Subject: 1959 Chevy van. Okay, I will put the info forward that I've been a Ford tech and guy my entire wrench-turning life. If this was a Ford vehicle, I wouldn't be posting and all the info would probably be in my head. However, this red-haired stepchild project (my apologies if any readers here are 
) has been in my ownership for long enough and I need to do something with it. So I guess it is time. The factory 283 sits in the engine compartment. It is not currently running. This will also be an economy build, so right now, that's important. (Interesting footnote: This non-running van was stolen from me. The cops recovered it and was sitting in the impound lot for a couple of weeks. On the day it was allowed to be trailered home, the salvage yard chewed MY butt because they had too much traffic by their business from people wanting to buy it off of them )
My project, a 1959 Chevy van, came stock from the factory with a 283 V8 small block and a three-on-a tree. The current engine build for it is a 1980-era 350 small block that will be getting cheap assembled cast iron Vortec heads from Summit. The engine build will be getting cast flat-top pistons. This will be an every day and weekend driver, not something that will be expected to do any 1/4 mile trips. The camshaft will be a stock Melling replacement. This van will also have a front disc brake conversion kit from Speedway Motors. The carburetor on it will probably be an older quadrajet. (For now. Better induction very possibly will come later after it is road worthy) So I'm doing this thread for rear end and transmission recommendations. I'd like to keep the manual transmission for it. The clutch linkage is already there and my wife can also drive a stick as well as anybody. We aren't going high-dollar aftermarket here. A salvage yard recommendation would be great. However, a 700R-ish tranny could be used. Same way with the rear end. The van came from the factory with six-bolt lugs. The Summit front disc conversion kit comes with five. Any salvage yard 10 or 12-bolt factory rear ends that would be a bolt in that match the Summit 5-4 3/4" bolt pattern?
Picture of van is from Google images. Mine looks similar and has the factory patina. Link is to the Speedway Motors disc brake kit.
And before any Ford fans think I've completely gone over to the dark side, my next project is a 1960 Ford van. TIA.
www.speedwaymotors.com
) has been in my ownership for long enough and I need to do something with it. So I guess it is time. The factory 283 sits in the engine compartment. It is not currently running. This will also be an economy build, so right now, that's important. (Interesting footnote: This non-running van was stolen from me. The cops recovered it and was sitting in the impound lot for a couple of weeks. On the day it was allowed to be trailered home, the salvage yard chewed MY butt because they had too much traffic by their business from people wanting to buy it off of them )My project, a 1959 Chevy van, came stock from the factory with a 283 V8 small block and a three-on-a tree. The current engine build for it is a 1980-era 350 small block that will be getting cheap assembled cast iron Vortec heads from Summit. The engine build will be getting cast flat-top pistons. This will be an every day and weekend driver, not something that will be expected to do any 1/4 mile trips. The camshaft will be a stock Melling replacement. This van will also have a front disc brake conversion kit from Speedway Motors. The carburetor on it will probably be an older quadrajet. (For now. Better induction very possibly will come later after it is road worthy) So I'm doing this thread for rear end and transmission recommendations. I'd like to keep the manual transmission for it. The clutch linkage is already there and my wife can also drive a stick as well as anybody. We aren't going high-dollar aftermarket here. A salvage yard recommendation would be great. However, a 700R-ish tranny could be used. Same way with the rear end. The van came from the factory with six-bolt lugs. The Summit front disc conversion kit comes with five. Any salvage yard 10 or 12-bolt factory rear ends that would be a bolt in that match the Summit 5-4 3/4" bolt pattern?
Picture of van is from Google images. Mine looks similar and has the factory patina. Link is to the Speedway Motors disc brake kit.
And before any Ford fans think I've completely gone over to the dark side, my next project is a 1960 Ford van. TIA.
Deluxe Disc Brake Kit 1947-1959 Chevy Half-Ton Pickup
Improve the stopping power of your 1947-1959 Chevy 1/2 ton pick-up without replacing the factory beam axle. Works with 15" or larger wheels with the GM 5-on-4.75" bolt pattern. Increases front track width 7/16" per side (7/8" total). Kit Includes: 11" brake rotor, 5 x 4-3/4" Brake pads GM...
