Making a new 350 look like a 57 small block? TECH QUESTION

I haven't done that, but I'm half way there. I've got a '54 Merc aircleaner that will someday go on a 302 along with a set of Mercury Y-block valve covers. I figure with the SBF you've got a lot more leeway, since there's no way it's really going to be mistaken for a 1957 Y-block, you're just going for that era "feel."

On other Fords, I've also got a set of E400 valve covers that will someday make a 390 or 428 look like a '58 Edsel 361. I need to hunt down an aircleaner at some point too.

-Dave

 

Going through a similar exercise myself. Does anyone know who makes a reproduction 55-58 4 barrel air cleaner?

 

I'd try Danchuk. Gotta warn you, though, it's gonna be big bucks.

-Dave

 

yeah.. the cleaners i've seen on e-gay are going for like 75 to 150.. kinda pricey for what it is...

 

you people do know that they used side motor mounts from 1958 on up....

I have a bone stock rusty ass 1960 impala 2dr hardtop sitting in my front yard with a 283 w/ stagered bolt heads and side motor mounts.

 

I knew that one, actually, but I never found the '58-up aircleaner to be quite as pretty. Of course, if you're not using a stock intake...

-Dave

 

An oldie but a goodie.

 

Why separate fly shit from pepper. I doubt anyone cares what engine is in your car.

 

You would maybe want to get creative with the JB weld on the heads to make them resemble the older heads.

Grind the side mount bosses off the block and fill the holes. If you were after the show car edge your could smooth the entire block, even if you weren't building it like a show car you could tell everyone that you were and they wouldn't be suspicious.

The ahardest part is going to me making it have staggered bolts on the rockers. you could make some real thin adapters but they would still show of someone were looking for it.

OH I comp0letely missed it you need to do something about the starter mounting holes and boss in the block. I would need an early block to compair to figure that one out but I'm sure you could take care of that also.

 

Umm, I would hope that after more than 7 years " Tuck " would of figured something out by now... Rather than going through all that trouble why not just use the real thing? A good engine builder could still get decent power out of the early stuff if they know what they're doing..

 

This photo doesn't really help much, but this is a '70 350 that I put in to a '57 back in 1978.



I used the intake and exhaust manifolds, generator, and water pump from the original 283. I don't remember where I got those chrome valve covers from.

 

Up on top for the new guys.....

 

The old stuff is getting harder and harder to find...

 

Well, in my particular case, the 283 I had was well and truly killed and the 350 was essentially free.

 

It's been nearly 12 year now. I wonder if Tuck ever got his Chevy 350-283 finished?
The 265 in my 1939 Ford still looks just like a stock Chevy 265.

 

I'll just leave this here... http://www.hotrod.com/how-to/engine/1310-how-to-make-your-new-chevy-engine-look-old/

 

Ummmm I am a good engine builder and I know for a fact that you will never get the power from a 283 that you can easily get from the 350. Don't get me wrong I am a big fan of the smaller displacement small blocks I am just being honest.

That said Smokey Yunic did manage to build a 400 horse 283 at one time, as far as I know it never ran anywhere but on a dyno and the things done to that engine made it pretty much unstreetable. Smokey I am not, maybe someone else is but that someone is not me..

I answered the question because it was asked. Pure and simple.

 

That's a great article!

 

Bigcheese327, I've read and reread that bad boy so many times

 

all i would do is paint it chevy orange and put old style chevrolet script decals on it.

 

Anal retentiveness
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The term anal retentive (also anally retentive), commonly abbreviated to anal,[1] is used to describe a person who pays such attention to detail that the obsession becomes an annoyance to others, potentially to the detriment of the anal-retentive person. The term derives from Freudian psychoanalysis.

traditional
(trəˈdɪʃənəl)
adj
1. of, relating to, or being a tradition
2. (Jazz) of or relating to the style of jazz originating in New Orleans, characterized by collective improvisation by a front line oftrumpet, trombone, and clarinet accompanied by various rhythm instruments
traditionality n traˈditionally adv
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003
tra•di•tion•al
(trəˈdɪʃ ə nl)

adj.
1. of or pertaining to tradition.
2. handed down by tradition.
3. in accordance with tradition.
Sometimes, tra•di′tion•ar`y (-ˌnɛr i)
[1585–95; < Medieval Latin trāditiōnālis. See tradition, -al1]
tra•di`tion•al′i•ty, n.
tra•di′tion•al•ly, adv.

This would do well in the NCRS arena.

Really 3 pages on how to deceive, fool, mislead and give a false impression.

Pat

 

Pat when you get right down to it nearly all hot rods (even traditional) are imposters to some extent. How many A V-8s came from the factory or hemi deuces for example? Or perhaps more currently how many flatheads were backed up by 5 speeds.

We being a site dedicated to traditional hot rods ( *although we do attract a few chainers these days) for the most part most of us are trying to build something that at least resembles a traditional rod or custom. Sometimes we feel the need to disguise something newer to get the job done as opposed to blatantly mocking tradition and not hiding it at all.

Imposters of course but even that is traditional.

*present company excluded.

 

Beaner I always like your commentary and philosophical viewpoint. It's what keeps HAMB interesting and relative. Now "I have one of these how much is this worth"?

Pat

 

Well if you go by our classifieds, if it is a rattled out piece of crap it is worth a fortune and if it is nice it is within reach of the average working age hot rodder. If you want to retire you probably better loosen some bolts and scuff the paint on yours.

 

I still can't understand why anyone particularly strangers could possibly care what engine You have in Your car? This whole desire to fool others makes absolutely no sense. Yet this same thread appears on the HAMB over and over again. Can someone please explain why this fooling concept is so important? I build cars to satisfy me not strangers.

 

Peer pressure? Some of us don't care like you or me for instance, I ride beaters and if someone doesn't like it there are other cars for them to gawk at, you drive nice cars and probably feel the same way. But some guys can't live that way, they have to feel accepted.

I think on this particular subject some guys are just curious if it can be pulled off. I think that it would not be impossible but too much work for me to do.

 

Trying to make a 350 look like 283 is like putting a rolled up sock in your Speedo. Whats your point?

 

I think a sock in your bvd's is more traditional....

 

I think you have it backwards...its like taping your pecker in the crack of your ass so you look like a girl.

 

ouch!