[71ChevySS(straight6)]

Originally Posted by franken

The truck engine, and axles will weigh more than the rest of the wagon...
That 2 speed rear will also have ratios that make the freeway a place you don't want to drive.
What trans?

It'd be the truck five-speed. I've never had the truck past third gear, as the soybean tender bed on it is kinda brittle and can't be roughed around and jostled or some of the brackets will break. But, from what I can tell, the trans has pretty good ratios, and with the splitter on the rearend, I feel like it'd have a decent highway gear. Better than my '71 C/10 anyways.

Originally Posted by cadillac_al

$1000 is kinda high. I see low mileage 454's out of RV's pretty often for under $1000.

I have no idea where. Maybe in your area, but in central Kansas I can't find a decent 454 that doesn't need a major rebuild for under $1200 or so. But remember, the $1000 would be for engine, trans, and axles.

Originally Posted by Captainfab

I will have to agree with prostreetc-10.

In stock form the 366's are turds. Certainly not what I would call a torque monster. I think a 350 would make close to as much torque. Every 366 I have been around, when the time came for a new engine, it was replaced with a 427. Plus then the big 5 speed and 2 speed rear. To package all that together with a tiny Crosley body on top is going to look goofy at best.

For $1000 you could buy a decent running car or squarebody truck and have everything you need that will be much easier to build and make look decent.

Then why was the 366 only used in school buses and dump trucks if it doesn't have a lot of torque?

427s are bored out 366 blocks.

I think the industrial look with the Crosley body will look cool.

Originally Posted by TJ's Chevy

350? C'mon. Bout the most boring engine you could put a in Rat rod.

EXACTLY my thoughts.

Originally Posted by TJ's Chevy

Wouldn't be super fast, but it would be Different and would be Cool. Why not use something you have? So I go along with the crowd that says "DO IT!!!!" 366 would be cooler than a boring overused 350.

350s are nice, but way overrated. Everyone uses them.

Originally Posted by D13

You will quickly find that while it looks cool it will be no fun to drive. Motor is designed to run all day at 2800-3200 rpm, bore is too small for bigger valves, heavy pisotns, etc. In the top range of the 2 speed you will still get passed by everything. Steeering on those axles is poor. tires brakes etc $$$. So if your urge is to build somehting that is basically cool looking but you don't want to drive, go for it. If you want to build a tow rig Crosley then go for it, mount a 5th wheel hitch and be happy. If you want something to cruise in put your Crosley on a 4.3 S10 chassis and get a big grin going.

But just slapping the body on an S10 chassis is too easy and too boring!

Originally Posted by cadillac_al

Yup, no doubt about it, the 366 is the red headed step child of big blocks. As a former farm boy I have had C65's going right side ways through mud holes in 3rd gear with the glasspacks blattin'. I didn't have tachs in them but I'll bet they will rev to 5k rpm. Diesels just sink in the mud because they don't have any wheel speed and no rpm range.

I still wouldn't pay too much for one. A lot of farm vehicles are very low mileage though. If you buy a low mileage one it would last a very long time.

It's currently used as a soybean tender truck, but it doesn't leave the lot, we just load beans on it and weigh them across, the farmers come in and load out from it. So mileage should be fairly low, I've never bothered to look. I'd be getting the engine, trans, and axles for the price I'd pay ($900-1000).

Originally Posted by Tom

If the engine was free, use it. The axles and trans have no place in a street car that weighs under 6000lbs. Since its not free, scrap this idea. Put a small block in and call it whatever you want to feel unique. Tell everyone its a 265.

It won't be a racecar by any means. Just a cool cruiser. Why do you think I should go the boring route that EVERYONE goes?

Originally Posted by GASoline71

Just cuz you can... don't mean you should.

Gary

Again... Wanting to be unique, and not boring.

Originally Posted by storm9c1

With the peak power down low, that would make a good engine in front of an overdrive. You could undergear that thing and cruise at 1500 RPM at 65MPH I bet with how light it would be.

How to do that, I'm not sure. I think the 366 has a standard bolt pattern, so any Chevy transmission should bolt up. Or add an OD unit instead of the splitter. I'd be tempted to try it. I would definitely try to take advantage of the torque and lightness of your chassis. Ditch the governor if it has one. Don't get too attached to the axles, they may hold you back. If you want a light-duty dually with the HD appearance, find someone with a Dana 70U and highway gears (ie: 3.07 or less if you can find it!). Folks usually want to give those away. And forget trying to rev it and lay tire. It won't be a good setup for that. But you can use the torque wisely and still have fun.

Definitely gonna get rid of the governor. However, I have to disagree slightly, I've watched a video of a 366-powered C65 do a burnout. lol thanks for the actual advice though, instead of just telling me to be like everyone else and buy a 350.

Originally Posted by TJ's Chevy

I'm assuming the 366 is like my GMC's 305E V6. Torque down low and not fast by any means. I will say though that with the little mods I did to my V6 it pulls 100% better than before. It'll lay tire rubber no problem at 2000-3000 rpm. lol Have bumped it up to 3K, but nothing higher. Buddy of mine has a propane powered 366 in a school bus.....moves that thing along with no problem.

You're absolutely correct, lots of lowend, and not a lot of speed. But, I've never had it split in fifth. Like I mentioned previously, I have only had it in third gear buzzing around the lot.