Well i Bought my first 50 about six months ago im planning on doing a ls1 auto conversion to it but i havent gathered all of the parts yet, i have driven the car about 200 miles since i owned it, and the six runs great.Im thinkn of taken it on the power tour its about a 3000 mile round trip. I am going to check the car over from front to back and do a 12 volt conversion,the car has a flat six and three on the tree, I was wanting Opinions on any parts that might fail on me such as cam gears, valve train,trans,rear end etc. Am i crazy for trying to drive the flat head that far? please let me Know any input would be great! P.S. I have done the tour 2 times before and loved it, The 51 truck shown in the pics, we took 2 years ago has a single turbo ls1 in it we had alot of fun with it.
I think I detect a note of sarcasm .... of course I was thinking the same thing.... now run the damn 6....
What? I know most people on here dont like new engine conversions just iffy about drivin the six that far with out some input, thanks
LS1 conversion is a bad idea for that car... The six should go the distance just fine if it's in good shape. It just might not keep up on the highway.
Let's see........... engine has 58 years on it. I think it might go another 3k or so and even with the 6V system. Can't see why converting it would make it any more reliable than its been. Just throw some brushes and a regulator in the trunk and go. Maybe a fuel pump.
oil, plugs, wires, filters, etc. change 'em and drive it. it sounds like you have tons of $$ so why the fear? if it breaks, fix it. it's not like your out fourwheeling in the middle of nowhere. i mean they bring trucks to fix cars, what's the probem? LS1 = bellybutton the 6 = cool
Chances are that six will still be chugging along long after that late model belly button you're lusting after has given up. Do like the man said, throw a few simple repair parts in the trunk and take off.
The ls1 wouldn't make much sense at all in that car... It would be akin to putting large diameter wheels on an old truck. Oh, wait... Just messing with ya. Keep the 6 man or go to something like a y-block.
Bring an extra set of points and run it. Inline 6's are tough as hell and I'd rather lag behind in an inline six than keep up in a crate motor.
ya i know i would catch hell with the ls1,but it aint your typical ls motor its a ,new era in hotroding,im building a carbed, distrubtor driven, turbo motor,blowing threw a carb , im on a really limted budget all of the parts are used ive been collecting its going to be a clean install and not glamed up. I like em o.e. appearing on the outside including steel wheels, i just want to have a 10 sec. daily driven car that looks straight out of the fifties on the outside and is driveable anywear. plus a carbed ls motor with a dist looks like a ford motor. Thanks for all of the replys.
I'm not knocking you, and you certainly can do what ever you want. For me, its more than the look of an old car, I'm almost more into the early drivetrain. I think its really cool using old mechanicals on the street and to me, an old car with new guts is like a person wearing a costume. Whatever you do good luck on the tour, I'm sure it'll be a blast but I think it would be real satisfying for you to run that 6 across the country. Take care
Get it "in tune". Fix now what you couldn't afford to fix on the road. Drop a set of "highway gears" in the rear end so you can keep your rpm's low and reasonable while cruising constantly at 65-75ish. Make a list of potential "failure" items, buy them and don't take them out of the packages... keep the receipts. Pack the most logical set of tools you can. Grab a gas card that benefits you the most for driving 3K worth the fill up's. Make your seating area comfy... in other words steal pillows and any extra padding you can from mom or the old lady. Buy a new set of wipers... not the cheap ones. Make sure your tires are well balanced and the alignment is good if not perfect. Kiss the kids, kick the dog, kiss the wife on the lips and head out the door. Don't forget to come home with small seemingly meaningless trinkets and junk for the family... for some strange reason people enjoy that shit... nothing says I love you more than a refrigerator magnet, collectable spoon, or shotglass you found at a gas station at 2'oclock in the morning than that. Get a couple of "walkie talkies" and extra batteries... annoy your friends and tell them you must pull over to take a leak every 17 miles. Ask to stop and have your picture taken at every WAFFLE HOUSE you can find... whine like a two year old when they protest. Lastly... have fun, be safe and remember... the road less traveled is traveled less for a reason... you're lost dumbass!!! oh... and like the others said... lose the DUBS
ight not be worst idea to carry a gasget set, at least a spare head gasget, thats a little elderly to test , fuel pump would be wise not many parts will be in stock for that except fuel filt, points and spark plugs i would imagine all others would have to be ordered so carying some stuff would be prudent maybee a used spare gen and reg. too it can always be push started if that fails as you are stick
A 10 second daily driven car??? Have you ever been down a drag strip? You need a lot more than a powerful engine.
I" ve owned a 8 sec street car which i recently got rid of,cant afford it any more. The truck runs 11.90"s.
ive been on several long hauls and your car should make it no problem. but carry a few parts and for heavens sake put some hwy gearing in it if you dont have the overdrive tranny. you have been on one before so you know what its like keeping up with the rollin' show. the wife and i are going on the Americruise in the 49 Ford this year. hopefully it will be finished or so close that i can at least put the miles to her. i like it better because the cars are more like the ones on here and you have just as much fun if not more. the Power Tour is just that "Power" more of a muscle car thing. true you get to see some really killer cars that are pretty damn fast but not a lot of room for your traditional type of car.
If you do go on Power Tour, I will see you Lincoln.... I don't think there is an Americruise this year - just an impromptu cruise to Bonneville in August. Malcolm
I did the long haul on Power Tour '04, lots of fun but after awhile when you've seen 1 first gen Camaro's you've seen 100, I might drive a leg of it if it came back close but for me I'll save my money and do the Roundup or HAMB Drags. Leave the 6 in and have some fun learning the secrets it's got hidden inside.
"We'll be taking Americruise to a new location in 2008, and we'll tell you where as soon as we figure that out. Wherever it is, it'll be cool, fun, and all about the driving." this is the quote my wife got from the Rod and Custom website and i thought i saw something about it in one of my Rod and Custom magazines the first part of the year. i hope they have it because im planning my vacation around that show. and it does look like they are going to Bonneville this year...........
yeah this forum rocks ,i check it out all the time,i just dont post much , i mean no offense to any one.
1951 Plymouth, Charlotte, NC to Las Vegas and back, just over 5000 miles round trip with a original, unrebuilt flat-6 with 90,000+ miles showing. Do basic maintainance, common sense replacements and carry as many spares as you can think of. The more you take the less chance of being stranded. Be self sufficiant and you'll have the time of your life. BloodyKnuckles
Love the car, and love the motor. My grandfather rode the hell out of his flat six, and when he left it to me, I did just fine. It cruised very well on the highway, lower it, and drive the hell out of it. It will last longer than anything. I would still be using it if my piston didn't blow apart and leave chunks of metal in my oil pan. Good luck.
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