Hot Rods HEMI with Hood Sides?

Now that I am starting to make a bit of progress, I have a whole other slew of questions. This is one that I have asked but this time I am going to ask in a different light. I am dead set on running Hood Sides on my '31 Chevy but I also want to run the '51 Chrysler Engine (331) that I have. The engine seems to be 30" x 30" which is huge. I have seen guys run huge blisters on the side of their hoods in order to run this particular engine but I have never been a huge fan of it.

My idea was to set the engine back into the cowl so that I either did not have to run the blisters at all ot set it back just a bit so that the scale of the blisters is much more streamlined.

The other idea was just to get a '52 Desoto Hemi and run that but I really am not to excited about that.

I ran across an older issue of TRJ yesterday and I stared at the Williams Bros roadster for a couple hours imagining how rad my coupe would be with the engine sitting that far back. The only thing is that car was a full competition roadster and was not meant for long hauls. Would I be screwing myself in the long run with having set back like this? What about steering? Does the box or column need to be relocated far back?

Any thoughts?

 

Well, the first thing I see is that the Williams car has a Dodge engine, which is physically alot smaller than the Chrysler. If you set a 331 back that far where will your feet go ? And if you set the engine back then you have to deal with that nice frame and x-member.
Big blisters may not make your bunny jump but it sure seems to be the logical choice given the options...and it will get people to start asking questions. Oh wait, just split the car down the middle and add 6"...

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Run the blisters, I think they look good. If you push the engine way back, the car is not going to be comfortable to drive.

 

You may also consider shaving the covers a bit. Not sure how much you'd gain, but it might help.

 

I am faced with the same problem. 331 hemi in a 32 Roadster. There's no way you can push the engine back enough on a street car so blisters are the only way to go. Here is one example I found, however comparing the photo with my mock up I say this is example looks too wide.

Let my know what you decide.

 

Check out Fivewindow Johnnie's car, he's running a hemi. Big blisters, but they look good.

 

Yeah see that one looks really bulky to me. That was what I am trying to avoid which I fear is going to be great deal more difficult then I originally****umed.

Cutting up the frame and X- member was something that I did not even take into account which is sort of throwing that idea out if too much has to be done. What about setting it back like 6"? The inside of a '31 Chevy seems to be bigger then a Model A. Right now I could do with out the leg room in the cowl and still have 6" more to gain from taking out the package tray.

I may end up having to take a look at some Desoto Engines after all!

 

They do look good on that car, but to me I think it's because of the full fenders. On an open wheeled hot rod there is so much stripped away that something like those blisters would be something that your eye would dwell on. If it were a lakes car, they would have probably run them that way because it was about the function of them which is appealing also.

 

are you opposed to cutting the metal away where the covers and hood meet and finishing with some stainless or aluminum trim around the hole where the blister would mount? I would like to see that!

 

Anybody got pictures of cars with the hood sides, but no blisters, just letting the motor hang out through a hole where the blister would be? Seems like that would be the lease obtrusive way to do it. You'd just have a little bit of motor showing on each side, actually think that would increase the cats**** factor some......

 

I was going to mention that also f1 fred & Ebbsspeed. That would perhaps be a really cool option. I know that this car does not have a problem with the valve covers hitting but I really dig this treatment.

 

That sounds like a good idea, that Williams BROS. roadster is one of my favorite race cars.

 

C'mon now. Blisters on top of louvers?? and unpainted at that?

Custom side panels to fit and painted to match the car make alot more sense, especially from a style and appearance point of view.

 

A few more Ideas

 

I just went through this with a '36 Dodge P/U and a 354 Hemi install. Didn't want to cut the side panles so I moved the firewall back about 6". Now everything that I do in this area is dictated by the hemi & being a P/U leg room*****s. You will find you have plenty of room between the radiator and the fan! Now looking at a SteerClear, at $500+, just to get the steering to clear the monster motor to the rack. Lon

 

I like them done this way

 

I was thinking about running a Cowl Steering unit if it looked like I was going to run into problems. Any pics of your '36 Dodge?

 

Now that is a good looking blister. What is it covering? It doesn't seem to be a Hemi Valve cover seeing how it's so streamlined. Very Cool though.

