Expert: Brad Sears - 9/24/2009

Question
Hello,



thanks for being willing to help us amateurs in our projects.   I have a 1965 Chevy G10 Van that has a straight six engine 3.2L in it and I am wanting to put a 350 or 383 stroker in it.  I also want to keep it with the original 3 on the tree tranny.  Do you know if the trans will hold up to the horsepower and also will the flywheel and clutch and engine all mount together or will it cause too many issues for me.    Or do you know if the 283 or 327 will mount up to that trans easier????   How would I find out if an engine will work with a trans?



Please give me any and all info you may know about how I can pull this off.



Thanks again for your time and it is much appreciated.



Greg


Answer
Usually I back away from a question like this as there seams to be no one correct answer when dealing with modifications. But I am willing a bad raiding mark to express my views based on 5 decades of working on cars and writing about them. First, just installing a bigger engine is only the tip of the ice berg that you are unleashing. The extra weight of the bigger engine will necessitate revisions in the front end, like springs, shocks, sway bars, and probably bigger tires. The radiator will need to be changed to take the extra heat developed by the larger engines. The heat is created because the bigger engines will gobble more fuel. Then comes the flywheel, clutch, and transmission. I doubt if the stock units will have enough beef to handle the extra horsepower that you throw at it, or you could drive very conservatively but then what is the advantage of adding the extra muscle if it is not to be used. Of course when changing the engine there is the fabrication of the engine mounts, fuel lines and the differences in the electrical system. Not so much as different wiring but the placement of the components change meaning a re wire job. Now to the drive shaft and differential. Yes these too will need attention again to handle the increased torque and power of the bigger engine. This is not just a drop it in and go swap to make the vehicle right. It can be done, but you need to get some books, look up specifications, what the factory installed for a transmission and rear drive line for the bigger engines, and what other guys have done when doing a project like this. But don't be discouraged if you really want to do this, read, learn, and charge on. If I can be of any help down the line do not hesitate to contact me. I would like a ride in it when you have finished.
Brad