Questions about 69 Chevelle

Hey, I just got a 69 Chevelle and have a few questions. It has the 307 v8 and I would like to make the stroke longer but I'm not sure what engine to use as the donor for the crank shaft. Also it doesn't have power brakes, is there an easy way to make them powered or do I have to redo the whole brake system? Any help would be great. Thanks

Nomad,

The 307 uses a 3.25" stroke (same as "large journal" 327). A 305 or 350 crank would "fit", but pistons would have to be "customs". 307 is a good, durable engine. It isn't a real good one for performance, though. The bore is too small for the "good" heads to flow properly.

A 350 or 383 would be the best choices for a small block, though it wouldn't "qualify" as a "muscle car". A 396 (or bigger) would "qualify" it...

Installing a booster would make them "power" brakes. We've done it many times. The car is still too heavy for the drum brakes, power or not. Adding a disc conversion to the front would be much better. I'm not sure WHY, but GM put "little" brakes on all the A-bodies, with discs as an option.

Jim

Thanks for the information, MrPbody. I would prefer to stay away from putting a huge engine in there because I'm hoping to make this car my daily driver one day and I want to keep my gas mileage up :-) Where would you suggest looking for brake conversions?

Most of the aftermarket mail-order houses (Summit, Jeg's, etc.) offer conversion "kits".

All of the A, E and G-bodies (Chevelle, Lemans/Tempest/GTO, Skylark/GS, Cutlass, Grand Prix and Riviera) use the same front spindles and brakes from '69 through '72. You MAY find a complete "donor car" in a wrecking yard. Take the entire system.

Jim