Changing an inline 6 to a crate 350

Thanks for the photos. I will get me a donor car. I live in CA. A regular garage is $100 an hour. You find the right guy that's a wrench turner by hobby and you can just pay for the job. That's what I found in the 350 TPI and 200R transmission guy.

Check out the photos of what I'm getting

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And yes, it comes with the wire harness and computer

Thats flashy dude! whats the true history on it?
You allready have $250 worth of exhaust system right there.

Are those alluminum heads? I'm told alluminum heads run hotter, this is because the walls have to be thicker the water jackets end up smaller.

You will want to consider header wrap and dog house thermal/accoustic bearier cuz thats going to be hot in there with headres

kinda makes me think of a story, a guy covers himself with the sweetest nectar in the forest and jumps right into a huge bee hive, when its all said and done he just doesnt understand why he got stung.

Not Alum. heads. The history is it's a crate engine built up to 325 H.P and she's ready to roll. His son is doing the install. The engine is $3850 the the polished 200 R trans is $900.

Sounds good. I personally don't like alluminum heads.

I'm not trying to shoot down your mechanic guy,he's probobly good and having a fab shop is what you and he will need. I'm just bring some reality to the table when I talk about what it takes to do this job. 2K for the in stall is 20 hours labour, thats two and a half days. I think he will likely get it physically in in that time. I supose that will not include the dog house work which I think I spent about 25 hours doing iin mine. Just get yourself ready for it to cost more then he is saying and that way you be disapointed by an unreasomable expectation. You will need the guy to continue so you will be in a nagotiating position when he uses up the 2K, so if you keep the relationship on the posative it will work out in the end. But will cost more.

The R200 is a good trans choice, I have heard the drive shaft won't have to be shortened. It a good idea to drop the engine 1" with blocks between the frams and engine cradle. There are lots of advantages to that I can name later.

I understand but here's the deal. I pay for engine and the install all as one. Lets say he's working for $35 and how. Which isn't bad money. that gives him 60 hours of labor. That makes sense to me. And to you?

The dog house change will also mean a different means of installing the seats and the parking brake handle. But thats like everything else. the dog house the rad and rad sadles, none of that is a bolt in affair, it all requires engineereing, fabrication and modiification.

Heres one for you I shold have thought of before.

The TPI wil require a 45PSI electric fuel pump system. you can set up a small 1/2 gallon secondary fuel tank with the pump in it and the return lines into it with a means of pumping the fuel from the original tank to it.

Or
I installed a tank from a 88 G van that came with FI so it had the sendor thaT held the pump. IT HAS TO BE A TPI PUMP!! (higher presure) You will need to run the lines to and fro and you will need to deal with tank presure and venting and an inline filter compatable with that presure.
I had to relocate the fuel tank filler neck and overflow neck, I also had to move one of the frame members under the van and make custon blocks and straps to mount the tank.

Ofcoures the 1965 fuel sendor and gage are different ohmage then 67 and on GMs so the 1988 fuel quantity sendor worked fine with the new instrument pannel I had to make. The gauges I installed cost $1200 by the time the dust setled. because I needed and electric speedo because I used a factory computer. Your engine wiring will probobly be very basic and not need a VSS conection to the trans output. Myu new engine gauges and fuel gauge all matched up well with the 1988 furl tank sendor, and the new engine sensors .

That conversion to the chasis part of the fuel system , new tank, new sendor unit, (used pump from donner car) all new lines (steel and flex lines to engine) filter and custom straps and so on cost about $1300 plus time.

Have a look at my photo bucket the pictures are there.

M1D

Yes that makes better sence.

You might show your mechanic my photo bucket to give him some ideas. It might save you money in the end.
M1D

I think what m1dadio is getting at is this is not your everyday swap it will take longer. If he's going to try to use the linkage from the 6 he will be surprised. the doghouse when you get one should be reinsulated before installing it. The hole for that doghouse will have to be made bigger then weld the floor where it don't cover the old doghouse hole. It's a big job

Well, it seems m1dadio is trying to talk me out of this. The person that is putting in this engine has built some of the finest hotrods I've ever seen. Not to sound smug, but we're talking about a van here not a Duesenburg or a Lambo. They were built very basic to begin with. I know it's not easy but it sure isn't rocket science either. When the man tells me that he has done resto on old vans before and knows the 1st generation pretty well, I believe him. You are way smarter than I about mechanics for sure. That's why I wouldn't even try to do something like this myself. I can however pay someone and he's ready, willing and claims to be able. The job was promised turnkey with no extra charges. How he gets there, isn't my concern but like I said, he promises to get there.

I'm not trying to talk you out of it. I just know from expirience what is really involved. He promises "turn key" for only that much. When something sounds "to good to be true" it usually isn't. But if he can do that job for 2K ill bring him my next van.

Keep us posted, take lots of pictures and post them please I'm sure we all want to see this happen succesfully.

What ever happens just have fun with it cuz thats what its all about anyway.
M1D

I will. This is going to be my daily driver. Like I said, I will be using this as my daily driver. I probably drive 3 to 4000 miles a year. I'm spending about 9K on the paint alone. I don't mind paying for a job and if someone says they will do it for X, I hold them to the fire. Sometimes I pay too much but I usually get what I want when I'm finished. I can't turn a wrench but I can make a deal

redsockss wrote:I will. This is going to be my daily driver. Like I said, I will be using this as my daily driver. I probably drive 3 to 4000 miles a year. I'm spending about 9K on the paint alone. I don't mind paying for a job and if someone says they will do it for X, I hold them to the fire. Sometimes I pay too much but I usually get what I want when I'm finished. I can't turn a wrench but I can make a deal

Just throw money at it!!! Good luck, hope you don't get burned too bad

I'm not suprised at 9K for a body job. that sounds about right. Body work is all labour and maybe 2K in materials and paint. Can't wait to see the final product. Have you picked colors yet?

I make my living restoring toys for rich people.

M1D

Well, I will probably go with a silver. very simular to a 66 window van that someone has in the Gallery. It will match my custom built motorcycle.

Update, it's going to be 400 H.P. I'm thinking of putting wings on her and see if she will fly!

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Just a sec, let me go get my sunglasses...


With an engine as pretty as that, you should just run your van without a doghouse!!




I especially like the baseball bat holster on your motorcycle.

I was thinking of having the doghouse top specially made from plexi like the Lambo and Corvettes do, I will see how much that costs when I get it done.

If push came to shove, maybe cut out 24" square off the top and bolt the glass on top of the doghouse.

You gave me a cool idea. I'm going to get a sheet of lexan polycarbonate and have it formed into the top of my doghouse. I think that will look cool. Maybe 3/4 to an inch thick. I don't think it would cost too much to do and would show off that engine.