Can anyone out there pass me some advice about installing a later model 250 inline six and manual 3 speed Saginaw in a '54 Chevy. I am curious about motor mounts and the rear cross member. Can the original trans cross member be used? Did you have to fabricate motor mounts or does somebody sell them? Last did you use the original brake/ clutch assembly...if so, how bad was it to make the original cluch pedal assembly work? Thanks
I'd say that would be a straightforward swap and not too difficult. I believe you can make a square plate with two holes for the late model in rear and two more that bolt to the 54 X member....as it will place the trans in such a manner as to overhang the stock Xmember a couple inches. also it will be close on overall length -so scoot it back as far towards the firewall as you can with say a 1/4" air gap there...... the easiest way to do the side mounts may be to JIG up the motor and align everything -then build a horizontal strap style mount of 1/4" by 3" flat strap steel from the frame to the bolt on the latemodel's mount cushion -then weld a length of tube for the bolt to go thru. Then a gusset will have to be installed under each of these to support the load. Much like the ones sold for an early [Ford with Chevy motor]. The one on drivers side may have to be offset to accommodate the clearance of draglink operating room.
Hey, if you're new at this, you might want to contact Tom Langdon at Stovebolt Engineering; I understand that he sells engine mounts for this conversion. Look for his ad @ www.inliners.org The rear trans support and clutch linkage should not be to hard to get fabbed up once the engine is in place. And speaking about being new, you might wanta go do an intro in the "new guys intro forum", tell us who you are, post pics of your project, garage, girlfriend, or dog. Let us know who ya are. Later, Kinky6
Hello mr3speed, I was curious as to why you would be putting a 250 in your ride vs a 235 full oiler? Unless you already have a 250, you're looking at a lot more work than you may think. If I'm not mistaken, the 250 is a little longer than a 216/235 and you might have to move your radiator around to get it to clear. Also, the engine will be real close to your firewall. Also, you will have to change your motor mount location and tranny mounts as well, and possibly a new driveshaft depending on your choice of transmission. One of the best write ups I've read about putting a 250 in a early '50s Chevy was in Custom Rodder a few years back when McPhail was putting a 250 in his '52 Chevy. It isn't a super detailed article, but it does give some insight into the problems he ran into when he did the swap. Really tho, if you haven't got your motor already, you might reconsider the old 235. It would be a lot easier to do. Good luck! E
Is this a truck or car? I built a front mount for my 250 to put in my '54 Chevy truck and used a late '50's V-8 bellhousing with the side mounts for the back half of the motor. Yeah, the engine is just a tad bit longer, but that is not a real big problem either. You can get a shallower water pump pulley and press the mounting flange back on the H2O shaft (off the engine and support the impeller in the rear) to get some more clearance. You might still have to move the radiator forward a bit, but that isn't too big a deal if you need to. The side motor mounts are the easy way to go if can do that and expect to keep it in there for a while. Overall, it's a good swap for an easier engine to get parts for if it dies in the middle of nowhere plus more power on tap. r
WE made mine. here is a sketch of what we made. We cut the origional tranny mount out and replaced it with 2x1 dropped a hair lower to accomidate a 350 tranny.
You'll have to mount the new engine to the crossmember (drill some holes in it) since the newer engines mount from the front, where the older engines (pre 1955) mounted from the sides to the frame rails. Can't tell you about the trans mount, but there are a few places you can get conversion kits. Good luck, Jay
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