Engine Options/Ideas

[BDSeff1fitty]

so right now i have the engine in the shop. don't know if it runs but my dad wants me to have a reliable rig. so i have a few options.

local shop wants $1800 to rebuild it, so thats not gonna happen

option 1) take a gamble and see if this motor i have now runs

option 2)
i was thinking either get a crate engine, i can get this one for under $1500 to my house. 10067353 - 5.7L- (LS9-L) & (LM1-6) 1971-1985 GM Cars & Trucks (Up To 7,200 GVW) With Chevy 350 V8 - Also known As The "Universal 350" - 10067353 if i go with this one i will re-use my edlebrock carb (brand new) and intake, clutch, flywheel

option 3) buy a 2f, would need everything, but could sell the 350 i have now and sell the carb seperate since its new and sell the adapter pieces, but would need new motor mounts, new bell housing, and new t-case mount only problem with this idea is don't know any where to buy a 2f. are there any places i can buy a new one, i saw that man a fre (think that was who has them) has them but want 4k, definitely not even an idea. kinda like this idea having a stock drive train rig and having the low end perks of the 2f.

if i buy a new engine, it would HAVE to be new. this is a present from my dad and he wants a warranty if he is spending big bucks on it.

only fear i have about keeping the motor i have now is i am spending alot of money on this rig, and don't want to risk screwing up parts pulling an engine due to it not running. but if i keep the motor and it turns out to be good, i should have a few hundred bucks to play with to buy maybe a new radiator (won't get $1500 if i dont get a new motor).

throw out your suggestions on what you would do if you were in my situation.

 

[Texx]

Do you know the 350 is bad? Has it had a compression test and cylinder leak down test?

 

[BDSeff1fitty]

Do you know the 350 is bad? Has it had a compression test and cylinder leak down test?

the shop is/was supposed to do that. but they won't stop trying to get us to rebuild it. from how my dad was acting last night he seems to want me to have a rebuilt or new engine. i was figuring if i got a new 350 i could sell the one i have now for 350ish w/ out carb hopefully and make some money back, the local shop is just wanting me to spend tons of money on stuff probly not needed and if i was to spend $1800 i would rather have a brand new engine with a warranty rather than an engine i know thats already been rebuilt once

 

[Vicm]

option 3) buy a 2f, would need everything, but could sell the 350 i have now and sell the carb seperate since its new and sell the adapter pieces, but would need new motor mounts, new bell housing, and new t-case mount only problem with this idea is don't know any where to buy a 2f. are there any places i can buy a new one, i saw that man a fre (think that was who has them) has them but want 4k, definitely not even an idea. kinda like this idea having a stock drive train rig and having the low end perks of the 2f.

This option, considering you want your cake and you want to eat too.
You don't have to spend 4k to get a reliable 2F as long as you don't ask for a warranty with it. Heck, you might even find someone welling to trade you what you want for what you have.
Transfercase mount?

 

[BDSeff1fitty]

This option, considering you want your cake and you want to eat too.
You don't have to spend 4k to get a reliable 2F as long as you don't ask for a warranty with it. Heck, you might even find someone welling to trade you what you want for what you have.
Transfercase mount?

by t-case mount i mean the mount that goes to the rear of the t-case and connects to both sides of the frame.

i live in houston, so i might have a little trouble finding someone to swap, but if the 2f ran and had good compression i would probly do it.

from what the PO said the engine i have was rebuilt 20k ago and just installed in the 40 recently. but everyone knows how PO's can't always be trusted.

 

[Downey]

My opinion is that if you've already driven it as a V8, it's way too hard to go back to a 6 cyl. I've tried it, doesn't work for me. If the engine is going to be a gift, go for the new crate motor. Normally I would not recommend a crate engine for the first time conversion because the crate motor is missing way too many things you will need, but if the rig has already been Chevota, then everything is already there except the fresh ponies. Good luck with this project Kimosabi!!!!!

 

[BDSeff1fitty]

My opinion is that if you've already driven it as a V8, it's way too hard to go back to a 6 cyl. I've tried it, doesn't work for me. If the engine is going to be a gift, go for the new crate motor. Normally I would not recommend a crate engine for the first time conversion because the crate motor is missing way too many things you will need, but if the rig has already been Chevota, then everything is already there except the fresh ponies. Good luck with this project Kimosabi!!!!!

never driven it with the v8, and i figure if i need/want more power i can always do gears and if im still unhappy headers and fuel injection. i just like the idea of low idle when climbing, i dont expect this to be a rocket, just a trail rig

and just because my dad is willing to spend the money, i would rather him not, i bought this as my project for me to do and him to help when he can and want to pay for as much as i can.

 

[Vicm]

It seems you want a 2F,
Here is an example
Cool Cruisers of Texas Info-Exchange - Re: 79' 2F for sale

 

[BDSeff1fitty]

i found a 2f for sale out of a 85 60 series. what all do i need to get back to stock? bellhousing and clutch, and motor mounts?

also found another engine for sale, its at a salvage yard, the guy said it ran but has no clue if its an f or 2f and is over all pretty clueless, couldn't even give me the numbers off the block so i could find out what it is.

 

[Tigerstripe40]

If the motor swap has been done I'd say keep the 350.
It's likely that the stock motor mounts for the 2F motor have been cut out to make room for the 350 conversion.

