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Engine Adapter for 52 Chevy

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by fisher, Sep 9, 2011.

  1. fisher
    Joined: Dec 1, 2006
    Posts: 139

    fisher
    Member

    Was there ever or is there an adapter to connect a 265 Cevy V8 to a stock three spped drive train for a 1952 chevy? I'm not interested in hearing oppinions on why it is a bad idea, just want facts.
     
  2. riverrat
    Joined: Feb 9, 2005
    Posts: 309

    riverrat

    just put afront bearing retainer from a tri 5 chevy on the 52 transthis lets allows the use of the late throwout bearing one bolthole on the tranny needs to be enlarged then the 265 will bolt right up. did this 20 years ago, the car was my daily for 2 y


    riverrat
     
  3. fisher
    Joined: Dec 1, 2006
    Posts: 139

    fisher
    Member

    Really, that simple?? Can the retainer be installed with hand tools or will machining be required?
     
  4. 49ratfink
    Joined: Feb 8, 2004
    Posts: 24,195

    49ratfink
    Member
    from California

    they did make adapters for this. I have seen them on ebay as well as one at a swap meet.
     
  5. JohnEvans
    Joined: Apr 13, 2008
    Posts: 4,883

    JohnEvans
    Member
    from Phoenix AZ

    The bearing retainer is a bolt on but, that is the least of your worries. You will be loosing the rear engine mounts with the V-8 swap ,need to use a PU V-8 bell to 62 or so that uses bell housing mounts. Before you are done you will need to do some welding here and there.
     
  6. fisher
    Joined: Dec 1, 2006
    Posts: 139

    fisher
    Member

    My 52 has mid-engine motor mounts. I assume that is what you mean by losing the rear mounts. I have a truck bell housing that I could use but do no serious welding such as mounts. So I would need front motor mounts (available as a bolt in adapter) and home built bellhousing mounts. If I use the truck bell housing can I also use the larger truck clutch? We're getting very close to as much work as the typical (and more accepted) complete open drive conversion.
     
  7. 56sedandelivery
    Joined: Nov 21, 2006
    Posts: 6,694

    56sedandelivery
    Member Emeritus

    Speed Gems, and some others, made this adapter. You have to really baby the transmission, it is the weakest link. I had the complete swap setup, but wound up selling it to a fellow HAMBER. Butch/56sedandelivery.
     
  8. HEATHEN
    Joined: Nov 22, 2005
    Posts: 9,014

    HEATHEN
    Member
    from SIDNEY, NY

    If he's got a '52 Chevrolet passenger car, the stock transmission's bolt pattern isn't even close to the pattern on the trans end of a sbc bell housing. The '48-'54 TRUCK three speeds might work with what you're suggesting.

    I once had the adapter to do what you speak of. It came from Honest Charley in the early '60s, and even had "HONEST ADAPTER" cast on it.
     
  9. Dave Downs
    Joined: Oct 25, 2005
    Posts: 947

    Dave Downs
    Member
    from S.E. Penna


    That is the reason there were not many adapters for V-8's to the torque-tube trans. IIRC a Buick adapter was also available
     
  10. JohnEvans
    Joined: Apr 13, 2008
    Posts: 4,883

    JohnEvans
    Member
    from Phoenix AZ

    Ok fisher if you now have the mid mounts and a trans mount you don't need the truck bell. You will need one with the open bottom and you will need to drill several holes in it to match your trans. mounting pattern. Unless someone made a adapter mounts for the V-8 to 52 chassis you will still need to do a bit of welding/fabbing. And as said earlier that trans is weak !
     

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