So I just bought bought back the car I should have never sold. Its not the actual car but its an unmolested 49 chevy coupe, and now I have a fresh start on building it right. So... Has anybody ever set up a sbc/4 speed combo in a 49-54 chevy using the factory clutch set up with the clutch pedal still pivoting through the master cylinder? I'm giving myself a 1957 cut off for the car's enhancements, and the more I can use what I have the better. Is this a realistic set up, or will the stock inline 6 clutch set up not be able to work the fork on the 4 speed. Any advice is welcome. Also what would be the ideal trans to find? The motor will be mild but I want to avoid any durability issue or granny gear set ups...
If you change the transmission you have to change out the rear end because of the torque tube. The first 283/4spd was in 57, so go with everything from a 57.
I did. I built a 50 chevy sedan delivery and used a small block [406 cu in] with a lakewood ****tershield and a saginaw 4 speed with hurst linkage. I wish I'd take a photo of the finished installation. Fro clutch linkahe I went to U-pull-it and grabbed the Z-bar and it's mounting brackets and pivots from a 75-76 ford F-100. Brought it home and held up the parts to see what I needed to do. I welded the frame bracket for the Z-bar in place and modified the one that went on the bellhousing. I then bolted it to the slave cylinder mount bracket on the ****tershield after a little modification. I really don't remember what modifications it needed but I remember it required a little slicing and dicing and maybe a bit of welding. The Z-bar needed to be cut in half, re-oriented to match up with the clutch linkage rods and shortened through the middle before welding it back together. It sounds like a huge undertaking but it really wasn't. When it was all done, my Z-bar pivoted on original ford nylon bushings in their modified brackets and had great leverage on the clutch fork. Worked smooth as silk with the original 50 pedals and master cylinder in place.
Yes sir. I ran a 10 bolt out of a first gen camaro on the previous car, but I want this one to be right. Will a 57 rear end have the correct width for the 49?
Looks like it will http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/1949-chevy-reaer-end-******-swap.271045/
This is one of those cases where the more information you have the better. Personally, a properly set up 57 Chevrolet rear end is virtually a bolt in and plenty strong (unless you're using slicks and high RPM launches). Re-drill the spring pin locating hole 1 1/2 inch forward and 1/2 inch inward, then use the 57 shock plates/U-bolts. 55-56 will also fit the same, BUT they have weaker third member castings, and smaller bearings. Plus, the 57 has a drain plug the others don't have. As far as the clutch linkage, I'd jump over to ChevyTalk.Org, to the 49-54 forum, and read the stickies; DZAUTO/Tom Parsons has an old 51 4 door sedan he got from his grandfather originally. It has had several reincarnations over the years, and is currently a stroker 350 to 383 and Muncie 4 speed, with 57 Positraction rear end. He used the stock clutch linkage, but modified it using some chain links to make up for the difference in length and geometry. He has photos of the work. The parking brake cables will work IF you move the stock brake handle to the left of the steering column, and do some minor mods. Tom even uses the old Hurst style saddle engine mount, fabricated some side bell housing mounts, and modified the stock rear trans mount. For my nephews 51 Bus Coupe, that I gave him, we went a little more modern with side mounts, rear trans mount, floor mounted parking brake, 56 rear end, transamatic automission behind a .030 over 350. For exhaust were used 96 Caprice Cop Car exhaust manifolds, and an aluminum radiator. IF you are interested, I have an "OLD" Hot Rod Magazine article of them installing a 283/cast iron Powerglide, and 57 rear end into a 53 Chevrolet, and did it without cutting the firewall supports, but the radiator had to be moved forward of the support.. The way they mounted the rear end involved removing and re-welding the rear end spring perches; too much work when you can just re-drill the pin hole if you ask me. I had several copies of the article, I have one copy left. Just send me a PM with your name and address. No charge. Butch/56sedandelivery.
Yeah, in fact it was a "Vega" trans. [had 3 rings machined on the input shaft] Taken from an '80 Pontiac sunbird with a 4 cylinder engine. 1st gear was 3.50 to one which worked out great with the 2.29 ratio rear axle from an '83 cutl***. That rear was narrower than a 1st generation Camaro which allowed me to use a wide rear tire on an 8.5" wheel. I still had to remove part of the wheel well lip and "clearance" the inner wheelwels with a BFH to clear those tires. With those gears, I was able to drive that car comfortably in town [low 1st gear in the trans] and cruise on the hiway with the high rear gears.
I used the stock clutch linkage in mine. I don't know what bellhousing I ended up with since I just took one out of a pile. But I did end up using the stock 216 clutch arm. I don't remember having to do much modifications there edit- I do think I had to lengthen one piece of linkage
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