Chevy with 305?

[bpmcgee]

I'm looking at a 61 CHEVY suburban with a 305 V6 in it.

Did such a thing ever come from the factory? I can see how it might have been a reasonable swap from a 235 back in the day, so maybe an old modification?

Brian

[MusicMan70]

I'm guessing an older swap but post up a few photos and let's have a look at how factory-installed it appears.

[bpmcgee]

I'm afraid I only have one picture of it, and it doesn't show much other than that it seems to be a GMC 305 and the heater isn't connected

http://www.brianmcgee.info/piwigo/_d...ccdd407-me.jpg

[MusicMan70]

Here is the v6 from 61 GMC for comparison when I first bought it. Mines has a generator and yours an alternator; That could have always been upgraded but something to consider as far as originality.

The GMC V6 was a GMC thing only unless there is old paperwork requesting the changeover. Unless the person really didn't care for GMC and wanted his Chevy with the new-for-the-times engine, I guess it's possible to ask and pay for it.

Also check here on the V6 for the engine number/Letter which will tell you what engine and even year it is.

http://www.6066gmcguy.com/EngineData.html

[bpmcgee]

The 'burb has a 4 speed (I assume SM420) in it, which means it originally had the 235 Thriftmaster. That had 135 HP net and 195 ft/lb of torque net.

The 305 had 125 HP net and 240 ft/lb of torque!! Talk about a torque monster. I can see why someone would want to swap this.

Of course, with the granny-first SM420 (about 7:1) and the factory 3.9:1 rear end, you end up with a 28:1 final ratio in first. LOL. Perfect if your primary requirement is turning tires into smoke.

Does the 305 share the same bellhousing pattern? I'm wondering what it would take to swap a correct 283 back into it.

[padresag]

are you sure that it is not a GMC or a chev body stuck ona gmc chassis or parts thereof?
Other alturnative is that someone installed it in there.
a lot of things can happen in 55 years
ron

[bpmcgee]

Ron,

I don't know. It's got a chevy hood and he's listing it as a Chevy, so I presume that means the title says "Chevrolet" on it, but I haven't put eyeballs on it. The truck is in CA and I'm in IL, which means I have to do a lot of the detective work by remote.

B

[padresag]

watch what you buy. if vin# and that don't jive you may have a problem getting it reistered in a different state esp if they do an inspection
1 not many would put a V6 in a chev; not that there is anything wrong with them, that is just the way it is.. if there is a ser# on the frame(top by steering box it will be chev as GMC didn't stamp anything there these years. if there is a ser# on the frame it should match the last set of nbrs On the plate in the door frame. the last 5 or6 digits. I would if you could find someone on the board here who is close by to make a check for you
ron

[62stepside longbox]

The dash will tell you if the body is a Chevy or gmc. Chevy will have a double hump dash and gmc will have a single hump. Also a gmc will most likely have leaf springs in the rear as where the Chevy will have coils

[Classic v6 GMC's]

60-62 Chevy and GMC's have coils.

[62stepside longbox]

Originally Posted by Classic v6 GMC's

60-62 Chevy and GMC's have coils.

Thanks for the info, had no idea. Just shows how different gmc's can be, like how Canadian 60-66 gmc's all had rear coils

[padresag]

Originally Posted by 62stepside longbox

Thanks for the info, had no idea. Just shows how different gmc's can be, like how Canadian 60-66 gmc's all had rear coils

no
ron

[62stepside longbox]

Originally Posted by padresag

no
ron

Haha well not ALL but lots of them did

[bpmcgee]

It's a 4x4, so leafs all around I think

It has a double hump dash - so Chevy with a GMC engine.

B
Posted via Mobile Device

[padresag]

Originally Posted by bpmcgee

It's a 4x4, so leafs all around I think

It has a double hump dash - so Chevy with a GMC engine.

