Chevy V8.... Help PLEASE!!!! (I am still a ford guy)

[bullitproofranger]

Ok here it is, for a long time I have wanted a V8, well I know I had started a thread asking about a Detriot deisel swap, but that may be a little ways down the road, and I have a friend who says I can have an old chevy 350 and a TH350 Trans. that needs rebuilt, well I looked up a rebuild kit for that tranny and its about $45 which I could work with, but I just wonder what kind of mileage I will get (15mpg is OK, but not something like 5), how hard it would be to wire every thing up (The chevy 350 has a 2 barrel carb on it), what drive shaft mods I will have to make, ect. , ect.

This truck is 2WD but Is going to be 4wd sooner or later, and I want a v8 for a little fun but the truck will still be a DD. Once again I know its a chevy engine, but I dont care right now, I just want a decent v8 and this is the cheapest way for me to go right now. I just need input, PLEASE???

 

[Teddyzee]

Other than mounting the motor, it would be no different than putting in a 302. Just read,read,read.

 

[RangerFabWorks]

with a 2bbl and a th350 trans, you can expect 13-17 mpg. the rear gears is what will determine that. a th700r4 trans would net you better mileage, and a little more performance.

depending on the length of the th350, and where you set the engine, the only mod to the d-shaft will be using a bastard u joint and the yoke for the 350.

 

[chvlfrk]

My 02 and FYI>>>

Don't waste your time with a 2 barrel, toss that heavy pos cast intake... you can get a descent aluminum dual plane intake for around $50 used, and put a 600cfm Holley with vacuum secondaries & electric choke, it'll get you better mileage *when your foots out of it* than the 2 barrel.

You can get a MASTER rebuild kit from Northern Auto Parts for around $160, you get Speed Pro pistons (10, 30, 60 over), Hastings rings, Clevite 77 bearings, Felpro gaskets, Melling timing chain & gears, freeze plugs, Speed Pro cam & lifters, and Melling oil pump.

There are a couple ways to stick that lil' bastard in place, you can make mounts, use Moroso mounts, or motorplate it like I did. You will need to move the trans crossmember forward, but it does mount right up to the trans. mount.

You can use custom headers, stock exhaust manifolds, or modify some shorty headers like I did on my green 94.

You will have to notch your heater box, and possibly work the firewall a little.

You can view my builds through the link in my sigVVV

 

[bullitproofranger]

Thanks, I actually meant a trans rebuild kit(my friend blew it with a 79' 455 firebird, looked like a POS on the outside but had about 500-600 horses), and I'll try to find a cheap 700r4 on craigslist, the only problems I would think I might have is connecting the fuel, and getting the 700r4 to lockup in od, and exhaust.

 

[RangerFabWorks]

700r4 auto locks in overdrive. no need to hook anything up but the kick down cable.

 

[RangerFabWorks]

btw, i have an extra 700r4 out of a corvette, pm if interested.

 

[bullitproofranger]

Thanks black widow I would like to buy that tranny, but I probably couldn't even pay for shipping, sorry man (I live a little ways from KC). The reason I can't afford that tranny is because I cant find a job, I only have a about 100-220 I can spend entirely on my truck at the moment. One more reason I want want to do this swap is because I dont know how long my 2.3 will last(I have yet to get it running), and a chevy SB swap seems like the most cost effective way to get my truck running again.

 

[bullitproofranger]

Well I all that I know is the water pump is shot (no biggie of course) and the timing is a little off , but It may be locked up , I DONT KNOW FOR SURE!!! But the if I can't get the 2.3 to work I will go with a chevy SB/350 swap, and yea the 2.3 seems pretty solid, but the I dont know how long mine will last with 300-400k on it, and for the same price of replacing the 2.3 I figure I could swap the 350 in (as long as things work out).

 

[zoffinger]

I currently have a 305 in my Ranger. It's hooked up to a TH350 tranny. It's loads of fun to drive on the streets. I'm getting 13-15 MPG.
But it is horrible on the open road. The speed limit on the highway here in FL is 70 and my rpms are topping out just to keep up with slow traffic.
People are saying that I need a rear end from a v8 donor. I thought I needed a four speed like the 700R4.
Any ideas?

 

[Ozwynn]

I currently have a 305 in my Ranger. It's hooked up to a TH350 tranny. It's loads of fun to drive on the streets. I'm getting 13-15 MPG.
But it is horrible on the open road. The speed limit on the highway here in FL is 70 and my rpms are topping out just to keep up with slow traffic.
People are saying that I need a rear end from a v8 donor. I thought I needed a four speed like the 700R4.
Any ideas?

you either need an OD or better gearing. the the TH350 you prolly want 3.08 or even 2.97 gears depending on tire size which will make it a dog or you want an OD transmission...... with the 30% over drive (IIRC) with 700R4 you would want 3.55 to 3.73 depending on tire size.

 

[bullitproofranger]

If I can for sure do the swap, I wont be swapping the rear end for a while, bad news is I think the current rear end has 3.73 gears in it, hopefully I can find a dirt cheap tranny any ways. Oh yea, that trannmission my friend offered me, I forgot it was a Olds tranny so it wont bolt right up without an adapter.

 

[RangerFabWorks]

a 700r4 outta an late 70's all the way to the early 90's will bolt right up, and be fairly inexpensive.

and when its pulled, its only like 100 bucks to have it bench checked, and a fluid flush.

and be happy you got the 3:73 rear. that will be a very nice setup when your done.

 

[RustedRanger]

The 700R4's kickdown cable is really a "TV" cable(throttle valve) it controls the internal pressure and has to be set right and have the right travel. That trans also has a plug in to lock up the convertor,if it's not used it will cause a lot of extra heat. On GM its locked by a sensor in the speedometer. I swapped a TPI 305 and 700R4 out of an IROC into a 86 Monte SS that never came with either and the Monte came with 3.73 gears so the convertor wouldn't lock up so I used a kit that runs off of vacume to lock the convertor when at cruising speed. The 700R4 has a really deep first gear so low gears in the rear are not needed,I'd recomend 3.55's. Also keep in mind that the 700's from a 2.8 will not bolt to a small block,only ones from a V-8 or 4.3L V-6.

 

[RangerFabWorks]

setting the cable is really easy on the 700r4. and the lockup switch can be attained from jegs. but ive driven one for years without it hooked up and never had a problem.

and no you dont need low gears with a 700r4, or a 200r4, but it wont hurt him because of the overdrive. depending on his tire size, with the 3:73, and the th700r4, he will cruise between 2100-2500 rpm. this is ideal for a 350. it also opens the way for performance mods, such as a cam, intake, etc.