Rebuild 230 or swap for 350??????

Well yesterday I did a compression check on my 230 in my 63 C10 and it dropped compression. So now im at the crossroad of swapping it with a 350 I have sitting in the corner of the garage. I need some input! I like the look of the 6er in it but the 350 would be fun to play with! What should I do????? Thanks for any input guys and gals!

 

You've already got the SBC, might as well. Doesn't take any fabrication or cutting, so you can always rebuild the sixer and swap it back in later if you want.

 

The 350 fun factor is more than 8 times the 230 looks factor. No question.

 

dump that 6. crappy motor for a fullsize truck anyway.

 

Sounds like a no brainer to me...

 

I'd go with the 350.

 

350... Absolutely.. Positively..For sure

 

I just took a good 327 out of my 33Plymouth + put a crappy flathead6 in it. Buy aboat + use the 350 for an anchor!
Lanny

 

No doubt, go with the 350. I am SO happy I swapped the 6er for a SBC and it is the best thing I ever did!

Cheers,
Sam

 

Whatever your decision, please remember not to stray too far from the herd.

 

I would go for the small block unless you have the money to seriously upgrade the 6 when you rebuild it. Myself, old cars should be at least powerful and fun to drive.

 

if ya plan to do anything with the truck at a reasonable speed then yeah.. 350 it.. if its a stick ya need a different bellhousing / flywheel / maybe clutch. and it is a direct bolt in affair.. I cant remember but i think you have the provisions to use the side mounts allready in the truck.

 

Ix-nay on all of the above. You can use the same clutch, bellhousing, truck starter, etc. I think the only thing I had to spring for was the truck motor mounts, which should be changed anyway... and maybe something minor with the gas pedal linkage. In fact, leave the bellhousing and truck transmission in the chassis to make it easier.

Bob

 

while the 230 wouldn't be my first choice, it's ok for a 1/2 ton truck. a 292 would be ideal! use the 350 if you want to make use of what you have or better yet use the 230. in my opinion, a v8 in those and older chevy trucks goes against the simplicity, originality and reliability of those trucks. why dishonor it with a bent 8. i know a few of them had them, but most didn't. good luck whatever you do.

 

You should be able to find a running 455 Olds in Iowa & sell the 350...that's what I would do

 

i would keep the buzzin halfdozen. i guess im deranged but i dig em.

 

baknthday we used to just give 'em a ring and valve job, which included bearings if needed. with the engine in place,

 

X2 yep that'd be the way to go

 

I will have to take a look at it and make sure I don't have to swap out the clutch, bellhousing. Those are pretty simple anyways. Thanks for the advice guys!

 

I've done more than a few of these swaps that had the big 4-speed boxes in them, that's one thing you don't want to have to heft out.

Take out the starter, drop the exhaust, remove the bellhousing bolts and some other minor things... that's the bulk of the effort.

Bob

 

you do not have to change the bell housing. you can just leave it in place. the 230 has same pattern as sbc. the flywheel pattern is same as well. the clutch will come out with engine and you can evaluate it from there. might be able to use it. it's prob the smaller diafram clutch behind the 230, doubt it's the hd coil spring type, but either one is ok. it's the 2nd gen sixes that had differnt bolt patterns like the 235, not the 3rd gen like you have.

 

once you go 8 you won,t look back i had afew with 6,s and a afew with 8,s enjoy the 8,s alot more

 

Not knowing what combination is there.. some 3-speeds came with the smaller 10.38" clutch, but could have the 11" as the bellhousing will accept both. I've seen diaphragm cluches behind the 1 ton 4-speeds as well.

I've swapped out a few 235s for small blocks and the bellhousing was the same, this was '63-'65 vintage though.

Bob

 

I just don't see the fun in driving something that doesn't get out of its own way. 350 all the way.

 

Not knowing what combination is there.. some 3-speeds came with the smaller 10.38" clutch, but could have the 11" as the bellhousing will accept both. I've seen diaphragm cluches behind the 1 ton 4-speeds as well.

I've swapped out a few 235s for small blocks and the bellhousing was the same, this was '63-'65 vintage though.

i wasn't trying to argue with you. i have seen diaphram clutches in 1 tons too, but never the smaller one. i'm sure some could have come out with them, but not the norm. i was under the impression they stopped making 235's in 62 except for canada or 4x4 or something for a while into '63. not being a know it all or butt or anything, but all the 235's i have seen did not have sbc bolt pattern like 3rd gen inlines like 198, 230, 250, 292. but just cause i haven't seen it doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

 

Easy and cheap would be to find a good 250 to replace the 230, use the 350 for another day.