Installing a sbc in a 55 ford sedan

There's probably been a thread on this,But I can't find it.I'm planning on installing a 350/350 chevy in my grandfathers 55 ford mainline.Is there any one that makes a conversion for this or has anyone done this.Any help would be appreciated.I haven't looked at it yet,just started building the engine.I was just looking for some suggestions before using the old trial and error method.

 

Try Advanced Adapters or Transdapt.

Or get or build a hurst mount for the engine and then just make a cross member for the ******. You may have to sort out the exhaust yourself but its no hill for a stepper.

 

http://www.jamcosuspension.com/

Alot of their stuff will work in mid 50's Fords too..check em out

 

had a 327 in a 56 only problem was fixed by notching the front of the oil pan

 

I'm planning to install a Y-block in a 55 Chevy....

 

Man, SBC's have been installed in everything, Its not a matter of who has done it. I'm sure there's info somewhere.

 

Its been a long time but use 63 chevy truck side motor mounts you will need to elongate the car cross member mount hole slightly...................... I have used the chevy II front sump oil pans and I have used the rear sump chev just slide the engine rearward.. You said auto trans but if stick the clutch linkage will line up............. mount a trans cooler the stock 55 radiator will work fine, The stock gas linkage is a nightmare fine a gm cable type that bolts to the fire wall inside the car. you will also need to upgrade to 12 volt neg ground................... the trans mount will accept the 2 bolt chev mount and line up. if using the 1 bolt some fab work is nessary......................... next get some granda spindals and up grade to disk brakes.................... the stock rear will take up to about 275 hp if you use a narrow tire and dont abuse you will be alright....................................................... I have had a lot less trouble installing and using a 289/ 302 Ford engine..

 

Actually we have a very active 1952-56 Ford social group here on the HAMB and,there are build pics of this swap.I will warn you the SBC is a pain in these Fords which has to do with crossmember location and steering box clearance, these Fords use a front sump pan the SBC's are rear sump.Now,if you swap in a 302,351W or 5.0 and a C4 or AOD I can give you all the part numbers for the mounts to do the swap with stock parts from O'Reillys for about $75 the 302 aka 5.0 can use a '66-70 Mustang front oil pan, new cost about $45.With the Ford swap 3-4 hours including brew breaks and it's in.

 

what you do is get a 351w or c and slide that right in just had to say it

 

I am putting a slant six in my olds

 

dont make work for your self a small block ford falls into a 55 ford even some f series engine mounts fit to the original mounts with some tapered spacers leave the small block chev swap alone put the chev in a flathead powered car only my opinion but have a nice day

 

64 galaxie 289 mounts drop a sbf right in.

 

Why would you want Chevy shame when a SBF is a shoe in???

 

My second car back in my mispent youth was a '55 Ford two door sedan and I put a 390 FE motor in it. Worked well. I'm a great sbc enthusiast but even I would not put one in a mid fifties Ford. First - it just ain't right. Second - it's a lot of work and you don't gain much over even a y-motor. Third - it just ain't right. Just sayin...

 

While most of the info and advice above is true, I'm a big fan of the Chevy-into-Ford swap.

I've swapped a Chevy small block into my '52 Victoria with great success and it just wasn't all that big a deal using Jamco mounts.

The Chevy-into-Ford swap is older than most of the guys on this board and has a nostalgic flavor that a small block Ford swap can't touch - too new!

Oh...did I say I'm a nostalgia guy? My Vicky is being build with a 1958 semi-custom vibe and a small block Ford would be all wrong!

Good luck...and keep the Chevy!

 

What he said. Go get a 302 HO and AOD from a Fox Mustang, and you'll still irritate most the HAMB'rs here. Bolts in.

 

I'm thinking of a Prius drivetrain in a split window Vette.... mmmmm green!

 

See my post,no spacers required.

 

Thanks for the info.I looked at the jamco kit.It looks like a kit to put side mounts in a model a.The 55 has a 312 in it now but it's tired,we have a 292 out of a low mileage mercury.We have about 5 sbc's laying around.I always had great luck with sbc's.You can't beat the performance of a sbc.

 

The ghost of King Henry V8 will come and haunt you if you do this. The Y block in a '55-'57 Chevy is a much better idea.

 

i have a 58 ford that i putting a y-block back in only cause it,s the only ford motor i like but i to would put a sbc in it then a sbf i have buddy,s with 56 fords and 56 merc,s that went the sbf and wish they kept a y-block in it and joe,s 56 merc now has a sbc in it ny car named heart thob. use what you like i always like a hot rodder that used a body they like and a drive train they and didn,t grive a **** use what you like and drive the **** out of it

 

Or just for fun how about a 500 cube Caddy from a '70 Eldorado it is front sump makes in excess of 500 ft.lbs of torque and only 45 more pounds than an SBC.

 

you guys think thats bad i put a mopar 440 /hemi 4 speed in my 56 ford and i smoked both the ford and chevy engines

 

A new set of rings might cure that .

 

I only have a 2 barrel on mine now and it has more power than my sbc car.

 

....Sigh..... Another one lost to The Dark Side.

 

Y blocks are expensive to build. sbc are cheap and easy to build. If you want to take the easy way out give me the 55' I will put a Y in it. You can get a Camero for you sbc

 

It just aint right.

 

I moved the steering linkage down, modifyed the fire wall some, made the motor mounts, put the engine in as far back as I could, not a hard job, ran great!

 

i believe you will require a early nova oil pan and pick up tube to clear the cross member but...you should put a fe in it,my 2 cents MERRELL