The radiator I have seems pretty big. I'm wondering if I can get away with using it for the 350 that's going in.


going in.

 

What do you have in there? A 235, a 250 or a 292 I-6 ? If you add a V8, you’ll need a fan shroud. Might want to add a power brake canister too.

 

HI, its the 250. I figured I would need a shroud but was just concerned that it would be big enough for a V8. I looks like it would but someone who has done it would have an answer for me.

 

I have never done an engine swap, just replaced a motor that was gone. If I wanted more power, I'd trade up to the vehicle I wanted. Just so you know, the Chevy 250 inline six, could last 500k back in the day when the V-8's MIGHT make half of that. An I-6 motor is inherently balanced, which is one reason why all modern semi-trucks have them. They last a long time, as I know as the former owner of a 1970 Chevy Nova with the GM 250 I-6. It didn't use a drop of oil, and still had plenty of power on tap.

Unlike these pukey, small displacement gasoline motors that many auto manufacturers are using, the Turbocharger in a semi-diesel will last much longer. It's the reason I grabbed up the non-turbocharged 2.5 liter mill in my 2015 Chevrolet Malibu, the best 4-cyclinder motor Chevy ever produced.

The gas mileage is still terrific, well over the EPA estimate by far, even after I installed a donut spare tire, which they don't come with, Without a turbocharger to go bad under 200k, and overheating the motor oil, I expect to get 500 thousand miles of use out of my sweet Chevrolet Malibu. I'm not young anymore, so she'll be my last Chevrolet vehicle.

 

Slicer280: Sorry I got a tangent about my Malibu, What V-8 would you like to retrofit? A 327 cubic inch V--8 would be a good choice IMO. The radiators back in1966 tended to be overbuilt, so I doubt you'd need to change your present one. What motor did
you have in mind?

 

I have a 350 that was taken out of my 72 nova. it's in the shop now getting ready. I'll probably sell the 250 since they are a good engine and someone may want it to stay original.

 

Gotcha. Yeah the V-8 will set back too far to run it without a shroud. Might need a new fan as well, but those are cheap. Due to better motor oils, and fuel injection, V-8's can last a long time these days.

 

So I had an electric fan and shroud left over from converting the Nova to a big block to a dual fan to clear the water pump. A little cutting and modification and it works perfect.

 

Nice job! Well done.

 

Thanks! Surprised at how well it cools. The small block should be ok with it.