Definitive answer for I6 to SBC 350 swap.

[Keystone_Hate]

As a follow up to this, I just dropped in my SBC this past week. As stated by others above, it works, nicely. Like TXFirefighter said, I had to cut half inch off the z-bar to get it to fit. The only reason is because of the frame side perch for the outboard end of the z-bar. Apparently there are different locations for this perch. One of them being more inboard than the other, which is where mine is. If I had known this before I would have swapped out for the perch that sits more outboard, almost even with the outboard most edge of the frame, while the engine was out and made the z-bar installation a lot easier.

All in all it was pretty seamless. I've never done this before and a friend and I had the motor in and torqued down in about 45 minutes. Just a tip from my experience doing this. I found it easier to mount the engine frame stands to the engine, leaving the center bolt loose for wiggle room and alignment, while its hanging from the hoist. This made lining everything up easier as you lower the motor into the bay because you have full access to stick bolts in the frame holes for the frame stands as opposed to trying to get that one bolt into engine mount pad, from the back side while trying to line everything up.

Also, I have no clearance issues with the sbc sitting back in the rear position. There's plenty of room for plug wires to be routed down and under the ram horn manifolds. Furthermore, straight dump 2.5" ram horn manifolds work great and there is more than enough room to route exhaust, even with a full size starter and the clutch linkage.

Thanks to everyone who chimed in with advice and gave me the confidence to do this for my first time.

[seejohnrun]

Thanks for this thread, I'm just starting in on this process now. I'm planning on putting a 350 in the i6 location and wondering which mounts are preferable to use. I hear I can use the i6 towers still, but if I'm needing to buy new mounts anyway (old ones are bent), should I be purchasing i6 mounts/towers or v8? Thank you!

[BigBird05]

To all of you guys that are taking out your 6's, don't throw away those P.S. pump mounting brkts. I have seen a lot of guy's asking to buy them lately.

[stsalvage]

Originally Posted by BigBird05

To all of you guys that are taking out your 6's, don't throw away those P.S. pump mounting brkts. I have seen a lot of guy's asking to buy them lately.

You are so Right on the power steering brackets

[stsalvage]

If you're wondering what he means Here are a few pics

[KevinK7]

Great Info. I'll be doing this at some point down the road myself. Swapping in a 350 for the 292...

[seejohnrun]

Coming back to answer my own question it seems like either the V8 or 250 towers should work for the V8 in the rear position since apparently they're the same according to http://www.persh.org/Pickup/perches.htm - cheers!

[maverickmk]

Originally Posted by BigBird05

To all of you guys that are taking out your 6's, don't throw away those P.S. pump mounting brkts. I have seen a lot of guy's asking to buy them lately.

I need just this one bracket