VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1955-1957 Engine swap

I have acquired a '56 Chev pickup with a very tired 235 six with a four speed. The quoted cost to rebuild it is horrible and all the rebuilders advise installing a small block V8. I have a question regarding motor mounts for the V8. I know there are kits available for the front mounts but what about the rears? The six has a rear mount on the engine with no mount on the transmission. The small blocks I've seen use the transmission as the rear engine mount. Will I have to relocate the rear crossmember?

Mr Bill

AFIK the early small blocks used the donut mounts at the very front of the engine and the rear mounts were on the bellhousing.

Thanks for your help George, I appreciate it.

Amos, you will need to either fab up a crossmember or buy one from a vendor specializeing in engine upgrades from a six to a Small block V/8.
Those of us here that hold to original values in regards to the old six cylinder Chevrolets do have a harder time finding rebuilders and overhaul parts but as one of my friends said :

"It is worth ever bit of it, to keep my car a six cylinder!"

MrMack,

Wouldn't he only need to fab up a crossmember if he went with a 58 or later V8 engine? The 265 was an option on trucks in 1956, so stock parts should work, or am I missing something? I do realize that the V8 is shorter, but I don't remember having to do anything special to replace the six with the early V8.

The V/8 truck engine used the same type front motor mounts as the 6 cyl but the V/8 mounting studs were different ( shorter or longer, I don't remember which). If you plan to use the same transmission find you a V/8 truck bell housing and use the original mounts. The two bottom trans. bolts will need to be mounted from inside the bell housing.

DD

Yep, I was wrong about the crossmember. Probably all you will need is a V/8 bell housing, & the original V/8 engine mounting bracket and maybe change the starter to a key or button starting switch?