Can it be done? Looks like the answer is no - the firewall is gonna be in the way...

Unless the engine can be moved forward more than lining up with the stock motor mounts...


Anyone know?

{crickets chirping}

You could tub the firewall. I tried to put a OLDS 350 rocket with a Mallory in my truck and had to go 3 inch BL to get it in there and I pounded the firewall to. Just not enough room. If I had the time I wanted to cut the firewall and make a 2 inch indent and then weld it back in. I scraped the plan before I even figured if there was anything behind the firewall that would need to be moved. :(

If it gets too far into the firewall you're gonna have cooling problems due to lack of airflow back there. From what I understand, this was the problem with the early Cruiser conversions.

Thanks guys...

It looks like the engine could be moved forward *maybe* an inch, but it already has a manual fan with no clutch, and there is probably 2" to the radiator.

BTW - the interior is already pretty rough, so I would not have a big problem tearing most of it out and re-routing the necessary heater function parts if I had to tub the firewall.

what if you ditched the engine fan and used a puller electric fan ?

I would say use a pusher between the rad and grill but I'm sure there's not enough room for that.

- jack

Originally posted by morpheus
what if you ditched the engine fan and used a puller electric fan ?

I would say use a pusher between the rad and grill but I'm sure there's not enough room for that.

- jack

Hmmmm.....


Up front of the radiator there is a tranny cooler, so not much room in there.... of course I could always move the tranny cooler and get a small electric fan for it...

I am just leery of electric fans all-together... they seem to fail at the wrong moment on rigs I see on the trail all the time.

What is the main problem you're running into, the distributor and the firewall? I keep thinking about the SB Chevy swap but I don't want a body lift. The newer LT1 engines don't have the rear mounted distributor like the older Chevy's so I thought they might fit without the lift.

fuckya it can be done, DRM.. where's the fabricationist in ya.. i've seen one 350 in a toy pickup personally.. It had a 3" bodylift and if u ever wanted to change the dist. cap u would have to cut the firewall to access it.. how shitty is that.. now why can't u do one of 3 things.. #1 move it forward.. i mean whatever it takes.. fab motor mounts.. extend the front clip.. hey whatever.. #2 cut the friggin firewall.. open it up, reweld in some new sheetmetal.. #3 put the radiator in the bed w/ electric junkyard fans and move the motor forward with no cooling interference.. put every cooler somewhere else.. to do the radiator thing u'll need to buy a lot of new hose and from my experiece purchase a $75 high flow water pump..

if u've already decided against these ideas sorry.. but be the pioneer.. lead, don't follow.. :flipoff2:

Originally posted by JL8Jeff
What is the main problem you're running into,

The distributor clears, but is a tight fit with the 3" BL.

Really - I was wanting to knock the body lift down to maybe 1" or 1.5" if it was at all possible... The thing is just too tall like it is.

I am unsure about moving the radiator to the rear - I guess I could, but I would rather not.

I guess I could always hack up the front clip and *make* room, but what fun would that be? :p

Originally posted by DRM
I am unsure about moving the radiator to the rear - I guess I could, but I would rather not.


why no on moving the radiator?? it works and just takes a lil work.. i went thru helpin a buddy get his rear mounted radiator cooling his 350 and it turned out to be not a big deal at all.. seriously consider it.. and why are u thinking against it??



Originally posted by DRM
I guess I could always hack up the front clip and *make* room, but what fun would that be? :p

i think that would be a LOT of fun..


:p

I did a 350 swap in my '81.

First I installed a 2" body lift, then I got the rst done and decided that I wanted the motor up 2" higher, so I slightly tubbed the firewall and still had the heater (moved mack slightly). So what I am saying is that if you slightly tub the firewall, and have the engine a tad lower, you could go without a body lift. BUT I had problems with the axle hitting the exhaust tubes with blockhuggers.

It can be done. If you want pics of my stuff, just let me know. I have plenty room between the fan and the radiator (3 row Nova).

Originally posted by DRM


The distributor clears, but is a tight fit with the 3" BL.

Really - I was wanting to knock the body lift down to maybe 1" or 1.5" if it was at all possible... The thing is just too tall like it is.

I am unsure about moving the radiator to the rear - I guess I could, but I would rather not.

