Pick your MOTOR & Choose your TRANY

Hey Fellas, we just bought a '42 Chevy Stepside. I'm about 90% sure that the faithful 235 engine is TOAST! I'm concidering a swap. I don't like how cramped the engine bay is with a V8 (although a 215 might not be too bad). So I'm wanting to stick with a L-6. I'm open to sugestions, I'm not concerned with make or age. I've even thought of a Jeep 4.0L H.O., so any NON-HAMB friendly engines are welcome as well. I'm looking for "EFFICIENCY" so performance AND economy. That's why I'm okay with modern fuel injection. As for trans, I prefer NOT to have to deal with adapters, so any combo that will bolt up. So get creative!!!!

 

Keep in mind I'm a starving college student.

 

So a 392 Hemi is out of the question? Ha Ha!

 

If I were doing a fenderless rod than YES. I think I want to keep it full fendered though.

 

The 270-302 GMC comes to mind. I liked mine a lot and you should find your Chevy bellhousing will bolt to the GMC block. The 250-292 late model Chevy six is good but has the same bellhousing as the V8. The current OHC inline Chevy six is very nice. Still need an adapter

 

I usually just pick my seat.

 

I'd like to use a T-5 if I stay with GM.

 

Then you'll be changing out the rearend, converting it to open drive line anyways...and anything goes!

 

Actualy, come to think of it, it DID come with a rear axle out of a late 70's Camaro. He thought perhaps '79.

 

If the truck already has an open drive rearend then chances are the ngine and trans are later as well so your swap will be really easy. It may have a later 235 and 3-speed trans from 55-64 or so and that means a 250 later model will drop right in with no change to trans or rearend.

 

If this is a budget build, just get an engine kit and rebuild the 235. Do a Pertronix electronic ignition swap and maybe go with a Weber 32/36 2 barrel carb.
Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but i think the later model 235's had bearing inserts instead of the old babbit bearings, so you may want to look for a more modern version. I'm thinking 1954-1962????

 

Yeah, 3onthetree is right. Get another 235 and after 54 will have pressurized oil system and before 62 (I think that's right) you won't need to change motor mounts. 235 is a great motor and if the rear and drive shaft are already changed, all the hard work has been done. Plus, 235s are still pretty cheap if you're patient.

 

stay in school

 

It came with the camaro rear end, but the driveline is ALL stock still. The camaro rear end was just an extra piece he threw in.

 

700R4 might be a possiblity (my wife prefers automatic), plus it leaves hands open for more interesting things.

 

400 small block. You can build a halfway stockish yet decent one that'll turn out 370hp with a huge torque curve for $1200-1500 if you shop right, and it'll have insanely nice manners and eat 89 octane. Dress it like a vintage mill.

Since you spent so much on the engine, go with a dirt cheap th350 or 400 trans to help compensate. To help compensate further, run a relatively high rear gear, probably like the 79 camaro rear already has. That kind of high torque engine works great with highway gearing yet has some street cred too.

good luck

 

Coming from another starving college student, I'd just rebuild the 235 or go with another 235. theyre cheap enough. look on craigslist! and like you said those 235's are faithful! why do you think its toast?

 

this is what i'm saying too...get it running and drivingn on the cheap so you can USE IT, and when you are out of school, making some paper...put in whatever you want! instant gratification is overrated. No matter how many times you read the book, the tortoise always beats the hare.

 

I'm saying "toast" as in needing a rebuild. The engine has been sitting for YEARS with no carb (and nothing to plug the intake) and the valve cover is just sitting on top, not tightened down at all. And it wont turn over with a pry bar.

 

you can pick up a good running, complete 235 for $200-$300 and you might get a trans w/ that... if not, saginaw 3/ 4 spds can be had for $100.... properly maintained they will last a long time... people are pulling perfectly good 6s for crate motors all the time so keep an eye out- i find almost one a week in my area.

 

A I5 from a Colorado/Canyon or I6 from a Trailblazer would be a interesting swap.

 

Hopefully its not texting

 

Okay, I've pretty much decided for simplicity to stay with an older inline six like the 235. Now my question is what size? I've seen 216,235,250,292,302, etc. I read that the biggest problem with the 235 is that cylinders 2&3, and 4&5 share and exhaust port. I don't mind mixing makes if it's better. Does Ford or Chrysler make a better 6 than GM?

 

In the same statement you say simplicity yet also consider converting to a ford or dodge six. You need to decide which is going to trump, simplicity or "betterness". Because there's no way a dodge or ford six conversion is going to be on the same level of simplicity as replacing the original motor. In many cases a V8 swap is actually simpler.

good luck

 

I saw something here on the board that was very intriguing for a situation like this. A Toyota Supra engine, yeah blast away haters but this would fit, is cheap and has a ton of potential as funds allow.

http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=su...s_Cars&_odkw=supra+engine+and+trans&_osacat=0

 

sure it's a 235? what year? unless it has full pressure oiling and insert bearings unless you are a restorer I'd leave that one alone and get a later 235-261.

bolt it all up to your original drivetrain and go.

 

When I say "simplicity", I mean an older mill as opposed to a modern one with fuel injection. And I don't want a V8 because of the fit.

 

Put me on the death list too... That's exactly what I was thinkin. It's the BBC of the tuner world.

 

Cheap & Easy? No, not talkin' about the little lady, here.

Best option #1: Get a good running 235 or 261 that someone has yanked for a project. Use a Saginaw 3 or 4 speed behind it, or if you can get a deal on a T-5, that would be cool, also. You could get an adapter for a automatic to go behind the Stovebolt six, but that money would be better spent upgrading the front brakes. Nifty part about this engine set-up, you get to keep the foot-stomp starter set-up!

Best option #2: Get a good running 230 or 250 Chevy six that someone has yanked for a project. Same trans choices as above, plus automatics will bolt right up as well. Engine monuts for either swap can be had from Stovebolt Engineering in Utica, MI, or from Chassis Engineering, ads are in all the rod mags, both have web sites.

Good luck, sounds like a cool project! Kinky6

 

I think it would be awsome for that kind of swap. As I look at it, when people were hot rodding back in day, they weren't worried about something being too new or from another make. It was just whatever was the best available thing. I've looked into the Jaguar 4.2, the datsun L28 and L24, and Jeep 4.0