Projects 54 Chevy truck motor question.

So the 235 in my 54 Chevy truck is stuck. Before I spend the money on getting it rebuilt I was wondering what motors will fit in my truck and still bolt up to my 3 speed column shift manual transmission. Motors, years? Sorry if this is the wrong place to post this still figuring this forum out.

 

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/54-chevy-truck-motor-swap-questions.1320399/

didn't your previous thread give you the answers you were looking for?

 

Apparently I'm getting forgetful at my age. I forgot I posted this. My apologies.

 

Man it's hot. I love heat and am only 40 but I've found myself forgetting odd stuff the last few weeks lol

 

235s were used up until around 62

 

Any 235 or 261 from 54 up through 62 will be a bolt in as long as you use the 54 water pump.
The thing with installing the later 235 in a 55 first series or earlier truck has been that the 55 second series and up 235/261 engines have longer shafts on the water pump. I've pressed the hub back and cut the end of the shaft off and used a shorter pulley a couple of times but you are screwed if your water pump ****s out on the road away from home base and you have to find someone who can modify a replacement .

The later engines use easier to find and less expensive main bearings than the 54 block does. The l54 block uses a pinned main bearing.

Any other engine requires changes or modifications. There are plenty of straight sixes that will fit but all require modifications and changes. I've got a 250 out of a 74 Pontiac Ventura (Pontiac Nova) in mine bolted to a 55/59 Chevy truck bellhousing that does bolt to the 54 crossmember and will work with the 54 transmission but it is in no way a bolt in and go project. I had to shorten the shaft on the water pump on it and still have very little clearance for he fan and can't run a very large fan. That's a bigger can of worms than you want to open if you have never done an engine swap and put in an engine that didn't come in a certain ch***is.

 

So what would you suggest just using a later 235 with the 54 water pump? Or just rebuild my 54 235?

 

"I could-a had a V8."

 

I wish but not trying to redo my whole front end cross members drive shaft and rear end.not to mention transmission and steering column. Just trying to get my old truck running and driving without spending huge amounts, not to mention I can't weld lol.

 

Get a good rebuild on the 235......they are so easy you could do it yourself. Or find a 261 to bolt in. Do not spend big $$$ trying to blueprint a 235. Maybe find a nice later one that runs and freshen it a little bit. Have fun

 

Could throw a 265 or 267 in it with a later bell housing and bolt in mounts. Would still be fun while being low power enough the drive train would live a good bit