Could a 65’ Chevelle 283 swamp into a 1961’ Apache?

[Isaiah92260]

What are your thoughts on replacing a 235 straight 6 for a 283 from a 65 Chevelle? What would I need to do?

[68Gold/white]

Of course it will!!! You've got a Chevrolet!!!

I am not an expert in those years pickups, maybe the moderator can move this to the 60-66 section, let the seasoned veteran's there give you all the info you need!!!

I'm sure you will need the frame brackets specific to the V8 engine, and the correct mounts that bolt to the engine. Then what trans do you have??? adapting it may not be difficult...

AND you will likely need your driveshaft modified...

[geezer#99]

Piece of cake!
Bolt it in. Sorta!
Different flywheel needed.
Same clutch.
Different starter. Bolt to the block type. Yours is bolt to the bellhousing.
Different zebar for your clutch linkage or different bracket.

[Isaiah92260]

Originally Posted by geezer#99

Piece of cake!
Bolt it in. Sorta!
Different flywheel needed.
Same clutch.
Different starter. Bolt to the block type. Yours is bolt to the bellhousing.
Different zebar for your clutch linkage or different bracket.

Oh okay so a few things I’ll have to do! I was reading some threads already, I also saw that I’ll need to modify my throttle linkage as well. Where could I find the right fly wheel, starter, and the linkage for the slave cylinder?

[Isaiah92260]

Originally Posted by 68Gold/white

Of course it will!!! You've got a Chevrolet!!!

I am not an expert in those years pickups, maybe the moderator can move this to the 60-66 section, let the seasoned veteran's there give you all the info you need!!!

I'm sure you will need the frame brackets specific to the V8 engine, and the correct mounts that bolt to the engine. Then what trans do you have??? adapting it may not be difficult...

AND you will likely need your driveshaft modified...

Oh okay the motor mounts and brackets I’ll have to find!
I have a 3 speed/ 3 on the tree tranny, with the slave cylinder type clutch on there

[geezer#99]

Sorry!
No zbar required.

[Isaiah92260]

Originally Posted by geezer#99

Sorry!
No zbar required.

Okay cool, so all I’d need is just a different bell housing, flywheel and starter?

[Captainfab]

For the engine mount brackets, the '67-'72 small block brackets fit the '60-'62 frames with little to no spacer on top of the frame. You will need a different flywheel and bellhousing. However finding a '60-'62 V8 bellhousing is going to be difficult. An option would be tio use the '63-'72 bellhousing with a hydraulic clutch slave cylinder conversion from Novak. The one issue with that is even if you go with their 7/8" bore slave cylinder, your current clutch master will still be too big. Then you get into upgrading to a different brake and clutch master. I do make a booster bracket with the hydraulic clutch for the '60-'62 Chevy's and '60-'63 GMC's that will work with the Novak slave cylinder.

https://www.novak-adapt.com/catalog/clutch/kit-hcr3/

http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=362375

Those are about your only options unless you change the transmission.

[Isaiah92260]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

For the engine mount brackets, the '67-'72 small block brackets fit the '60-'62 frames with little to no spacer on top of the frame. You will need a different flywheel and bellhousing. However finding a '60-'62 V8 bellhousing is going to be difficult. An option would be tio use the '63-'72 bellhousing with a hydraulic clutch slave cylinder conversion from Novak. The one issue with that is even if you go with their 7/8" bore slave cylinder, your current clutch master will still be too big. Then you get into upgrading to a different brake and clutch master. I do make a booster bracket with the hydraulic clutch for the '60-'62 Chevy's and '60-'63 GMC's that will work with the Novak slave cylinder.

https://www.novak-adapt.com/catalog/clutch/kit-hcr3/

http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=362375

Those are about your only options unless you change the transmission.

Wow okay sounds like a bit of work.
Well would a LS1 conversion make more sense to do? I also have a opportunity to get a ls1 for dirt cheap from my cousin, maybe do that with a T5 tranny behind it?

[crazy longhorn]

I would not put a T-5, behind that ls1....you will break the trans ....go auto, or spend the cash on a stought stick! I would reccomend a t-56, or Tremec 5 speed. Longhorn

[AcampoDave]

My thoughts are a bit different than the other posts so far. I say if the 235 runs good, just keep using it. It's a vintage engine which is beginning to become scarce. It has a unique look and sound and I have yet to see a nice one fail to draw a crowd at a cruise in show. There are various old school hot rod parts still available for them, like split exhaust and dual carb manifolds, oil filters, valve covers, and etc, just in case you wanted to add a bit of pep and/or bling to it. An old 6 is easy to keep looking gorgeous because you can easily reach 90 percent of it from above. The money you save on locating conversion parts for the other motors would be a nice little bankroll toward a really sweet 235. Don't get me wrong, I run a 283 and it's great, but my truck was born with one. The truth is, a well tuned engine with a new clutch and smooth shifting trains is always a pleasure to drive, be it a 6 or an 8.... V/8's are common....a sweet six on the other hand is in a league of own. That's why they are such a draw when the hood is up. EDIT: The only thing that I don't like about the current arrangement is the dual purpose master cylinder. It certainly presents an obstical with regard to braking upgrades such as switching to disc or even a split drum system. Perhaps someone more knowledgable may have an answer.

[Captainfab]

A LS1 conversion isn't going to reduce the amount of work in the project. In fact that will increase the work by quite a bit. A T5 would work behind the 235 but not behind the LS1. As Longhorn suggested a T56 or a Tremec 5 speed would be what you need behind a LS1.