My 2 cents is pull the motor and have it rebuilt. Is the shop who is working on it quoting you for the rebuild BEFORE labor or AFTER labor? $1800 to pull, rebuild and install a motor is a pretty sweet deal. If they are quoting you for JUST the rebuild, tell them that you will have a crate motor shipped to them and go with the new crate motor.

 

[BDSeff1fitty]

If the motor swap has been done I'd say keep the 350.
It's likely that the stock motor mounts for the 2F motor have been cut out to make room for the 350 conversion.

My 2 cents is pull the motor and have it rebuilt. Is the shop who is working on it quoting you for the rebuild BEFORE labor or AFTER labor? $1800 to pull, rebuild and install a motor is a pretty sweet deal. If they are quoting you for JUST the rebuild, tell them that you will have a crate motor shipped to them and go with the new crate motor.

$1800 is just for the rebuild. i pulled the engine and brought it to them.
another shop called me today, $1495 with a new cam for more low end torque or $1395 using stock cam.

as for motor mounts, are they welded in or bolted in? the motor mounts i have now are downey's and just bolt on. any body have a photo what the 2f motor mounts look like? there are some for sale in the classified section right now.

for some reason i just like the idea of having a 2f latley and being a pretty stock drive train. this rig is going to be my trail rig, for a while i know it will be slow with the 4.11's and 35's but ill eventually put 4.88's in it to give me back some power.

i know the 350 vs. 2f is a very popular debate between all you guys, but i want to keep my rig fairly stock but built at the same time. if yall understand what im going for. i just don't want to keep the 350 and wish i had the 2f (i know im thinking backwards to most peoples thoughts), i figured build this rig exactly how i want it and no regrets later down the road.

 

[Vicm]

i found a 2f for sale out of a 85 60 series. what all do i need to get back to stock? bellhousing and clutch, and motor mounts?

also found another engine for sale, its at a salvage yard, the guy said it ran but has no clue if its an f or 2f and is over all pretty clueless, couldn't even give me the numbers off the block so i could find out what it is.

I wouldn't buy a motor unless I can see it and here it running, if it were me. I just bought a 3B still in a BJ60 ,not running, but cheap enough that I could get twice my money back if I sold 3 or 4 items from it and a spare drivetrain for my other 60 not to mension few other spare parts.

The diff between F and 2F , look at some pics in the build threads ,not hard to spot aside from serial #s.

If you post pics of your frame, people can see what is there and what is not , that way you will get more help.
You might easily find what is missing in the F/S section.

Meantime, it is a good idea to get that 350 up and running, easier
to sell and easier to make up your mind once you know what you have. It is always good to follow a logical order when doing things.

 

[BDSeff1fitty]

I wouldn't buy a motor unless I can see it and here it running, if it were me. I just bought a 3B still in a BJ60 ,not running, but cheap enough that I could get twice my money back if I sold 3 or 4 items from it and a spare drivetrain for my other 60 not to mension few other spare parts.

The diff between F and 2F , look at some pics in the build threads ,not hard to spot aside from serial #s.

If you post pics of your frame, people can see what is there and what is not , that way you will get more help.
You might easily find what is missing in the F/S section.

Meantime, it is a good idea to get that 350 up and running, easier
to sell and easier to make up your mind once you know what you have. It is always good to follow a logical order when doing things.

its in the guys 40 right now actually and he has been driving it. if i decide to get this one i will have him send a video of it running. its someone from the board so i have trust in them.

to get the 350 running, i could just feed gas into the carb correct? that probly would be a good idea just so i can get the most amount possible for it.

i will get a few photo's in a minute of my frame and have them up in 10 or so minutes.

 

[BDSeff1fitty]

heres the photo's. last photo just shows where im at right now. axles will be coming off in the next few days so i can sand blast the frame. i just need to decide first what im doing about the engine so i know if i need to weld anything before i paint it.

 

[Downey]

My error, I thought it was already and older Chevy 350. Your path of least resistance/expense probably is the 2F. As far as low end/idle down torque. now only does the V8 have more torque at an even lower rpm than the 6 cyl., but what you do with carburetion and ignition is probably more important than what you do with engine (in terms of idle down).

 

[BDSeff1fitty]

My error, I thought it was already and older Chevy 350. Your path of least resistance/expense probably is the 2F. As far as low end/idle down torque. now only does the V8 have more torque at an even lower rpm than the 6 cyl., but what you do with carburetion and ignition is probably more important than what you do with engine (in terms of idle down).

?? it has the 350 in it. there is a pic of the 350 in my gallery.

so i already have the brackets for the 2f right? all i need is the motor mounts?

i just talked to my dad and he really wants to keep a 350 in it, but its my project and i bought it so in the end the decision is mine. i cut a few corners on my DD and don't want to regret some stuff again.

 

[BDSeff1fitty]

could somebody post pictures of what the motor mounts on a 40 frame w/ a 2f would look like?

 

[Vicm]

Here is few taken from build thredas (thanks in advance)
You should look through the builld threds Lots of pics,
Note==== one pic the frame is upside down.
If you have the front brackets on the frame ,your good to go.
You are good as far as rear ones. The motor mounts , you can get them just about any place AFAIK.

 

[Vicm]

and one more

 

[BDSeff1fitty]

i dont have the mounts, im assuming there welded or riveted in? having trouble tracking some down. im down to the frame now so i need to decide soon what i am doing.