We are in the process of having a corvette restored. I need to ask a simple question. Can you put a 350 Stock Chevrolet truck motor in a 1978 Chevrolet Corvette...and yes, I am a woman!

 

Welcome to CFs!
Hey, women love Vettes too. [sm=icon_rock.gif]

Yes, the truck motor will work just fine. Pay close attention to the oil pan configuration. If ya have the old engine, make sure the pans are a matchup. If not, use the old pan.

BTW, do ya have any pics of your "Baby"? We love Vette pics.

 

Thank you so much for the welcome!!I actually have 2 corvettes as of now, a 1994 triple black automatic with 59,995 actual miles and of course, the 1978 Corvette (painted like a pace car). I had my first corvette in 1974 (a white one),then got a 1975 (a red one), (2) 1978's dark metallic blue and a red, and (2) 1981's, a white and a silver!! Yes, girls do love Corvettes and especially this one!! I'll try and send you a photo......

 

Hot Dang, youDo love Vettes.
A lot of us use www.photobucket.com to host our pics for direct posting. It's a free site. If ya need any help posting your pics, let me know, and I'll be glad to walk ya through it.

 

Hi payers, welcome to the forum. Like Starship said- the truck motor is externally identical to the Vette motor of the era. The possible difference will be the compression ratio, intake and exhaust valve size, camshaft grind, and maybe carburetion. Oh, one other thing, the Vette used the short water pump in '78, check the truck motor pulley, belt and accessory clearance before you go too far, you may have to use the complete belt drive system from the Vette. The oil pan may also cause interference with the steering so try to find a stock pan for the Vette and see if they match. I have a pan from a '75 1/2 ton two wheel drive thats the same as my '78 Vette pan. Dang, I just keep on thinkin' of more-if your Vette is a four speed then the truck crankshaft has to have a pilot bearing, if your running an automatic then you can use any crank.

 

You're absolutely right Buckshot.
I'm sure glad that I'm not the only one here.
I forgot about the long and short water pumps.
Something else that just crossed my mind. Not sure if it applies in this case, but.....I have a question,....
Is it possible that she has a "high deck" engine?
I know that the 454's came with high and standard deck hights. Never head of it, but just wondering....
Did they ever put out a high deck small block?

 

Hey Dave- ya, it's a little lonely here. The only Chevy motor I know of with the different deck height is the 427. The passenger car 427 was the normal deck, the truck 366/427, which was used in the medium duty had the tall deck. I'm pretty sure the whole line of small blocks have the same deck height, just the bore and stroke was the determining factor in size.