258 Manifold Help

[chewy]

Well, I went and bought a rebuilt 258 for the 67 Gladiator. The motor is a 1981 build date so is a newer version than my old 258 but that's ok. I'm going to put a mild cam in it and want to give it some more fuel than the current single throat carb will allow.

So I am looking for a matching set of manifolds with 2 barrel intake or just an exhaust as I can get a 2 barrel intake by itself. My current exhaust won't work with the later intake.

I'll post pics of the swap when it happens.

Cheers

[Wallice]

if your in Brisbane I've just put 258 stuff in for sale. Dunno if it helps.

Regards, Greg

[chewy]

Cheers mate, I'm down in vic but I'll keep you in mind if I get desperate enough.

[wee doggie]

So did your Gladiator already have a 258 swapped in, as it would normally have had a 232 in it? If this is the case do you know how it was done? Early 232 have the starter on the passengers side so the bellhousing is different to later 232 which are the same as 258s. What gearbox does it have?

[chewy]

It originally had the 232/3 speed with the pass side starter. The engine was very tired and leaky and the gearbox was a dog to drive so I swapped in a 258 and T-18 from a dead Wagoneer, it was a fairly easy conversion, there were even holes in the chassis for the crossmember. The drive shaft needed to be shortened slightly and I had to make a hydraulic clutch setup for it to replace the old linkage clutch. That 258 has developed a bad rear main leak now and it was cheaper to buy a crate engine than rebuild it.

I have kept the 232 and all original parts just in case I ever want to go back to original. Can't see it happening though, it is a far nicer truck to drive now.

[wee doggie]

Thanks for the reply, what did you do with the transfer case? Adapter to model 20 or use a 208 and swap front diff or heaps of other possibilities I can think of?

[chewy]

The transfer that was in the Wagoneer worked just fine, front shaft bolted straight in with no modifications. To be honest, I have no idea what model it is!