 

Not a hemi, never got to see the block but here's the whole picture. Pleasenton Aug 08

 

The blisters on Jerry Eckholdt's coupe don't look too bad, in my opinion.
http://www.hotrodscustomstuff.com/Eckholdt-roadster.html

 

***** Smiths car in the Ford Museum

 

don't cut the chassis up now. shoulda thought of that before you had it made. maybe they will let you trade it in on one better suited for a severe engine setback. i don't think your going to get any setback AT ALL without cutting the***** out of that beautiful Ionia Hot Rod Shop chassis. i'd sell it and have them build you one to accommodate the engine setback if you are dead set on having the engine set back.
as for cowl steering. how the hell you gonna run cowl steering if your motor is consuming all the space under your cowl?? ain't gonna happen bro. sorry.

i kinda like the semi-blister or "flare" that you posted. the one with the intake stakes pokin through on that T hood. i think something like that would look pretty rad. it would sort of streamline it but not be a full blister or fully cover the HEMI inside... besides, if your gonna run a HEMI don't you want people to SEE the HEMI. unless, like you mentioned, it was for aerodynamic reasons.
yeah. i'm relay liking the semi-blister idea. i'd leave the blister bare aluminum on your painted panel with polished aluminum rivets showing and all. yeah, thats the ticket!

 

badass!!!

 

Yeah, I really didn't even consider the fact that the frame would have to be cut up when I started talking about the engine set back. I did not have the Ionia Frame built specifically for me. If that was the case I would have had them un-pinch the rear and pinch the front to fit under the hood. I bought one of their extra frame so I had to deal with how it came. But with that being said, I am going to do everything possible not to touch the frame. So if that means forfeiting the set back idea the so be it.

I am really digging that semi blister too. That whole car is really neat and the blister is just another reason to keep staring. As for letting everybody know that I have a HEMI, I don't want just one thing to be the focus on this car but more of a complete package. The car itself should stand out and not just on particular thing if that make sense.

I have also been toying with the idea of running a Chromed '32 Ford Grille shell which will be something that will stick out like a sore thumb if everything else is not done well. Who knows though. It's all up in the air, I am just fishing around for ideas.

How much do you think I could set the engine back before I start*****ing with the frame? Any input is appreciated.

 

You can still do the cowl steering......I did it on DDS....I ran th drag link from inside the cowl out to the steering arm.....I originally had it exit out the cowl, but did not like its far back and awkward exit point, so I kept it all concealed and ended up with a cleaner look.......Is it traditional ?.......its just the way I solved a problem..............You can speculate and build in your mind all you want.......but nothing beats an exstensive mockup it tells all......Littleman

 

Here is a better look at the cowl.
George

 

Didn't mean to offend anyone.

 

Before you start cutting,.. Measure a 241-270-315-325 Dodge Hemi, they are the smallest. They are between 90-120 lbs lighter and 2" shorter & 2" narrower than 55' up Chryslers. I've seen lots of them in 32 Fords with NO cutting. There are a few more speed parts available of the little Dodge Hemi than for DeSoto's. The 51' 331 has an extended bellhousing, the back end takes up more space compared to the rest of the Hemi's. Maybe you should look, measure & think a while longer before you start cutting to make it fit. Exhaust all other options before you use the "Blue wrench". Good Luck!

Lucky667

 

DAVE. i would have never believed you could fit a steering box, the necessary bracing AND a HEMI under that cowl, but if you say so then i believe ya.

Jeffrey. i would bolt the trans to the motor and hang that*****er in the frame. that is the only REAL way to find out how far back it will go. no one can tell you how far it will go because they do not have the same chassis as you.
like Dave said. do an extensive MOCK UP. that'll answer alot of questions AND it should get you pretty pumped up to keep moving forward on the project. planning ahead is GREAT but there are some things you just can't completely plan out beforehand in exacting detail.

good luck. i'm anxious to see this project move forward. it has a ton of potential and you have one of the best chassis you could ever ask for.

 

that is just good advice in general. i wish more people would THINK a while before they started cutting***** apart arbitrarily.