B
Posted via Mobile Device

may be a chev body on a gmc frame. don't take anything for granted. I know once we get something that we want sometime reason leaves. hate to seeyou buy it an not be able to registr it. lots of questions like you now realize that it is a 4 x 4. is it the real thing or converted 4 x 4 . there is a lot of crap out there that if it had to be inspected wouldn't be allowed on the street. it is your money.
that is how I got my suburban body. it was a 65 gmc on a 84 4 x4 chassis that was brought across the Border into BC. anything that comes in out of province(state in your case) get thorouhly inspected before registr. here. there was nothing the guy could do with it. I bought it for what it was and removed the body and that was really mickey moused on. beauty is only skin deep while ugly goes clear to the bone.
ron

[bpmcgee]

Thanks for your advice, Ron. I'm definitely looking for someone to go take a look at it. Fancy a trip to Sacramento?

[padresag]

Originally Posted by bpmcgee

Thanks for your advice, Ron. I'm definitely looking for someone to go take a look at it. Fancy a trip to Sacramento?

expenses paid
ron

[VictoriaHardware]

Originally Posted by bpmcgee

The 'burb has a 4 speed (I assume SM420) in it,

The pictures shows the "3 on the tree" linkage on the steering column, so either the column or the trans is not original. Also the lower column shaft is not original.

[bpmcgee]

Good eye, VH!

So it may not have an SM420 in it! More questions to ask.

B

[padresag]

Originally Posted by VictoriaHardware

The pictures shows the "3 on the tree" linkage on the steering column, so either the column or the trans is not original. Also the lower column shaft is not original.

what is wrong or different about the lower column shaft?
ron

[VictoriaHardware]

Originally Posted by bpmcgee

So it may not have an SM420 in it!

It may have a 4 spd now and they just left part of the old 3-spd linkage on the column.

what is wrong or different about the lower column shaft?

The column normally has a 3/4" solid shaft all the way from the steering wheel to the gear on the frame. That one has a later model u-joint right up at the top. Like someone has changed the steering gear. Maybe it already has an integral power steering upgrade? Wait, now I see the same thing on MusicMan70's post. Maybe it's a '61 thing that I am not familiar with.

[padresag]

Originally Posted by VictoriaHardware

It may have a 4 spd now and they just left part of the old 3-spd linkage on the column.



The column normally has a 3/4" solid shaft all the way from the steering wheel to the gear on the frame. That one has a later model u-joint right up at the top. Like someone has changed the steering gear. Maybe it already has an integral power steering upgrade? Wait, now I see the same thing on MusicMan70's post. Maybe it's a '61 thing that I am not familiar with.

I had a 62 with the same set-up. did have a hydramatic in it.
ron

[bpmcgee]

Originally Posted by padresag

may be a chev body on a gmc frame. don't take anything for granted. I know once we get something that we want sometime reason leaves. hate to seeyou buy it an not be able to registr it. lots of questions like you now realize that it is a 4 x 4. is it the real thing or converted 4 x 4 . there is a lot of crap out there that if it had to be inspected wouldn't be allowed on the street. it is your money.
that is how I got my suburban body. it was a 65 gmc on a 84 4 x4 chassis that was brought across the Border into BC. anything that comes in out of province(state in your case) get thorouhly inspected before registr. here. there was nothing the guy could do with it. I bought it for what it was and removed the body and that was really mickey moused on. beauty is only skin deep while ugly goes clear to the bone.
ron

Ron,

You're a genius! The frame started life as a GMC Panel, but the owner wanted something to haul his grandkids, so he swapped on a Chevy body (and titled it as a Chevy to match the VIN plate).

So what would the differences be in the frame and mechanical between the '61 GMC 4x4 and the '61 Chevy 4x4? I know the 305A engine, and the clutch. Are there other running-gear differences?

I've got a period 283 I could donate if that's all that would be required to make it a Chevy.

B

[padresag]

they may have different axles, but you would more than likely upgrade them to newer stuff if you are after pb and ps. not difficult

[padresag]

but what is the vin#. bet you the chevy vin# is a 2 whl drive or there is something else was whacky.
did you get any pics of it?
ron