Engine Swap

I got this engine from a friend. I got it out of a '91 Chevy van. I got the whole van for $600 canadian. I pulled the wiring harness, steering column, engine, and the 700R4 tranny out of it and junked the rest. The big problem I found when stripping the engine is that this engine shrank by 45 CI. It is a 305 instead of the 350 that was on the badge of the van. I didn't know and my friend didn't know. I had this sitting at a friends and then sitting at my dads for a total of 3 years. My dad was nice enough to let it sit outside during that time. Thus it is rusted much more than it should be. I took it too the machine shop today and it's going to cost about $300 to get it cleaned and polished up. I am now trying to find a 350 that is in better shape for about the same price of the machine work. If I can, then it will then be the implant engine. I'll have to find one within a week or so, so I'm not taking up my friends shop space too long, so he remains my friend

(1/27/04) Have a friend that has a good 305 out of his chevelle that he is replacing with a BBC so he is saling me his old one for $50. It will come with an intake and carb so I can get it installed and running and then work on the TBI later this spring when I can work outside without losing my fingers. Should have it within a couple weeks. You live and learn on engines and next time I'll check the casting numbers next time before I spend the money. I don't mind too much sense I got the wiring harness and the TBI setup so that I can have that working before my trip to Cali this summer.

Engine looks like it is a real rust bucket. I'm hoping to save it or make it into a big paper weight.

So far I know the alternator, tenshener, and idler wheel are seazed. The TBI is dirty but otherwise looks ok. All the electrical connectors are clean as well.

Here is the bell housing from my trans. I cleaned it some before I took the picture so I don't have pictures of it dirty.

After cleaning it I did find that it had this horible green color. I'll be painting everything yellow when I get it done.

Here is the tranny before I cleaned it. This is how dirty the bell housing was also..

Here you can see the e-brake that was on the tranny. I got it out of an old truck, like the mac tools trucks. Figure if it can handle a 2.5 Ton truck it should be able to handle my cruiser. BTW I traded it with the junkyard for an old beat up car that I didn't want. So I pretty much got it for free.

Here it is after it was cleaned up. Looks nice.

Here you can see the bulge on the side of the case that is one of the features of the SM 420

Here are the casting numbers on my trans.

Here is the RockBox that I'm waiting for from Advance Adapters. I ordered it on Jan 11th and recieved it on Feb 2nd. First is the output side where my 3speed t-case will mount up too. I have to paint it along with the tranny and bellhousing also.

Here is the input side. You can see the indent at the bottom that will match up with the back of my tranny. At the top left of the lower pic and the bottom left of the above pic you can see the shifting shaft.

Here are the sides of the case. You can see the fill hole and the shifter cover.

Here are the other parts that come with the RB. It comes with all the bolts, spacers, the shifter with a bracket that mounts right to the tranny, and even a quart of gear lube to put in it.

Here we go, Cruiser is at its new home. Got it to my friends garage where he is going to let me do the work. Thankfully he doesn't have any projects taking up space at the moment.

Here you can see how the tranny turned out. I like the looks of it and the rockbox is installed onto the back of it.

Here is a dark picture, but its the front without the fenders or radiator. It coming to the point where I'll be pulling the F engine and getting ready for the 305.

Here I have already removed the seats and the seat frames.

Fuel tank, dog house, rear cover of t-case have been removed.

Beginning to remove the front equipment for removal.

Intake, header, and air filter assembly removed.

Motor mounts removed and engine beginning to lift out.

I was unable to remove the engine with the t-case attached so I had to remove it before pulling it.

Engine is out and haning ready to sit to the side so I can start the intall of the SBC.

The massive hole in the cruiser where the engine and tranny was before.

I've got the engine mounts off the frame.

I've got the tranny and the rock box installed on the SBC and I'm using an engine balance and have it moved all the way to the back to keep the rock box from pulling the back down.

here is the engine placed into the cruiser and I'm now trying to figure out how much I need to have it offset to the drivers side.

here is where the tranny and rock box will be once it is in place. I'm trying to install the engine so that the t-case will be in the same place it was when the F engine was in it.

Here is the front side of the crossmember that will have the tranny mount bolted to it. I could have spent some money and buy the one from AA but felt like making my own. I'll find out if its going to get me in the end.

Here is the piece that will go between the cover and the t-case. I have it trimmed off nicely around the cover. The inner hole isn't as nice but you won't see that. Thats why the cover is on so I don't have to show the inner hole.

I've had to move the whole drivetrain back a few inches to keep the water pump out of the radiator.

Have it back far enough now and have it sitting at 3 degrees. This will result at 5 degrees when I put the 36" tires back on the front.

Here it is. I have it set 1" to the left side of the vehicle. This should allow the drivetrain enough room.

Here is it level and with the motor mounts in place. There just tack welded right now and when I take this engine out and before I put the other engine in I'll do all the welding when I can sit in the middle of the frame rails.

Here you can see the motor mounts I've built. I'm using the rubber mounts from an early model camero. This should allow enough room for the corvette headers I'm getting.

Here is the new engine I got from my buddies chevelle. It is in a bit better shape, even with the leaking valve covers.

Stripped down a bit. I'm cleaning the aluminum intake manifold, Getting an edelbrock carb from my boss, get some M/T aluminum valve covers from my bud. Trying to avoid putting crome on the engine if posible. I'll probably have to on some things.

Here it is with some new paint on it. It is nice getting to put some things together and putting it into the cruiser. Spent too much time taking it apart and not enough putting it together.

Here are the block hugger headers I got for $114 a set.

Here you can actually see what was under the dirt on the front of the engine. Timing cover.

here are the new motor mounts. They are a little larger and more supportive than the other ones were. Also these are the same size on both sides of the engine for centering it.

Rear mount for the t-case. Extra support fins.

Left and right motor mounts already welded and painted.

here is the rear mount bolted to the back of the t-case.

Everything is bolted together ready to install once I can get a flywheel and clutch that will work. Still have to make a slave cylinder mount for the clutch.

Been a bit since I've updated the site. I've gotten the engine in and running now but I'm going to get you up to speed. Here is the motor in its final resting place. I have the second gen motor mounts and they seem to work very well.

Here is the other side. I had to grind a bit of the block away where the motor mount bolts on so that the header has enough room to bolt on.

I had my camera on the wrong setting so I've lost a bunch of pics showing up to this point. It was set on close up and all the pics ended up blured. Here you can see all the body panels on but I've had to take a couple of them off and on a couple times.

Here is a pic of the engine will all the "bling" on it. Didn't want to have crome on it, like that whole anti-crome feel with the cruiser, but didn't have a good set of valve covers or breather so ended up getting them.

I've got to get another pic of my tranny cover. I have got it modified for the 4 shift levers and they all seem to work. I'll find out if that is so when I get a little torque twist on the assembly. Figure I'll have to trim some more when it shifts out of gear a couple times.

Here you can see the engine is still a bit of a mess. I have to figure out the routing of the plug wires. I got some that are really long. I'll need to use some more holders in the top bolts of the valve covers to make it a bit neater.

Here is the otherside, I have more room here until I put in the power steering. I'm trying to find a power steerin pulley now, should find it this week.

Here we go, now have the front tires changed to the 36" and have all the lights working along with the windshield wipers.