Golden-Era Hot-Rodding

[John in Covina]

True hot-rodders don't need no assembly manual haha. We have a 52 Ford Pickup with a flathead in it, that's coming out and we're going to put a Chevy Drivetrain in it. We're holding onto the engine for a Model A whenever we finally find one we like.

For me I don't like when a vehicle is hot rodded by changing out the original and swapping in another make of engine putting a Chevy engine and drive train in a Ford is unseemly to me..

Well it's a 32 Ford Coupe with a 350 chevy crate engine and 700r tranny, yup, they just don't make'em like they used to. If the original engine ain't screwed beyond a rebuild or you can't locate one then I can see the interbreeding swap but if you got what it came with then I'd say keep it original if possible.

 

[AtomicEraTom]

I have a soft spot for both. You put a 350/700r4 in an old Deuce and you have a car with enough power to burn the rubber off the bias plys, and the overdrive to take that bad-boy on the interstate.

We had a 31 Model A pickup with a 350/TH350, it was nice. We were going to convert it to Fuel Injection but never got around to it.

 

[Stearmen]

Allard & Cadillac

For me I don't like when a vehicle is hot rodded by changing out the original and swapping in another make of engine putting a Chevy engine and drive train in a Ford is unseemly to me..

Right after you posted, did you suddenly think of the Allard with a Cadillac engine and the AC Shelby Cobra with a Ford engine? Bet you did!

 

[David Conwill]

Right after you posted, did you suddenly think of the Allard with a Cadillac engine and the AC Shelby Cobra with a Ford engine? Bet you did!

Don't forget the Frick Studillac with the Cadillac V8!

-Dave

 

[Bourne ID]

Thought I'd post a few more pics of my baby! I recieved some bad news today on my donor motor....cracked block. So I'm on the lookout once again for a replacement for my worn out straight six.

 

[David Conwill]

Well, if you don't want to stay flathead (and I'd note that Dodge made some pretty large displacement engines that will bolt in), I reiterate my support for a Slant Six - bulletproof engines that fit and can be built for good power.

-Dave

 

[AtomicEraTom]

One word. Hemi.

 

[Stearmen]

Aluminum Slant Six

I reiterate my support for a Slant Six - bulletproof engines that fit and can be built for good power.
-Dave

Don't forget the all aluminum Slant Six! It was the duel sixs that caused duel engines to be outlawed from NHRA sanctioned events, not the twin V8s. The V8s, just did quarter mile burnouts, the twin Slant Sixs would hook up and go fast! I hated to drive my dads 66 Dodge Coronet with a Slant Six, but it was indestructible, and got us kids through our early driving days. I would love to make some kind of Boattail car around a good old aluminum Slant Six.

 

[David Conwill]

Oh, and I just gotta say, the dash board may be my favorite feature on these cars.

-Dave

 

[Bourne ID]

Well, if you don't want to stay flathead (and I'd note that Dodge made some pretty large displacement engines that will bolt in), I reiterate my support for a Slant Six - bulletproof engines that fit and can be built for good power.

-Dave

It's not that I care at all about the V8...it was a good price for a low mileage donor...obviously too good to be true. Budget and reliability are my main constraints, I'm just a poor workin slob with three teenagers and a work at home wife(homeschooling the kids and teaching english to European businessmen) I talked to my buddy Ian at the speed shop, he's got a Audi straight six donor that he's dropping in his wore out 51 chevy. It's too modern for me, fuel injected and the like. I just can't afford an engine rebuild and a swap at the same time. Ians on the lookout for me with phone calls to his contact list, hopefully he finds something to get this project back on schedule. Spring Fever is already starting to rise!!!!! I hate being without my car!

 

[Bourne ID]

And...as an addition to the thread... A momentus moment is on schedule for today! I'm taking my 17 year old son, Sid, for his learners permit today!!
Where does the time go??

 

[David Conwill]

It's not that I care at all about the V8...

How far are you from this slant six on Allentown Craigslist? A slant six that was running last year may very well not need a rebuild to be swapped. If you were closer, I'd turn you on to my mom's neighbor, who has a '64 Dodge truck chassis with a slant six in his back yard that he'll never do anything with.

-Dave

 

[Bourne ID]

How far are you from this slant six on Allentown Craigslist? A slant six that was running last year may very well not need a rebuild to be swapped. If you were closer, I'd turn you on to my mom's neighbor, who has a '64 Dodge truck chassis with a slant six in his back yard that he'll never do anything with.

-Dave

Not far from allentown, Ian just called with a 350 in a blazer hooked up to the same T-5 that's already in my plymouth, saves us the hassle of locating the bellhousing. We're trying to schedule a look see for tomorrow. I'll let you all know what we find. Oh, Balzer is still on the road, allways a good sign.

 

[David Conwill]

I didn't think the full-size Blazer used the T-5? Or is this an S-10 model someone swapped a V8 into?

-Dave

 

[Bourne ID]

I didn't think the full-size Blazer used the T-5? Or is this an S-10 model someone swapped a V8 into?

-Dave

That's what I'm understanding Dave, the whole powertrain is a transplant. I'll find out more this morning, heading out to look it over at 9. I'll keep you posted.

 

[David Conwill]

That's what I'm understanding Dave, the whole powertrain is a transplant. I'll find out more this morning, heading out to look it over at 9. I'll keep you posted.

Cool. Good luck.

-Dave

PS Next we need to talk period dress-up pieces for your 350 (a/k/a "making your 350 look like a 283").

 

[Bourne ID]

Oh well, no luck yesterday with the blazer. Guy was a shyster, truck not on the road, couldn't get it running and it was someones frankenstien attempt. Wires and switches all over the dash and cab and far to much JBweld holding everything together on the motor. We passed, located another 350 at a yard with a 60 day running warranty for 500 bucks. Told them we'd be back and proceeded to head back to Ians shop where we started pulling the 350 outa the suburban. Gonna finish pulling it today along with the wirring harness. The plan is to use it to mock up the crossmember/motor mounts and placement of everything. Then runover to the yard and purchase the "good" 350 and hopefully drop all in place and plug in. Then the 60 day warranty will actually be "on the road" running, not sitting in the shop being transplanted. I'm way out of my element here, that's why Ian is doing the job at www.iansspeedshop.com , and I'm just glad he let's me tag along! I did build the reception counters at his shop!!

 

[David Conwill]

Ian is doing the job at www.iansspeedshop.com...

They seem mainly oriented toward foreign stuff and late models? Given the brief Daimler-Chrysler marriage, maybe a Mercedes swap would be appropriate!

-Dave

 

[Bourne ID]

They seem mainly oriented toward foreign stuff and late models? Given the brief Daimler-Chrysler marriage, maybe a Mercedes swap would be appropriate!

-Dave

It's a one man outfit, just Ian, and his wife stops by after work. I think he's oriented to what will keep him busy and in business. I'm sure there are there are things he'd love to be doing but when you need a brake job or oil change..he'll do that too. I did finish pulling the 350 out of the suburban yesterday, all the way back to the transfere case. Pushed the truck back out of his garage and cleaned up the floor. Tomorrow I've got to get the wiring harness and ECU out so he can drag the thing over to the scrap yard. Then I'll pull the Plymouth in and start removing all the front sheet metal in prep for the motor pull.

 

[David Conwill]

Good luck!

-Dave