hey guys, haven't been on here in awhile. i need some input from you guys. im looking at buying a 1963 gmc c-10. its got the 235 6cyl in it with the 3/tree setup. im looking at it for a project truck. the 235 runs and the truck will drive, has rust work and no bed. but $300 and has a clean title i may buy it. so this is my question, what do i have to change to drop a v8 in it? are the mounts the same? i dont want the 3 speed column shift. ill probably either put a 700r4 in it or a 4spd sm465. and just curious, whats the gas mileage of the 235? and if i do keep the 235, how can i put a 700r4 behind it? thanks a bunch in advance.
1963 GMC C-10? with a 235 in it? something about that does not compute. Anyways, for swapping in a V8, the frame mounts for the V8 Chevy or GMC truck from 63-66 will work, as will the 250 straight six mounts from a 63-72 truck. THe 292 six and 67-72 V8 trucks have one or both mounts further forward. To put an auto behind the 235 is a pain, but the SM420 is a bolt in, you'll need the right floor and a different driveshaft. The SM465 requires the larger center hole bellhousing, and the trans might not clear the bellhousing crossmember.
yea sorry im honestly not familiar with the old 6cyls, so i was guessing that it was a 235. and i just meant that it was a 63 gmc, i dont know what they called them i thought they were c-10s also. what would it have in it? its just the old 6cyl.
The 235 rear block where a bell would bolt to, does not look like a Chev V8 pattern. The 230 and also the slightly newer 250 would have a back block shape that looks like a V8 bell pattern.
If it's a GMC six it's a much stouter motor than the Chevy, Very popular with the inliners...it should be something like a 292 or 302. if your interested, you can visit Inliners International website and search the casting numbers. If it's a decent engine it'll bring enough cash to pay for your v8 swap...or close to it anyway, depending on size and condition. http://www.inliners.org/ Throwing a SBC in one of these trucks is easy. Get the proper mounts as outlined above, then scrounge a donor car...mid to late 70s or somewhere around there...and you'll have everything else you'll need in the way of cores, brackets, accessories, etc. That's the way I built my '65 and it made things so much easier..... I used a GM 12 bolt rear end from a Chevelle with 2:73's, a 350TH/350crate using all the bolt-ons from my donor. An edlebrock 650 cfm carb and on the road it went. I also used the tilt colum, brake booster, etc.....Took about 4 days. I drove the crap out of it for 19 years with no trouble 'cause it was, basically, all factory spec stuff.
Actually if it's an original GMC six it could be the 230(exact same as a Chevy 230), or one of the GMC V-6 engines. The GMC V-6's are an all together different beast than any thing before or since. But either way any Chevy V-8 about slips right in.
thanks guys, im not positive if i should go big block or small, well let me rephrase that, if i have the money to spend ill find a big block, if not, i would like to find a 283 or 327 to put in it. seems like everyone has a 350 in whatever chevy they have, so id like to have a small block thats got alil pep, maybe put a cam and get some double hump heads. anyone got tips for these trucks? and how can i get rid of the 6lug setup for cheap?
I'm keeping the 6 lug wheels on mine. The "quick and dirty" way to up date these trucks is to use a complete front end from a '73-'87. The entire front end unbolts from the frame with 10 or 12 bolts, viola!-5 lugs, disc brakes, and parts available any where. The 5 bolt axles are available for the rear but they are pricey($300-$350),better deal is prolly a '71-'72 rear(1 and a half inches wider) or a '73-'87 axle(2 and a half wider), widths are approximate and will vary with different brake setups just a bit. In all likelyhood your face is about to become recognised at the local pick-a-part yard.
Should be the V6 if it's the original engine, that's the only 6 that came in the 63 GMC 1000 (that's the half ton) truck. If it has a straight 6, then someone swapped in something else, if you can take some pictures of the engine, both sides, and post them here we can help you figure out what you have. If it's a Chevy 230 or 250 then you can swap in a small block V8 very easily, it's a bolt in.
Back about 10 years ago I bought a '63 GMC from an auto parts store in Alabama. It came with the original sales invoice. The invoice stated "230 cubic in. engine.......................$-26.00 The V-6 was not well recieved when word got around about how much gas it used. GMC was quick to offer the "Chevy" engine as a lower cost option.
Interesting, I didn't know that. The 65 GMC I had came with the Chevy six. The 63 had the V6. The plate on the kick panel only lists the V6 on the 63.
I Had a 1963 C10 Chevy stepside short bed a few years ago. It was originally a 6 with a three speed. The previous owner had set it up with a '69 camaro 327, t350 trans, and a rear out of an early '70s Lemans, I think with 2:73s. It was peppy, and very driveable. It was a great highway truck and I drove it up and down the Mid Atlantic pretty regularly. I liked the combination very much, but it could have used one more gear.
I will try to get some pics when i go down there to the farmers house. its just an old farm truck but it is an inline 6. i asked if it was a 230, he said he believes its a 235. runs when you squirt gas in the carb. so idk. is there any difference to the engine mounts with the 230 vs the 235? i just thought it was years of when the engine was built.
The 230 is completely different from the 235, different mounts, bellhousing, etc. 235 is the "old" engine, used thru 1962, 230 is the "new" engine used starting in 1963, they made the very similar 250 and 292 thru the 1980s.
Casting numbers to ID 230 vs 250, externally, they are the same. As for swapping the front suspension- All you need is the spindles. You can even use 90-up spindles with 73-87 ball joints. You can swap the other stuff, but it's not necessary.
My 63 GMC C-10 came with a 230, actually mines a 910 (Canada) but same thing. Funny though the guy I bought the truck from was adamant it was a 235 too...but it isn't. I believe the 250 wasn't used till 66 if that helps at all.
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