Replacing the 6 with a 348?

[Richard/SIA]

I'm trying to buy a 2 ton Chevy flat-bed to use as a car hauler.

It's currently got a running I-6, probably a 235, also probably tired.

I'm thinking that since I know where to pick up some more 348's fairly cheap, I might want to put a 348 in the truck.

It seems to me that it should be an easy swap, mostly just a bolt it in job.

I have to keep the original trans for the PTO, am I going to need an odd flywheel?

Any other issues in this swap?:scratch

[Brian Thompson]

Richard-

One thing to think about is that the rearends in the larger trucks usually have a high gear ratio and you cannot find gears for the bigger rearends.
I have a 1949 Chevy 4400 (1 1/2 ton) and am contemplating using it as a car hauler as well. It is all original with the 216 engine, 3 speed (w/granny gear) and runs great. Thought about putting my 409 truck motor in it with a TH400 behind it.

Just something else to think about when doing the build in your head...

[Richard/SIA]

I need to be able to travel fairly long distances, at decent speed.

I think/hope the 348 would handle the freeway better than the six.

I actually have access to an original 348 truck engine that is supposed to be a runner, for $300.
It is from a 1962 but otherwise very similar truck.
I could probably buy the whole truck for under $1,000, it's just not a body style I would want.
The truck 348 has a tiny little 2V on it, looks smaller than the one on my 4 cyl. Land-Rover!

I winder if I would be happier with a small 4V carb.?

I know the truck blocks are low compression, in a truck that might be good for this overpriced no octane water they sell as fuel these days.

[FARO72CS]

The truck 348 engine has an adapter plate before the bell housing to accomadate the larger fly wheel. It use's a 13 inch clutch set up, so a larger flywheel, different
starter hook up. I just took one apart, and still have the piecies is how i determined this. The adapter plate moves the starter out aways to work with the larger flywheel. Hope this helps.:coffee:

[OldTruckNut]

Richard, do you know what year the truck is? 62' was the last year for the 235 in the big trucks, 63' up should be either the 230 or 292 six. If it's a 230 or 292 it should be a fairly easy swap. Like FARO72CS said, the 348 truck engine would have had the 13" clutch and flywheel with the adapter plate and the big input shaft on the transmission, but there's nothing that says you have to use that setup. Most of the sixes used the common 168 tooth flywheel and the 1 1/8" 10 spline input shaft. You can use up to a 12" clutch on the 168 tooth flywheel. The 230 and 292 flywheel and bell housing would bolt right up to the 348, but the 235 uses a different flywheel and bell housing.

[Richard/SIA]

Always been my favorite Chevy truck body style.
I had a nice driving '57 3/4 ton until I stupidly let my younger brother get it from me*twenty years ago.

Since the price on little 55-57's has gone nuts, and I have plenty of pick-up's, I decided a real TRUCK is what I need.:cool:

With this I can move any other cars I need, to the paint shop, car show, race track, etc.