I guess I could always hack up the front clip and *make* room, but what fun would that be? :p


What distributor you using? Big-cap HEI?, if so, maybe swap out to msd or mallory unilite, should give a couple of inches of leeway.

Originally posted by Benny Boy

It can be done. If you want pics of my stuff, just let me know. I have plenty room between the fan and the radiator (3 row Nova).

Pics would be nice :)

Originally posted by kbud



What distributor you using? Big-cap HEI?, if so, maybe swap out to msd or mallory unilite, should give a couple of inches of leeway.



Uhhh, I dunno? :p I will get a pic and you can tell me after I get home :D

It can be done piece of cake! If you are willing to tub things out you got it made. Mine fit fine in my 88 without the BL, the only thing that hit hard was my trans on the trans tunnel. So I kept my bodylift. You can push the motor way forward if you want to, there really isnt anything that important on the front of the truck you cant rebuild.

Someday I would like to put a different body on my truck and just cut it all out on the inside and sheetmetal around everything like a racecar. I really like the look of a toy truck but dont want to be at the mercy of there design when I set up my stuff.. That route may be the hot ticket for you too!

A friend of mine has a 350 in his Toy. He has a body lift, but his engine is pushed way forward and he runs an electric fan in front of the rad. He has no problems cooling it and the distributor and firewall are fine. :D

If I could make a 55 MoPar Hemi fit into a 29 Model A you should be able to get a SB Chevy in a Toyota. Cut the firewell!!!

Originally posted by DRM
I guess I could always hack up the front clip and *make* room, but what fun would that be? :p

Pics would be nice :)

Anything will fit with a little cutting trimming, steel, and a welder:
http://webpages.charter.net/cruiserrg/images/toypuproject/image066.jpg

I know its a 4.3 but I wanted to move it back to center the weight better. And yes cutting to make room is ton's of fun.
And I'm not even done cutting yet.

i did one in an 83 2wd!! short water pump,single groove pulleys,accel dualpoint dist.,cutout the core support to "recess the radiator".had to put on a cowl induction scoop to cool the thing though. my .02

Did you take your project a different route?? I thought you were running a 4.3??

convertiyota,who is that ? for?

for those just now tuning in http://www.tennessee4x4.com/toyota/project_83_trail_toy.htm

Originally posted by convertiyota
Did you take your project a different route?? I thought you were running a 4.3??

do you think it's his.....the post says 83:p

Originally posted by SeaBass44


do you think it's his.....the post says 83:p

Is there some law that says I can't own an 83 too? ;)

Check the link TR posted...

Originally posted by DRM


Is there some law that says I can't own an 83 too? ;)

Check the link TR posted...

I tried 3 times it is still broke:flipoff2: so you have 2 that don't wheel? is that a double throwdown web wheeler???????????

Seems like my web site is being flakey tonight... keep trying :p


This one will be wheeled within the month - just gotta yank off some former show truck parts, weld the rear, lockright front, crossover steering, and install the dual cases :D

Originally posted by DRM
Seems like my web site is being flakey tonight... keep trying :p


This one will be wheeled within the month - just gotta yank off some former show truck parts, weld the rear, lockright front, crossover steering, and install the dual cases :D

k

4.3 in a toy is like a big block in a full size... more than enof...
much better approch

Originally posted by rocktop
4.3 in a toy is like a big block in a full size... more than enof...
much better approch

I have one of those too that I could put in there, but if the 350 is already installed - why take it out? :p



http://www.tennessee4x4.com/toyota/images/83TrailToy/83trailtoy-11.jpg

Welded rear, 5.71's and a V8. I can hear the gears snapin allready.

My friend has a 408 SBC in an '86 2wd truck the truck is slammed on the ground and it doesn't have a cowl hood, so I know it can be done.

yeah,i ran mine with the stock hood for awhile. i just didn't like being on the edge of overheating all the time.

It can be done DRM I do it all the time. I often use the "Mallory" Unilite distributor to get a extra 2-3 inches in back. You might wanna look into running a "short" water pump set up that will give you a few more inches. I always cut out the "radiator support" between the headlights to fit the radiator into. Sometimes for extra insurance I get a electric "junkyard" fan to fit between the grill and radiator to cool while on the beach....If you wanna ask more ques. e-mail me your Phone # & I'll call ya.......Let me know if you need any help........Tim/Shaker