Orangette's V6 to V8 Swap(s)!

[Orangette]

Hi, guys!

EDIT: GO TO THE LAST COUPLE PAGES FOR A UPDATE ON WHATS HAPPENING!


It is finally gonna happen, the truck is getting a new engine!

I know some of you were hoping to hear im dropping in the 427 already, but that's not gonna happen till im done school (had a long talk with dad, since its his engine parts, i agreed) He said that i couldn't afford the gas having a part time job and the truck will just be a toy, so we will be building up the engine next year and dropping it in, in place of this 350.

Good news is HE IS LETTING ME DROP A 350 IN! , i didn't even mention it he just told me i could.

So, on Tuesday or Wednesday i am picking up a 010 block 350. CANT WAIT!

Plans are:

- Leave the bottom end stock bore (Only needs to last about year and a half till the 427)
- Have to see what heads it has but i also have a set of TBI heads here
- Edelbrock RPM AirGap Intake
- Comp 12-601-4 Thumper Cam 2200-6100 RPM (Too Much for TBI?, only reason i want this is they are on sale right now)
- New Lifters
- Roller Rockers
- Cloyes Timing Chain
- Full Length Headers
- Heads will have new springs, Valve seals
- V6 Stall torque converter
- Staying with the v-Belt's, Because there still on the Engine, or is it a big deal to go serpentine?
- Going to use Ultimate modded TBI, 350 Injectors, Carb-TBI adapter, TBI spacer, injector pod spacer.

I will have pics on wednesday for sure.



And when im ready to drop the 427 in i will update this thread!

[k20chevy 454]

sounds like a plan man...now get off forums and get to it

[Orangette]

Originally Posted by k20chevy 454

sounds like a plan man...now get off forums and get to it

just waiting for tomorrow to get my pay check then im going up to my friends place to grab the 350!

[Koots]

Pussin out on the V6 are ya?



Congrats on doing the swap, I would recommend you switch to serpentine drive, if you can afford it. It's not expensive and you don't need alot of parts to do it. It's an improvement and is incredibly simple. The only hard part about all of it is routing the belt around. Which isn't that hard :P

Plus having a 350 will train you to handle some power before you jump into a 427, cuz someone at your age could have their truck destroyed or have themselves killed with that much power. Not to diss your driving skills or anything, i'm just saying it could happen when you least expect it.

[Orangette]

Originally Posted by Koots

Pussin out on the V6 are ya?



Congrats on doing the swap, I would recommend you switch to serpentine drive, if you can afford it. It's not expensive and you don't need alot of parts to do it. It's an improvement and is incredibly simple. The only hard part about all of it is routing the belt around. Which isn't that hard :P

Plus having a 350 will train you to handle some power before you jump into a 427, cuz someone at your age could have their truck destroyed or have themselves killed with that much power. Not to diss your driving skills or anything, i'm just saying it could happen when you least expect it.

could i not use the belt setup off the V6?

and yes i fully agree with you on the power thing, i took my dads Camaro for a drive and it just has a mild 402 BBC init, and i scared myself, it was a little wet and he told me to stomp on it and the whole car went sideways

and really the only reason im pulling the V6 is that it is getting tired and it is a gas pig!, my dads 1995 ECSB 350 4x4 truck uses less gas it seems.

[Koots]

Originally Posted by Orangette

could i not use the belt setup off the V6?

and yes i fully agree with you on the power thing, i took my dads Camaro for a drive and it just has a mild 402 BBC init, and i scared myself, it was a little wet and he told me to stomp on it and the whole car went sideways

and really the only reason im pulling the V6 is that it is getting tired and it is a gas pig!, my dads 1995 ECSB 350 4x4 truck uses less gas it seems.

Yeah, the decision your dad made is a very smart one. I drove my buddies 89 RWD Skyline with nearly 400hp and it scared the sweet jesus out of me LOL I'm sure the 350 will be incredibly fun as it is as well.

I hear you on the 4.3L. When my truck was newer and wasn't in desperate need of a tune up, it got great mileage and had plenty of power for daily driving and some mild towing and off roading (even with heavy 265/75/16's). But the small engine doesn't get very good mileage when you push it hard and when it's getting old you need to push it really hard LOL mine's got 320,000 on it now.

Which is why mine's getting a 350 as well

[Orangette]

Originally Posted by Koots

Yeah, the decision your dad made is a very smart one. I drove my buddies 89 RWD Skyline with nearly 400hp and it scared the sweet jesus out of me LOL I'm sure the 350 will be incredibly fun as it is as well.

I hear you on the 4.3L. When my truck was newer and wasn't in desperate need of a tune up, it got great mileage and had plenty of power for daily driving and some mild towing and off roading (even with heavy 265/75/16's). But the small engine doesn't get very good mileage when you push it hard and when it's getting old you need to push it really hard LOL mine's got 320,000 on it now.

Which is why mine's getting a 350 as well

is yours vortec?

Mine has always just been a let down, and i think the 20's dont help at all.

mines got about 300,000 on it too.

when u doing the swap?

[Koots]

Originally Posted by Orangette

is yours vortec?

Mine has always just been a let down, and i think the 20's dont help at all.

mines got about 300,000 on it too.

when u doing the swap?

Mine's the Vortec, yes. According to that info sheet taped to the window on the lot it was the 200HP version, not the 190HP. When i first got the truck (USED!) i was surprised that it was a V6. I had an 86 305 C1500 RCLB and a 305 Caprice before this truck and it actually felt stronger than them both. Might have been due to 3.73 gears, vortec heads and Fuel Injection though. But when it was in it's prime, without alot of weight in the truck (not towing or hauling anything in the bed) it was a much stronger motor than any stock 305 i'd driven (pre-vortec)

Now towing a boat or hauling a load is when it would show it's true size.

