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#1
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401 Swap Out
Hello all,
I'm currently running a 305D in my 61 1500 stepside with a 3 speed standard on the column. As has been the case for awhile, the engine needs some work. However, I'm hoping to have a backup engine sorted before I pull the current one (I don't want to have the old man down and out for too long while I'm working on the current engine). Anyway, long story short, if I came across a 401, how much of a nightmare would it be to swap it in? Considering the beasts they were originally designed for, would a 401 even fit? |
#2
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Re: 401 Swap Out
The 401 will for the most be a drop in provided it has the 6 bolt crank flange that will accept the 305 flywheel. The only other issue is in the placement of the water pump housing. If you choose to use the 401 water pump housing then you'll need to move the radiator up higher so the fan lines up. If you choose the 305 water pump housing then you need to eliminate the 3 piece timing gear and replace it with the 305 double roller and timing chain and sprocket, this also requires eliminating the center idler gear shaft which is bolted on. It needs to be capped off with a 1 1/8 expansion plug(freeze plug) in order to block the idlers oil passage or else the engine will loose oil pressure which feeds the front main bearings. It may sound a lot to you but it's not all that bad I did the same with my 478M conversion and it all worked out just fine
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#3
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Re: 401 Swap Out
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It sounds like a fairly permanent change though. IE once the 305 is how I want it, I couldn't just swap them again? |
#4
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Re: 401 Swap Out
Yes you could swap them again but why? The 401 is a vast improvement overall over the 305 and for the most looks the same if using the correct mounting brackets, and exhaust manifolds from a 351E
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#5
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Re: 401 Swap Out
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Although, I have been trying to convince my wife that she would much prefer to drive an old truck..... maybe having a ready-to-go engine to drop into one would sweeten the pot a bit LOL |
#6
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Re: 401 Swap Out
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__________________
Ed Snyder Medford, Oregon 1962 1000 Pickup 401M & Muncie 318 with overdrive 1962 K1000 Suburban 401M & SM420 1967 CM1500 pickup 351E & NP435 |
#7
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Re: 401 Swap Out
Is not the big truck gear drive housing a lot heavier than changing to the pickup chain drive? Dave
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#8
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Re: 401 Swap Out
Both housing are just about as heavy, the biggest difference is the water pump sits higher on the big truck housing which also allows clearance inside for the 3 piece timing gear drive. It's up to you on which one to choose as you're given 3 alternatives to make it work in your truck. I originally chose to keep the 3 piece gear drive and modify the pickup truck housing to make it work. After two failed attempts which included cutting and welding the housing then seeing several gallons of coolant on my garage floor as well as two destroyed housings, I finally broke down and went with the double roller timing chain & sprocket and I'm quite happy with that. My truck being a 68 is a lower profile design than the 60-66 so there would have been no room at all to raise the radiator, I also wanted to preserve the stock appearance and retain all the original brackets and hoses
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