As much as I would like more power I don't want to do to many modifications. Thanks for your input!!!

Marv.

I was going to do the same exact swap. I have a '68 250 in my '52 2 ton now, so the bellhousing is the angle mount. The PO cobbled some junk to get it to bolt in, but that raised the trans up into the floor. I bought a crossmember from a '57 2 ton and will be swapping that in to get the bellhousing down where it belongs.
The original 4 speed trans is bolted to the bellhousing. I have no idea if it was modified or was a bolt in swap.
In checking on engine swaps, I decide to go with a 292 instead of a V8. I have the engine out being built right now. It will retain the original pistons but the head was shaved .030 and I have a cam and valve kit coming from Tom Lowe. He recommended the Clifford intake and I have that on the way. I also bought Hedman long tube headers from Streetside Auto and a Holley 390 cfm carb from Summit. Tom estimates the torque will be around 310 lbs ft. That is more than the 283 is capable of even with aftermarket parts.
You can build your 250 the same way and get almost as much torque out of it. Something to consider if you want more power.

I'd like to know more about the auxiliary trans you have and how it's mounted. I need to get more top speed without winding the engine to 5k with the 6.13 rear gear...

If you want more info on the auxiliary trans it would be best to call me. Thanks!!! 1-262-392-2989

Marv.

if you can get a 700r4 automatic, to go with the 283, its not that hard to install, the 700r4 is an overdrive automatic transmission that comes in most newer GM pickups, just a matter of getting a speedway motors v8 conversion kit which consists of bolt in motor mounts and transmission crossmember, and they also have the pedal setup and firewall master cylinder setup, not hard to do, just time consuming