235 six to small block V8 swap

[61BISCAYNE]

Planning for the transplant...need input.
I am about to swap in a 350 in place of the 235
six cylinder in my '61 Biscayne. Will I need different
engine stands that mount to the frame? If so,
where can I get them?

I'm also curious about headers. I have found
that Hedman makes 'em for this car. Does anyone
know how low they hang out the bottom of the car.
I plan to lower the car with bags, and I don't want
my exhaust any lower than absolutely necessary.

Also, how big a deal is it to run 2 1/4" exhaust out the back
of these cars when lowered? Scrub problems?
I sure appreciate all the help you folks have
given me so far with my new project.

[gearhead409]

you will need these parts off a V8 car. frame to engine mount brackets,fanshroud, gas pedal bellcrank at firewall. headmen headers should be OK. 2.25 exhaust will work,run it in the stock locations,will be close at rear wheels.Good Luck!

[TomO]

I made the very same swap in my 63'. Gearhead has a complete list of part needed. I am running 2.25 pipe with the headman headers w/o issues. I ended up placing the muffler just in front of the rear tire. I will take some measurements of how low the header is below the frame later today. If you are planning on running a hei on the new engine the power wire to it will have to be replaced because the factory wire is a resistor. I did have to shorten the temp sendor wire and the oil sender wire to make a clean install. I also replaced the radiator with a V8 application from the local parts house but you might be able to make the 6cylinder workout fine.

Can't forget the V8 badges. On my 63' the cross flags bolted right in place no holes to drill.

TomO

[CDNpontiac409guy]

BISCAYNE, you're never going to regret that engine swap :brow

Even though your engine is just a 350, try to use the correct 283/327 short water pump pulley arrangement. You should be able to get a rebuilt pump from any decent parts store.
The orginal pre-1968 parts are lighter, more compact... and even look better :deal

[61BISCAYNE]

Much appreciation!!
TomO, It would be really great if you could get that measurement
for me, just so that I can know what to expect.

I am planning to buy a new GM longblock crate motor of the '96 up
Vortec type. I have found a place to order it new for under $2,000,
complete with vortec heads, hyper pistons, and roller cam. It will,
however, require the use of an electric fuel pump. I also plan to
swap the GM Hot Cam in place of the puney stocker, and then
use Edelbrock goodies to complete the package.

Have any of you used this engine?
Any more advice anyone can offer would be great.

[Mr.Jimmy]

I used this in a customer's truck that we did last year for him. I had to go to Allan Grove to get the p.s. brackets for the 96 up block. I don't know if they make them for a short style though.

If you want to save some money, use the proform intake...and its about 120 compared to the 200 plus.


We got his truck out and going. While he had it for a few weeks, a friend of his talked him into the ZZ4 cam kit. So I had to learn the hard way about this. Its a little more than a swap me 2 hour special. So when you do the cam swap, the timing chain cover is a once use item. They recommend that you use a new one when swapping cams. I used the newest ZZ4 cam.... And when I did that, I ran into spring issues, so I had to pop the heads off, and get the heads machined so the new springs would fit. And when one pops off the heads, the head bolts are the "use once style", so one will have to get new head bolts too.

Also headman makes a special style of a block hugger for the vortec style ports. You may want to look into that. We ran a set of manifolds. Don't ask me why...Thats what he had his heart set on.

[TomO]

61 - The header flange comes out right where the frame starts to take a upward bend into front suspension. The header flange sticks about 2.5" below the flat part of the frame. If you cannot use the short style water pump you will have to cut back the fan shroud so that the fan is in the correct relationship to the end of the shroud. I think Hayden has a fairly good tech section on fans and fan shrouds that you should read.

TomO