Finding a V6

[Hantke]

On the west coast (Oregon / Washington), how hard is it to find a good running 351 or a 305 V6? And which is easier to find all the parts for a rebuild for? I haven't spent a lot of time until just recently looking into the 351.

Thank you!


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[bigblockv6]

The 351C V6 seems to be the most common out here in the west coast, I know Ed Snyder has come across quite a few in the past and he's in the southern end of Oregon. The 351C has smaller port heads compared to the 351E & M engines but it's still a significant upgrade over a 305 V6.

[bigblockv6]

Originally Posted by bigblockv6

The 351C V6 seems to be the most common out here in the west coast, I know Ed Snyder has come across quite a few in the past and he's in the southern end of Oregon. The 351C has smaller port heads compared to the 351E & M engines but it's still a significant upgrade over a 305 V6.

As far as parts everything's basically the same between the 305 and 351C other than pistons, head gaskets and different intake and exhaust valve sizes. lately NOS oversize pistons for the 351 have been showing up on ebay.

[Hantke]

Awesome, thanks! I know the M is more sought after, and would like to drop a 351 E into a '63. It's not a done deal on the truck yet, but I wanted to see what would be a good option for me.
My understanding is that both the 305 and 351 have identical mounting bolts and same assembly for the transmission. Is the wiring harness the same? I might be looking at jumping in over my head, but we will see


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[bigblockv6]

There is no wire harness on an engine assembly, generally you will have wires that hook up to the distributor, starter motor and sending units.

[Hantke]

I was thinking about it over complicated I think, that's like what, five things? Distributor, starter, at tachometer, heat, oil pressure, does the odometer in these trucks hook up to the engine?
I haven't spent much time on any older electronics, more so with the newer stuff unfortunately


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[bigblockv6]

There's not much to it as there are no electronics on 50 year old vehicles. If you're running a Tachometer it would have to be hooked up to the coil, all the wiring to the starter motor, distributor & coil, oil sending and water temp unit will all interchange from 305 to 351. That's really all there is for wiring.

[Hantke]

That's cool, the truck has an inline 6 now so I will figure that part out as the time comes, thanks for the info!


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[bigblockv6]

Originally Posted by Hantke

That's cool, the truck has an inline 6 now so I will figure that part out as the time comes, thanks for the info!


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Since the truck is an inline six it will involve shortening some wires and lengthening others.

[George Bongert]

Greetings Hantke!

Its been awhile since I've posted anything here, Guess I haven't found anything to reply to that hasn't been covered one way or another. Regarding your swap from an inline 6 to the V-6 will also require that you change the frame mounts (pedestals) for the engine since they are different from inline 6 to V-6. You will probably have to scrounge a bone yard to find those (if there are any old GMC's still floating around in a bone yard), or if someone in the club has a parts truck sitting around, and you will also need to use the bell housing from the V-6, since it also is different from the inline 6 bell housing. I know about all of this because I did the same kind of engine swap on a 1963 Chevy truck back in 1984.