My truck isn't getting the swap for a few months, i've got the motor, but it's a TBI still in an old Suburban. I've got to strip the suburban down for parts (my 83 jimmy can use some of them) and pull the motor out too. Gotta get an engine stand and then i'm gonna begin building it up. Something mild, nice rebuild with a few performance goodies to top it off. Not sure what i'm gonna use yet, but i'm gonna make a game plan. Once we get the grant to begin drilling again, i'll have more than enough money to make sure it's got the right parts on it.

[V6rado94]

Congrats on finally getting to swap out the v6.

[Orangette]

Originally Posted by Koots

Mine's the Vortec, yes. According to that info sheet taped to the window on the lot it was the 200HP version, not the 190HP. When i first got the truck (USED!) i was surprised that it was a V6. I had an 86 305 C1500 RCLB and a 305 Caprice before this truck and it actually felt stronger than them both. Might have been due to 3.73 gears, vortec heads and Fuel Injection though. But when it was in it's prime, without alot of weight in the truck (not towing or hauling anything in the bed) it was a much stronger motor than any stock 305 i'd driven (pre-vortec)

Now towing a boat or hauling a load is when it would show it's true size.

My truck isn't getting the swap for a few months, i've got the motor, but it's a TBI still in an old Suburban. I've got to strip the suburban down for parts (my 83 jimmy can use some of them) and pull the motor out too. Gotta get an engine stand and then i'm gonna begin building it up. Something mild, nice rebuild with a few performance goodies to top it off. Not sure what i'm gonna use yet, but i'm gonna make a game plan. Once we get the grant to begin drilling again, i'll have more than enough money to make sure it's got the right parts on it.

Sounds good!

yea, my V6 is the 165HP one, i got a Edelbrock Performer, and some other goodies but it didnt help much

[Orangette]

Originally Posted by V6rado94

Congrats on finally getting to swap out the v6.

thanks!

[V6rado94]

Originally Posted by Orangette

Sounds good!

yea, my V6 is the 165HP one, i got a Edelbrock Performer, and some other goodies but it didnt help much

At least I get great gas mileage out of my turd

[Orangette]

Originally Posted by V6rado94

At least I get great gas mileage out of my turd

really?, cause mine is ****ty gas mileage, i put 30 dollars of gas in and it last me 2 days!

I just figured it out and i get about 14 MPG

[V6rado94]

Originally Posted by Orangette

really?, cause mine is ****ty gas mileage, i put 30 dollars of gas in and it last me 2 days!

I just figured it out and i get about 14 MPG

I get 20+ city

[SimpleGreen]

Originally Posted by Orangette

could i not use the belt setup off the V6?

Yes. Your V6 serpentine system is no different. It will swap right over to your new 350. When I did the 350 swap in my truck I took the brackets to work and sandblasted them, then brought them home and painted/primed them so they looked like brand new cast aluminum (only better!). Only thing I didnt use from the V6 serpentine setup was the water pump. I bought a new heavy duty one then painted and primed it aluminum color so it wouldnt rust and look good, too.

Serpentine is hard to beat. I like the newer look it gives, and the automatic tensioner keeps it all in check.

Good luck.

[Orangette]

Originally Posted by SimpleGreen

Yes. Your V6 serpentine system is no different. It will swap right over to your new 350. When I did the 350 swap in my truck I took the brackets to work and sandblasted them, then brought them home and painted/primed them so they looked like brand new cast aluminum (only better!). Only thing I didnt use from the V6 serpentine setup was the water pump. I bought a new heavy duty one then painted and primed it aluminum color so it wouldnt rust and look good, too.

Serpentine is hard to beat. I like the newer look it gives, and the automatic tensioner keeps it all in check.

Good luck.

hmmm, im still up on the air about this, cause this "new" motor has the alt., water pump, and all the pulleys still on it.

but now that i think about it i better go serpentine for power steering?

oh, well thats the least of my worry's at the moment.

BTW is $100 a good deal for a 350 with everything but, intake, dizzy, carb and starter that needs valve seals and leaks abit?

i will be going threw the whole thing btw. just no machine work.

[cantbuytime454]

use the serpentine setup 4 sure.. my truck has the original aluminum V6 brackets on my 454.. granted there are billet adapter plates holding it to the front of the block.. its a good setup....

I have seen the Aluminum brackets polished out on a few trucks.. looks sweet

[Orangette]

Originally Posted by cantbuytime454

use the serpentine setup 4 sure.. my truck has the original aluminum V6 brackets on my 454.. granted there are billet adapter plates holding it to the front of the block.. its a good setup....

I have seen the Aluminum brackets polished out on a few trucks.. looks sweet

i think im going to do that, and use the water pump off my V6.

Too bad seeing how i have a chrome pump for a V-Belt drive.

[SimpleGreen]

Originally Posted by Orangette

i think im going to do that, and use the water pump off my V6.

Too bad seeing how i have a chrome pump for a V-Belt drive.

Id go that route. It wont take any time at all to switch the serpentine over. Then you maintain AC, power steering, etc....

[Orangette]

Originally Posted by SimpleGreen

Id go that route. It wont take any time at all to switch the serpentine over. Then you maintain AC, power steering, etc....

dont have AC.

yea it just seems the more simple route.