Dropping a 350 V8 w/ 350 Turbo tranny in a 57 Chevy Belair‏

[bkellis]

I've researched more about what's necessary to drop a 350 V8 and 350 Turbo transmission in our 57 Chevy Belair, but I have some additional questions.

I know I will need to get...
1) Eckler's side motor mount kit (#18-02)
2) Eckler's rear transmission crossmember kit (#19-153)
3) Eckler's column shift linkage kit (#19-19)

I'm going to buy a remanufactured motor from a local parts store and need to know what year I should order. Do I go with something that's in the 1960-1970 era? I really don't know how they differ from year to year, but I do know I want something with a 4 bolt main. The parts store told me I might have to order a truck engine because the ones they had listed for cars are all 2 bolt mains. Any ideas here?

Same question for the tranny. What year?

Last question...Is there a year motor that would have the bolt holes for both a front mount and side mount motor mount brackets? It would be nice to be able to mount up the front mount brackets to more easily align the side mount brackets on the front engine crossmember. Any thoughts here?

[37 Terraplane#2]

My 2 cents worth. Considering that a reman from the store is built as a replacement for any given car it likely will not give any specs on 4bolt vs 2 bolt, side vs front mount, compression ratio, camshaft. {don't think you want a truck engine,cams are more for torque vs high revs } You'll get a guess what engine at the parts house. Parts for the small block Chev are in great supply. Personally I would acquire a 4bolt engine and build it the way I wanted it. GOOD advice is also easy to get as it's probably the most popular engine on the street for hot rodders. You can go stock to keep costs down { maybe even less than the reman } or start putting some real muscle in it if you want to get your adreninaline pumping. Reman vs build it cost wise : cheaper to build option to option on what you do to it . Might want to consider a roller cam engine, then your ready to update/improove performance at your whim and have the personal pride of building what you end up with . Just my thoughts, love to hear that SBC screamin, used to race them in sprint cars in my younger days. BUD

[bkellis]

If I went with stock parts and rebuilt it myself, how much do you think I'd have tied up in it after finishing it?

Advance Auto has quoted $1800 for a Spartan remanufacturer engine. Any experience with this brand?

I bought a Jasper motor a few years back for a little Cavalier, but soon traded it off so I don't have very much experience with the reliability of this brand either.

What advice would you have for me?

[37 Terraplane#2]

WHOLE LOT LESS THAN $1800 !! parts cost best got from your local parts house as that's where you'll likely get them. CHECK YOUR OLD PARTS to be sure they are standard or oversized. {bearings, piston size} Most places will have an overhaul kit that includes bearings/rings/ gaskets. Recomend CAST IRON rather than chrome rings . They will reseat much quicker and better in a block that has not been freshly rebored over size. They don't mind looking them up, your a potential customer. Other things you will need to buy/rent/borrow a ridge reamer to cut the ridge off the top of the cyldrs, and a cyl hone to hone cyldrs. Ring compresser to put your pistons in, torgue wrench Cheap bar type will do, to tighten bearing bolts/nuts and heads bolts. Some parts places rent these items out .Best give it a fresh valve grind , should be someone local to do that for you. Jasper has been around for ever and has good stuff. Add a few bucks for assembly lube and small items. If you do this, note which side of the rods the numbers are on and the little notch that holds the bearing in place in relation to the block , must be put back the same or they will spin out, caps and rods are matched sets, they MUST be put back the same !!

[bkellis]

I think I'll start checking into the various cost of rebuilding something myself. I'm sure I'll be back with more questions.

[the5.0lguy]

I just wanted to say that it be easier to get a 283 of a similiar vinatge a chevy car or truck because you wouldnt need to worry about motor mount issuse cause the block would have the right holes for the mounts that must be available.and just use a powerglide tranny. I also know chevy changed the blocks in 80 ' s a bit second opton option is the 327 wich came soon after and i believe should have the same mtr mount holes and with a good set of heads.like the trck flow heads that come with 2.02/1.60 vales and 64cc comp for aroun 850 bucks and if yore on a budget go with the vortec heads but they regiure a specific manifold i belive.it should make engine around 300 h.p.and if youre firm on the 350, just get real a g.m replacement engine from scoggin dickey.www.sdpc2000.com or even lookin the summit catalog or jeg's.com Instead goin through the hassle of trieng to find a motor through sum freeckled face teenager at a parts store.and four bolt mains are not needed unless you plan on alot h.p and torque.it's more a macho thing to say yeh it'sa 4 bolt at a car show just my two bits. i heard jasper engines is pretty decent..and comp cams has a hotline for help on cam selection 2.

[Twitch]

A friend of mine had the same thing done on his 57 last year but I don't know specifics of what year engine fit best.

If you want to be sure of acquiring a 4 bolt main engine just specify a Corvette block from any year.