Last week I picked up a 54 Chevy 210 4 dr. First it was going to be a straight resto project for me and my son. Then I was thinking I would get a sbc that he and I could build up and put in it. Then I saw some posts on worked inliner here and thought that would be cool and kindda different. Now I located a 348 block and crank and was wondering if I could build that and make it fit???? Help!!!! Any input would be appreciated.
Listen to Tinbender. Make it a driver first. Going for a drive in an old car with your Son is priceless. If he digs it, consider building a motor in your spare time as a Father and Son project. Here is the heart of the matter; lets say you pull the Chevy all apart and it takes forever to finish, You disappoint your Son. All the best, Dale
If its a runner, leave it . If you have to do a motor swap, it is pretty easy in 54s. Espessially The Small Block treatment. But a 348 would be cool. Keep it simple and keep it moving forward. I still have my 54 that my dad and i started almost 20 yrs ago. It is stilo not on The road. Big plans with no time and money. Wanted so bad to drive it to high school. I regret getting to crazy with it as it was a driver. Anyway, build it, drive it, and have fun. Dont over think it. My 2cents
Sorry should have stated that she's a driver now,only need to install seat belts to make her legal here. What I was trying to figure out is the 235 is smoking a bit and will have to be dealt with at some point.,so do I get another 235 and work it over or build a sbc to install at a later date? (or the 348) I want to teach him how to rebuild a motor at some point. Thanks again.
So many well intended "quick projects" end up sitting in the garage/barn. And those are the ones we find decades later as "finds". Good advice to get it on the road by any means and enjoy it. If you have the time and resouces to do a full resto in a specific timeline great. But just enjoy it -rattles, blemished paint and all. I can vouch from experince. Good luck to you! D
rering, dual carb and a split can do all that in car and lower it down as far as you can all pretty cheep to do and should not put it out of comission for long still rember a guys 53 when i was in school and was way low and very nice looking remove rear doorhandles if you ever do a body job the 6 cyl is much more unique than another 350 i have had a olds powered one a 6 cyl one with split and dual carbs and a 350 one that i now own and i really want a 6 cyl powered one especially a souped up one
"she's a driver now,only need to install seat belts to make her legal here. What I was trying to figure out is the 235 is smoking a bit and will have to be dealt with at some point.,so do I get another 235 and work it over or build a sbc to install at a later date?" Thanks for the clarification, that helps. Smoking a bit is not a big deal. Work together to figure out the smoking issue. The Father Son team effort will help you learn how interested he is in the project. Speaking as a Father, I have not always paid enough attention to what interests my Son. If he gets into it, teach him how to rebuild a 6. Buy a spare and rebuild the spare together. Oh, one last thing, from experience, don't let him borrow your tools. All the best, Dale Cleveland OH
I have to agree with tinbender also, drive it and have fun. Build an engine while you enjoy what you and your son have. The build could be a great father/ son project.
Yup, make it legal, drive it and let it tell you what she wants. Then you and your son make a plan and go for it while you're driving around in it. Ditto on the tool thing!
... use a spellcheck... If this is a father/son project, keep it simple and get it on the road so that you two can enjoy it. THEN, you can plan an upgrade after the excitement wears off.
Agreed! Drive it and enjoy it now! Then look to the future and putting a small bloack in it. One thing to think about is that if you put a small block in it and ever go on a road trip and need any parts they are easily accessible at any parts places along the way. Vintage or motors that were in production a long time ago are a little harder to get parts in the middle of nowhere on the sometimes. J
A buddy claimed he built a SBC using all Mellings parts, put it in one of those, and ran 120 in the quarter mile. He said there was some amount of steering interference and he relocated the steering box, but after steering in one direction a few turns the linkage went over-center and it would start to un-steer, so he had to adjust his driving style a bit. Supposedly also he built his own headers, and joined the tubes and flanges by brazing, not welding, and deep into the first high speed run the bronze melted and a batch of tubes came loose and went clattering and bouncing behind the car. I can not attest any of those stories are true, but the stunts I saw him pull when I knew him make me think they just might have been.
Wow, I was told you guys were tough but I didn't know it was that way. I promise to right the word dilemma 1000 times. OOOPS!! There I go again.
Man every one has a opinion put when it comes to young people they loose interest in some thing that has to set for to long. If you want to build the 348 keep the 6 running and having fun until it is ready to put in then change the motor. You and your son will have a lot more fun and their are so many other little things you and him can do and keep him into the project. Man good luck and lets see some pictures.
My son, who is now 25 and living in another state, used to go to car shows, swap meets and cruises with me in my Nomad. A friend of mine bought mid-60s mopar to rebuild as a project with one of his kids. The car was taken apart and never put back together. It sat for six or seven years and finally sold in pieces. The kid is now 27 years old, married with kids, etc, and has no interest in old cars. Same guy bought a mid-50s mopar to rebuild as a project with his next to youngest kid. The car has sat untouched for at least five years, and that kid just moved out and is on his own. Another father-son project that went nowhere. My advice, get the thing on the road and have fun together. Rebuild the six if it needs it, and make sure you get it done and back on the road asap. Kids grow up fast and leave to live their lives. Fun times together are always better than big dreams that never come to fruition.
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