Hey everybody I have a question or two.. Well probably more than two. My brother and I are attempting to swap the motor out of our 78 Caballero, and install one of Hotchkis's TVS suspension systems. I've swapped identical motors before, but not upgraded like this. I know I'll run into a few issues along the way, and figured I'd start a thread here to show progress, and get some feedback. I don't want to reinvent the wheel here, so if anyone knows of great build posts to point me at post links up here. Any help in anyway is greatly appreciated!!
1.) The Engine code or ID number stamped on the plate behind the alternator is "V0119800". There is no suffix code like I've seen on other GM motors.
(This appears to be a 1979 crate motor from GM Targetmaster 9800=1979)
2.) The Cast number on the back of the block "39-GM 14016379"
(This appears to be a 1978-85 -350 block)
3.) The cast number(14014416) and design(Saddle and Vertical Bar) on the heads appear to be from a 305
("Late-model 305, conventional valve covers, intake port not restricted; lightweight; 57cc chamb") (One upper left bolt hole on the passanger side head for accessories)
4.) The V6 bracketry and pulleys don't seem to be swappable at all(231V6 with front mounted dist). The existing pulleys on this V8 Frankenstien are of a hybrid flat serpentine belt from Crank->Alt-->Water Pump, and tensioned by alternator. The other belt is a vbelt running off the back of the hybrid 2 groove crank pulley, running the power steering pump. The belts even look a little out of allignment. I believe the old bracketry from something(79) was used, just with these hybrid serp/vbelt pulleys. Probably came from the later model vehicle the 416 heads were taken from. Horibbly wrong looking and functioning.
Really stuck on the brackets for this beast.. The 305 head (passanger side) only has one accessory hole in the top corner. I've looked on multiple sites, and with the amount of options I'm lost.
March has a 22082 setup that will bolt on, but the problem is really cost. I'd be looking at $700 for the pulley/bracket kit, and another $200-250 to replace the R4 A/C pump?? with a Sanden 508. Expensive, but will keep the orientation of my accessories correct with the ALT/A/C on the passanger side, and look pretty sick. The other question is the radiator clearance, it does state on March's site to check clearance between the long water pump, and radiator. Problem is the motor is still out of the car.. Guess I'd want to wait to put the motor in and mock up the radiator before I ordered such an expensive kit. Also wanted to run a clutch fan, so the clearance is crucial!! Any chance that someone has this kit installed in a 78 with clutch fan?
I would like to find a stock set of brackets that keep the vbelt config with existing compressor, and just upgrade the pulleys.. Anyone have pics of a stock 350 bracket setup on a 78 gbody with A/C?? Wondering if they were mounted on the drivers side in 78. I have a manual, but it's really generic... I don't know if the brackets I have are stock, and wanted a good pic of the brackets, and locations.
Lastly, pulled the V6 (231) out last weekend, and went to pull the motor mounts., and check allignment for 350 mounts. However it appears the only way to get access to the bolts is to remove or bottom control arm, shock/spring to gain access to the hole into the crossmember. I do see a few service holes in the crossmember, but I don't see any other way to get at them besides dissassembling. The bolts are one the bottom too, with the nuts on the top of the mount.. I can see them falling down into the crossmember. Problem is we bolted up a hotchkis TVS kit already, and now are looking at taking it back apart. Really the only thing that pisses me off is compressing the $%! springs, always scares me. Any help or advice geared toward my tribulations, is greatly I mean greatly appreciacted!!
I'll start to put some pics up here soon, been really busy getting everything ready for this swap.
1.) The Engine code or ID number stamped on the plate behind the alternator is "V0119800". There is no suffix code like I've seen on other GM motors.
(This appears to be a 1979 crate motor from GM Targetmaster 9800=1979)
2.) The Cast number on the back of the block "39-GM 14016379"
(This appears to be a 1978-85 -350 block)
3.) The cast number(14014416) and design(Saddle and Vertical Bar) on the heads appear to be from a 305
("Late-model 305, conventional valve covers, intake port not restricted; lightweight; 57cc chamb") (One upper left bolt hole on the passanger side head for accessories)
4.) The V6 bracketry and pulleys don't seem to be swappable at all(231V6 with front mounted dist). The existing pulleys on this V8 Frankenstien are of a hybrid flat serpentine belt from Crank->Alt-->Water Pump, and tensioned by alternator. The other belt is a vbelt running off the back of the hybrid 2 groove crank pulley, running the power steering pump. The belts even look a little out of allignment. I believe the old bracketry from something(79) was used, just with these hybrid serp/vbelt pulleys. Probably came from the later model vehicle the 416 heads were taken from. Horibbly wrong looking and functioning.
Really stuck on the brackets for this beast.. The 305 head (passanger side) only has one accessory hole in the top corner. I've looked on multiple sites, and with the amount of options I'm lost.
March has a 22082 setup that will bolt on, but the problem is really cost. I'd be looking at $700 for the pulley/bracket kit, and another $200-250 to replace the R4 A/C pump?? with a Sanden 508. Expensive, but will keep the orientation of my accessories correct with the ALT/A/C on the passanger side, and look pretty sick. The other question is the radiator clearance, it does state on March's site to check clearance between the long water pump, and radiator. Problem is the motor is still out of the car.. Guess I'd want to wait to put the motor in and mock up the radiator before I ordered such an expensive kit. Also wanted to run a clutch fan, so the clearance is crucial!! Any chance that someone has this kit installed in a 78 with clutch fan?
I would like to find a stock set of brackets that keep the vbelt config with existing compressor, and just upgrade the pulleys.. Anyone have pics of a stock 350 bracket setup on a 78 gbody with A/C?? Wondering if they were mounted on the drivers side in 78. I have a manual, but it's really generic... I don't know if the brackets I have are stock, and wanted a good pic of the brackets, and locations.
Lastly, pulled the V6 (231) out last weekend, and went to pull the motor mounts., and check allignment for 350 mounts. However it appears the only way to get access to the bolts is to remove or bottom control arm, shock/spring to gain access to the hole into the crossmember. I do see a few service holes in the crossmember, but I don't see any other way to get at them besides dissassembling. The bolts are one the bottom too, with the nuts on the top of the mount.. I can see them falling down into the crossmember. Problem is we bolted up a hotchkis TVS kit already, and now are looking at taking it back apart. Really the only thing that pisses me off is compressing the $%! springs, always scares me. Any help or advice geared toward my tribulations, is greatly I mean greatly appreciacted!!
I'll start to put some pics up here soon, been really busy getting everything ready for this swap.
