Re: IH/Chevy engine swap

[Eric Hegstrom <ehegstrom@domain.elided>]

PB:

I too love my 304 too. I have taken the old TA back and forth to San
Francisco from Tucson (approx 1000 miles) a couple of times and other
than losing a rear differential in Eloy I didn't have much problems.
With the 5-spd t-34 it's great in overdrive. I hauled the thing fully
loaded with a fully loaded trailer and never had any problems. I
achieved 11 MPG consistently (coasting downhill empty or going uphill
fully loaded) -- or so it seemed. I have also cruised many of the
backroads in Souther Arizona (mountains, etc..) and never any real
complaints. The thing has finally gotten in nead of a full rebuild or
close enough to that it's time for one. It leaks from every possible
place (and every possible fluid) and the  3 or 4 plugs are starting to
look really oil covered every couple thousand miles. Compression is down
in 3 cylinders. I'm assuming this is an original engine with 200K+ on it
(I've put at least 70 of them).
Unfortunately to do a full rebuild we're looking at about $1900 from
what I've found. Over $1200 for the parts alone. So I am pretty sure we
are going to go for a chevy 350 swap. Ouch, I'm sorry, but I can get a
long block chevy 350 in a crate for $1200. So I'm thinking we're going
to go for it. The only drawback is going to be pulling out the T-34
tranny (it's the one thing that is making me hesitate). I hate to go
with an automatic, but am worried about the expense/hassle of a GMC 5
speed (clutch linkage (maybe go for hydraulic)). I'm getting together
with my friend who has done a few scout conversions and has done over 50
engine swaps to look at it. I had a friends suburban over a few bays ago
and it looks like engine mounting shouldn't be that much trouble.
Luckily the TA has a divorced transfer case so that shouldn't be too
bad. We're going to do a cost analysis so I will keep the group
informed. I guess, given some time, I may be able to (sniff sniff) part
with my T-34. I will keep you guys informed if anyone is still
interested.

Can I still participate in this group if I have a GM engine in my scout
(Hell I've already got enough Gm/Ford parts in there already).

Cheers (and sorry for the longwindedness.. )
Eric

PB Schechter wrote:
> 
> Hi.  I have a '64 (titled '65, but clearly built in '64 or '63) Travelall
> with a 304 in it, and I am *very* impressed with the engine.  The T'all has
> only about 95K miles, and the 2nd owner rebuilt the engine (so he says) at
> about 45K (he had just gotten the T'all, and "heard a noise"), so I guess
> it's relatively new, by most standards.  In any case, I think this is a
> *great* engine.  For example--you hear all this stuff about getting a 345
> or a 392 for "heavy towing": I don't know what people mean by "heavy," but
> I live in Colorado, and this past summer I towed a 4,000 lb 24 foot travel
> trailer (a 1966 Airstream, in case you wonder) from Denver (at about 5,000
> feet) to South Park (about 10,000 feet)--a distance of about 125 miles--and
> had *no problems* (other than high gas consumption).  Not only that, but I
> have the T-16 (wide ratio 4 speed) tranny, and I never start in 1st gear;
> I also never started in 1st gear towing the trailer!  I *did* have to down-
> shift into 3rd about twice, for the steeper climbs, but the engine has an
> amazing amount of torque.  (I should add: I have 4.09 differentials, so
> that makes a big difference.)
> 
> In any case, I have only good things to say about my 304 (it *does* use
> oil, but I haven't tried to figure out where: there is no evidence of it
> being burned, and the compression was good (around 120 in all cylinders)
> last spring, when I bought it).  Nevertheless, if you decide to do the
> swap, and if your 5-speed tranny is really the T34 (i.e., the overdrive
> tranny), then I'm interested:  I get just under 14 mpg in highway (not
> interstate, so there is *some* stopping, and significant hill climbing)
> driving with my 304 and a recently rebuilt Holy 2-barrel carb.  I would
> probably do better with an overdrive....)
> 
> So, good luck, and let us know what you decide to do!
> 
> PB Schechter
> pb@domain.elided

-- 
Eric Hegstrom                                   tele: 520-617-0072 x402
Sonoran Scanners, Inc.             email: ehegstrom@domain.elided