1952-59 Ford SBC in a '55 Ranch Wagon (I know I'm going to get a lot of hate for this)

Hey guys new to the social group but long time reader.... I know theres a ton of people against this but I'm interested in putting a SBC into my Ranch Wagon. I was dead set on a 302 w/AOD but I recently had a good friend offer me a 350 with a 4l80e ****** for a slamming deal so I'm no weighing my options. My main question is what mods would have to be done besides the motor mounts? Would I have to cut the firewall and ****** hump? Any input would be great just no bashing me for the whole "put a ford in a ford!" Like I said I'm weighing my options as of now. Thanks in advance guys!

 

You might get some good natured razzing, but for the most part everyone here is of the mind set "it's your car, do what you want".

 

Good deal! ha i ***ume there has to be some firewall mod does due to the distributor so hopefully someone has some good info for me

 

Run a hurst style motor mount and a small cap hei and it fits like a glove.i have a chevy setup in mine!

 

Welcome from So Cal, no guff from me for running a sbc, I've got one in my 56 f100. Only trouble I have is the dist is a little close to the firewall.
Let's see some pics of your wagon.

Link to our FAQs http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/group.php?do=discuss&discussionid=18186

Link to posting pics http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...discussionid=18102&gmid=327154#gmessage327154

 

I have a 350/700R in my 54 coupe/ I cut off old Ford motor mounts on crossmember and made new Chevy side mounts welded on at spring pockets on frame. I am running Big HEI so I cut and moved back firer wall 1 1/2 inches in center. I am using a Nova/Chevy ll oil pan. I made a new center Trans crossmember. I used block hugger headers. The Chevy motor gave me more header clearance for the jeep Dephi power steering box.
Yeah I get hell for putting a Chevy in my Ford, but after putting a 302/C4 in my 55 Ford at twice the price I went with the Chevy in my 54.
P.S. For all the Ford purist my 54 Vicky (avatar)has all Ford running gear 312/FMX.

 

Riskybiz, explain "twice the price" ? with the info we have in here http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/group.php?do=discuss&group=&discussionid=18186 we know the SBF and a Ford FE swap can be done on the cheap.

 

If that is a late 350 with a one piece rear seal you may have to fabricate an oil pan,the budget priced '63-67 Nova pans available are for a two piece rear seal, one piece seal pans can get pricey http://www.summitracing.com/search/...rear-main-seal-style/1-piece?keyword=oil pans Your 4L60 trans also requires a computer harness.Now you could craigslist the Chevy & trans and buy the 5.0 Ford and AOD and make life easier.

 

Thanks for all the info guys! From the sounds of it the 4l80 transmission might not be the way to go. That makes this slamming deal not sound so good now haha As far as motor mounts go ive been looking into Butches mounts. Anyone have any experience with them or know much about them?

 

Jeff, What I mean twice the price refers to the cost of building a 302 over what a Chevy 350 cost.
Small example: Intake for a Chevy 99.00, same brand Intake for a 302 299.00. The cost for the front mono pulley set-up to run alt,power steering pump,a/c pump.
As far as installing a 302,351,390,or a 460/C6 as I had in my 56 I sold that is straight forward no brainer.
What I did to install a NOS 62-67 Nova/Chevy ll pan (Ebay 62.99) on my one piece seal 350. I cut the two pans and welded them together at mounting flang, pluged the dip stick hole in the block (Nova pan has dip stick) and now the motor has a front sump pan like a Ford to clear the center drag link.
I am using stock power steering pump and bracket,(works great with jeep power steering box) Alt, A/C brackets from Vintage Air for short water pump.
Saturday a friend told me a guy he works with is selling a 302/5speed out of his sons wrecked Mustang for 550.00. Might go by and pick it up for the next project or put it on Craigslist for some easy cash.

 

If you are going to use the lame excuse that the oil pan is in the wrong place , well a new oil pan is about $60 .
Then you will also never have to worry about hitting the distributer on the firewall either .
If Henry Ford wanted the Chev engine in his cars , he would have done that from the beginning but as we all know you can put what you want into any car but you Only put a FORD ENGINE IN A FORD .....Period !

Now if you need a good Ford engine built for you , just let me know . I have great prices on great quality engines .
Matter of fact , one of our group members just saw and heard the Ford engine I just got done building for my 55 Ford in Oct .
I am also building him a FORD engine for his 48 Ford and he lives a good drive from Pa too ! He lives in Mich !

Jim

J & S Kustom Engines

 

Retro Jim I understand what you're saying but I was curious about the headaches I would run into if I did decide to go with a Chevy motor.... You'll be happy to know that I've decided not to go that route and in fact just bought a 351w for it tonight, so Henry Ford will be happy! Ha can't wait and I'll keep you guys posted on progress, thanks for all the help!

 

Sweet! I didn't even have to go into my "Ford only" spiel! My other suggestion was to sell the 350 for a nice profit and get a 302. 351W- even better! Good luck and post pics!!

 

Thanks F91.... Yeah the problems and headaches I would have with the 350 and 4l80e would be to much! So I got a nice 1969 351w for it and now the search for the AOD transmission is on

 

Just remember you will want to keep the flexplate from the 351W to use with the AOD you will want a 1988-93 AOD for a donor trans these had all the factory upgrades the earlier ones lacked as well as an improved valve body and they are also non-computer to make hook up EZ for a flexplate upgrade use this:http://www.kmjent.com/cart/ford-sfi-flexplate-164-tooth-28-oz-289-302-351-c4-ao.html You may want this also http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Ford-Mi...Parts_Accessories&hash=item1e6d43c98c&vxp=mtr The smaller size will give you better clearance for the exhaust.

