Small block in a 620 question

[deejay]

I know anything is possible with hammers torches and a welder. But is it practical to throw a Chevy 350 into a Datsun truck and what steps would you have to take to get the project done? Radiator placement, possible firewall mods, headers clearing stealing linkage, frame? The 620 I would be working with already has a mid 60s Buick 255 v6. Motor is worn out and either needs to be rebuilt, replaced, or swapped out completely to a different motor.

[Guest Rick-rat]

If the swap is done to a V-6, I would just rebuild what is already there myself

[wayno]

Your going to get a lot of shit asking this question, these guys are real negative about V8s unless they are already done.

Your best avenue would be to rebuild what you have if it actually is a driver and a decent conversion, but that would be my opinion.

[datzenmike]

Only drivable in the summer. Firewall cut and heater removed in order to keep rad. Having the V6 in there has changed nothing that will help with a V8 so you are starting over.

 

Maybe a later 3800 V6 with EFI and S10 5 speed.

[hobbes_the_cat]

If the Buick doesn't float your boat, take a look at the Chevy 4.3 v6. They're cheap and basically a 350 with two cylinders chopped off. I've seen a lot of Luvs with that swap, might fit better than a 350 and still plenty of power and hotrod stuff available.

[bonvo]

rebuild the buick motor its already there

[Kirden]

I agree with the above parties, rebuild the buikc or pick up the 4.3 chevy engine. That 4.3 can put out surprising power especially when built correctly and will leave you a lot of room over the v8 swap. However, if you are stuck on a v8 swap, realize that you will possibly lose leg room, structural integrety, and overall driveability compaired to what you already have.

 

Every sbc build I have seen on smaller vehicles just doesn't work out right. You have power but you can't keep it on the ground, and you go through tires/brakes/(insert drivetrain parts) like a woman in a shoe shop. Just know what you are getting into before hand and I wish you the best of luck on your truck with whatever you decide.

[datzenmike]

Then there's the '73-'77 drum brakes on a 350 swap truck. At least the '78-'79 disc brakes can be upgraded easily.

[deejay]

V6 sounds the way to go just ordered the brackets to make it disk up front.

It runs and drives but the 255 Buick motor from 1964 w/ turbo 350 trans in it has 2 dead cylinders and took a compression test high was 80 and average was between 40-60 psi so ya it needs a rebuild or better motor.

[racerx]

^{here we go again.....}

[Kirden]

V6 sounds the way to go just ordered the brackets to make it disk up front. It runs and drives but the 255 Buick motor from 1964 w/ turbo 350 trans in it has 2 dead cylinders and took a compression test high was 80 and average was between 40-60 psi so ya it needs a rebuild or better motor.

 

 

I hope you get the brakes done before you ever drive it with the new/rebuilt v6. Even with the low power of my L18 the drums are annoying at times and I fear any and all emergency situations which is why I have order the disc brake conversion for the fronts as well. I learned the hard way that you should always make sure you can stop well before you can go fast (or go at all for that matter)

 

You will probably catch some grief because you asked about a v8 swap or because you have a v6, but it is your truck so I say do what you want with it. Just be safe about it because driving a dangerous vehicle on the road puts everyone around you at risk.

 

Side note, I would love one of the old 620 4x4 conversions that used the v6 engines. Would be the first truck I owned that I could actually use like a truck :P

[deejay]

Ya breaks are a must it made a huge difference in my 510 it being disk all around zx vented up front. ^^^^^

[bonvo]

i say again keep the buick v6 not hard to rebuild and they are different then whats out there with a proven performance past im not seeing a downside here and a rebuild will prpbably be cheaper then finding another engine