Help/advise on engine swap

[rxl]

Hey all. I posted up a few times earlier this year and now have a pretty decent running truck.
Sooo, now that it performs well, it's time to mess with it.
I have a 93 shorty stepside sport, 305tbi, 60E tranny
I also have a 1969 350 with a th350 attached.
It's now a 355 and looks real purdy but I have no clue what makes up the internals. It was pulled from an 88 Ranger and I was able to track down and talk to the builder and previous owner. Previous owner said it was 425 hp at the fly. I have my doubts.
The builder is a well known late model stock car engine builder in my area that remembers the truck and engine, but no specifics. Oh well.
The good news is that it has around 1000 miles on it. Bad news is that it has sat for 2 yrs. Fogged, wrapped and sitting on a stand in a barn. It's not siezed because I was able to roll the crank about 1/4" by hand.
Swap will happen in the spring but I want to prepare.
Here's a few things I'd like advise with to start.
Stock guages would be nice. I will add aftermarket oil and temp to the stock cluster if possible.
Will I need a tranny crossmember to mount to?
I prefer to run a 700r tranny and if I do I guess I wont need the tranny member changed out.
Will I need to build a new driveshaft to fit if I run the th350 tranny?
I have 342's in the rear with a eaton locker. 2wd and will be swapping it out. It's beat.
373's wont make a whole lot of difference if I go 700r but what if I stay with the th350?
It's just a fartin around town truck so 410's or maybe even 456's would be nice. Dont want a big stall converter. Police here are crazy on tire shredders. And I dont really need to be pulled in for inspection.
Can some suggest good donor vehicles for these gears?

I suppose some of you fella's will know best what I need to know, so I'm all ears and and ready to learn. I'm green but not a noob.

Thanks in advance and I hope to be able to take some pics and post a decent swap to help others in the future.

[formulabruce]

If your going to beat that 700 tranny, you better get a tranny cooler, also run a 170 T stat in that 355. its full open at 180 and will keep the tranny temp down.
The 3.42 is a great gear ratio for your 355 with a 700. I would get your rear rebuilt and re- use the ring and pinion if possible 342's are prized possesion for firebird/camaro owners with a 4 speed auto.
You may want to consider a thicker radiator, your 2 core isnt really up to this task.
I know the TH350 is same length as the 2004R tranny and same driveshaft can be used.
If you put 4 series gears, youll need a ring gear spacer to use your posi with it, and most likely the 700 will die.
The TH350 will need a different crossmember, and it may have to be aftermarket, Im not sure that an 87 TH-350-C crossmember will bolt into that frame. Others may have a trick for this.
Keep in mind your TBI will be toast, and computer too at this point.
You cannot bolt that TBI intake on your older engine./heads.
Also the TBI you want would be a 350 injectors model, or one from a 454.
They do make a conversion intake for this .
The TBI is more designed for tourque, than HP output
Theres some stuff to think on, have fun and post pics!!, Bruce

[bradrhale]

Originally Posted by formulabruce

The 3.42 is a great gear ratio for your 355 with a 700.

kind of quick to say without asking him what he intends to use it for except for cruising, dont you think??
will he be using this to tow with?? highway speeds alot, maybe?? maybe a little more umph than normal?? 3.42 may not be the best choice for him regardless if it is a 355 with a 700r4 tranny.
as for stall convertors, do not install one unless you plan on the cam change and then choose the convertor accordingly. they are tied together and the wrong selection will have negative results in the end. trust me, i know.

[rxl]

Thanks.
The motor comes complete with the rad that was in it and tranny cooler. Dont know if the cooler can be reused for a 700 but we'll see.
I'm running a carb so tbi isnt a consideration. I have a variety of intakes and carbs to choose from. A hi-rise intake with a 850 holly, mid-rise with a 750 holly and the standard cast with a big rochester. Not sure what cfm yet.
I'm considering selling the 202 humps and going with Vortec heads and an aftermarket intake. Everyone tells me they flow better than the 202's.
My rear diff is beat so I'm just swapping the whole thing out.
And no I dont plan on a hi stall converter. Thats why I would like to find a rear end that came with 410 or 456's in it. Just have to search to find out what vehicles came equiped with them.
Havent got there yet.
I have talked with a few locals who had seen the truck the motor came from, perform. They all agree that it has some pony power. Wrecked a few drive shafts and twisted the 88 Ranger up pretty bad. Last time it left the line, one front wheel came up and never sat back down.

At most, this truck will do a 2 hour run maybe once a year. Other than that, just a town cruiser.

[formulabruce]

Originally Posted by bradrhale

kind of quick to say without asking him what he intends to use it for except for cruising, dont you think??
will he be using this to tow with?? highway speeds alot, maybe?? maybe a little more umph than normal?? 3.42 may not be the best choice for him regardless if it is a 355 with a 700r4 tranny.
as for stall convertors, do not install one unless you plan on the cam change and then choose the convertor accordingly. they are tied together and the wrong selection will have negative results in the end. trust me, i know.

I tok a guess on cruising, Im sorry.... I will say this a 94 light duty 3/4 ton with a tow package from the factory had 342-356 gear in rear.

[formulabruce]

Originally Posted by rxl

Thanks.
The motor comes complete with the rad that was in it and tranny cooler. Dont know if the cooler can be reused for a 700 but we'll see.
I'm running a carb so tbi isnt a consideration. I have a variety of intakes and carbs to choose from. A hi-rise intake with a 850 holly, mid-rise with a 750 holly and the standard cast with a big rochester. Not sure what cfm yet.
I'm considering selling the 202 humps and going with Vortec heads and an aftermarket intake. Everyone tells me they flow better than the 202's.
My rear diff is beat so I'm just swapping the whole thing out.
And no I dont plan on a hi stall converter. Thats why I would like to find a rear end that came with 410 or 456's in it. Just have to search to find out what vehicles came equiped with them.
Havent got there yet.
I have talked with a few locals who had seen the truck the motor came from, perform. They all agree that it has some pony power. Wrecked a few drive shafts and twisted the 88 Ranger up pretty bad. Last time it left the line, one front wheel came up and never sat back down.

At most, this truck will do a 2 hour run maybe once a year. Other than that, just a town cruiser.

I dont believe there was a truck, with the small ring gear rear ( 8.5)
that came with those gears you seek. You can jump to 10.5 small 14 bolt rear and find them if you look . Most are going to recomend an aftermarket posi for it, vs a stock eaton with a govenor.
just my 2 cents

[rxl]

Almost afraid to try doing the gears myself. I've heard the stories.
I read that there is a van that came with 12bolt 5 lug axles. I'm going to look into it alittle more. See if I cant find one with shorter gears that way.

Went to pick up my engine this weekend. Still in the back of the truck.
I added a 6 foot section to my little shop about ten years ago and the floor has sunk. Did it cheaply and now I have it all tore out to lay concrete before I can even roll the engine in.
Oh well. Off to get some sand and gravel.