 

Hey Retro Jim, Are you a member of Goodguys? If you are, I know you will want to cancel your membership. The February issue of the Goodtimes Gazette has the Mid-Western Nationals and as I look thru my Gazette I counted 17 Award Winning Fords with Chevy power under the hood.
These are not your back yard built cars.
With all do respect, just some food for thought.

 

The thing is, if they have a Chevy engine, they aren't really a Ford. I say this without being angry or argumentative. I have zero interest in putting a Mopar or Chevy block in anything I own. But, then again, unlike these "award winners" I will do everything myself.

 

You make a point "these are not your back yard built cars" a large majority of these "award winners" are trailer queens and hardly ever driven,they are built in professional shops from the money out of a fat cats wallet and far from what most folks here on the HA.M.B. would even consider as traditional.America was once a place where men took pride in the things they created with their own hands these men are a dying breed.Please stop by and give a good read here to the folks that are Legends http://www.ahrf.com/ these are the guys that started in a garage or under a shade tree in "the back yard".Us old farts remember when the flathead was king and Hudsons won in NASCAR we remember Fordillacs,and Fords with Olds and Hemi power in the 50's done in those back yards.When the Chevy OHV came out in '55 it started a new revolution and because they were light and cheap the popularity soared,companies produced a flood of aftermarket parts and when you produce more you can sell it cheaper.It doesn't make it better just more available,in todays market you can buy heads and intakes for Fords SBF's for the same prices as the SBC's prior to the 90's that was not the case.Putting anything under the hood besides the SBC shows creativity and originality and a return to the roots of hot rodding.But like they say"it's your ride,your choice".

 

Those boys that shove a bowtie any where it will fit are the same guys, that took thier sisters to the junior prom, because thier mom said it was O.K.

 

Alright boys relax, this was not my intentions when I started this thread

 

I don't give a damn what engine you stick under the hood of your FORD .
As I always say , It's your car so do what you want with it ! Just be happy with the choices you make because it's your car , not mine !


Most all those Trailer Queens use the Corvette engine in those high end show cars for a reason ! Just ask GM and they will tell you what they pay for those Corvette engines that they use in those show cars ! It's NOT because they fit into a custom built frame any better than another engine will because GM has their fingers in them just like many other big named parts companies have as well when those shoe cars are built .
How do you think they get engines in those show cars before they are even offered to the general public ?


Glad to hear you bought a FORD engine for your Ford . if you are leaving it stock that will be a good engine and will pull you on the highways just fine . I would suggest if you re going to do highway driving a lot , then invest in a good overdrive trans to save you some gas $$$$$ !
I also personally like a carb engine over a EFI engine because I can do many performance upgrades without having to worry about the computer !
If you want to get some more HP and Torque from that 351W , feel free to ask away .
Also get a 8" or 8.8" rear with a gear ratio with a 3.25 to a 3.55 ratio . That means 3.25 mainly stock and 3.55 with a beefier cam . You can have the best of both worlds with out killing you gas mileage ! You can use a 9" rear too but it will be more costly and overkill . An 8" or 8.8" rear will hold 500 hp no problem ! Just don't use tires as wide as the car and you will be fine .
Still glad to hear you went with a Ford engine !

Jim

 

To be truthful Henry Ford built his dynasty by using Dodge engines in his fords. Being as this is a traditional site the swapping of GM engines was a time honored tradition as thanks to great engineers at GM such as Kettering were designing and building incredible ,for their time, OHV engines.

One problem you may have is interference with your steering tie-rods. That issue was recently covered in another thread.

For the record the SBC was purposed designed as a rear sump engine as the guys at Chevrolet saw that Ford guys were grabbing every olds,pontiac,buick and cad engine out of wrecking yards or dealer sourced and they hated losing that piece of the market to their sister divisions at GM.

Personally I prescribe to the Studie guys way of thinking. Don't really care what powers any old car just as long as its being saved. And later on if things line up it can always be reversed.

Do whatever you need or can afford to keep your ford from dying. My 2 cents.

 

Retro Jim.... As far as some of research I've done my wagon should have 3.54 gears in the rear end although I'm not sure on what rear end it is! It's a factory I6 223 with the fordomatic transmission, any insight on this would be great! Also I plan on running an AOD transmission with the 351, besides what was mentioned before in this thread is there any other pointers?
Thanks

 

If your 351 is not high on horsepower you can use the stock rear it will play nice with an AOD, it is basically an early version of an 8" there was never a posi option for them,these rear ends were in production from 1949-56.If you use a 1986 Crown Vic driveshaft with a NEAPCO 2-0291 conversion rear U-joint it will plug and play.This is the set up in my '54,I did have to shorten my driveshaft 1 1/4" because the donor AOD came from a Lincoln Mark VII which has a longer tailshaft one of the freak AOD's.Look for a 1988-93 Mustang AOD as a donor.

 

One thing that has been overlooked is sump location in your pan. You will need a rear sump or might be able to get away with a mid sump one. depending how high or low you mount your engine. Rear sump pans and pickup tubes are easiest found on 4 wheel drive trucks. be sure and get the bolt that the pickup tube attaches to.

 

I thought it was a front sump in the 55's and rear for the 54's and earlier

 

never had a 55 someone will clarify this

 

Zap , yes '55 -'56 has front pan . 'Cos I'm too lazy to add a pic here I've thrown a quick one in the social group album at top of page for you .
Pic is of the engine out of our '55 Ranchwagon .

.

 

that should definitely simplify things.

 

Come on guys, just because some one isn't building a car to your taste doesnt mean its not bieng built well. All of this negativity is tempting me to pull the 272 4 speed from my 54 Vicky and stuff as 307 sbc and a auto into it! Who really cares?
Lets just all enjoy our cars!!