Well its coming home, sight unseen. Hope its a good one. After months of looking at '36-'37 Ford Coupes, it has become apparent that the Fords are above my pay-grade. And then I came across this and it is a done deal. Give me your insights of what direction to take. I have a few ideas and I want to keep it very traditional in the vein of mid-50's to early 60's. I have a 354 Hemi. But what about keeping it 6cyl flat head and hopping up?
A clean running flathead with an overdrive is all you need. If you are building a taildragger anyhow. save the Hemi a show N go hotrod.
Here is a little inspiration if you get a Plymouth. Dad and I built this 1937 Dodge with a 392 Hemi. Its a little more late sixties street strip g***er style. We used a Plymouth grill and shell with 1962 Chrysler Imperial headlights, and a custom hood.
For a basically stocker flat 6, get a '58-'59 230 Dodge. Highest HP flat mopar 6. Must use the 230 flywheel. Did one in my '36 Dodge pickup. Used '36 oil pan and had to extend the oil pickup tube with br*** pipe fitting as where it screw in the block is recessed and the '36 was flush with pan rail. Dave
I think you are point on. I do want to get it lower in the rear. Once I know what I am working with then a plan should come into play. Looking at the pictures, it looks like the front is lowered. I have no idea what I will find, be it a MII conversion, stoke axle, some other front axle modification, or just a worn out front stock suspension. The selling party is a "dealer" so the information I have is very limited.
This is a bit more than a little inspiration. Wow, what a great looking car you have. I don't plan on building a drag car, but I am very interested in any info. you can provide on this build. Transmission and engine placement, cooling system, brake system, firewall/floor pan mods., front and rear suspension, front and rear axle details. Any hurdles with the frame? Thanks.
Great input. I will keep this as an option. If a guy is looking, where would he go for this '58-'59 230 Dodge engine. Thanks.
The 354 is currently in my 1930 Dodge. I call it my 1930 Dodge Engine Stand model. Mostly the car does not belong on this forum, but I'm trying to keep it very authentic looking and not tipping into another "---rod" genera.
Even though it's a Ford, this style/theme would work on your Mopar. My goal was an " average Joe on a budget" mild custom that you might see at an Autorama in the early/mid 60s... customized with lots of detail, chrome and accessories...but not taken too far. I didn't want a leadsled or tail dragger (they were a little before my time) but more of a hot rod from the mid 60s car shows I loved. They had that "California Rake"...big & little tires, caps and rings, a dropped axle and a "heavier than stock" engine weighing the nose down. Although it's not your typical/traditional taildragger, I still get a lot of positive feedback.
I bought a '58 Dodge pickup for $800. Used the engine and sold the pickup minus engine for $500. Currently driving our '36 pickup with the 230 in Brookings SD at the International Dodge Brothers meet. Drove it over 150 miles yesterday. We are here all week! Dave
We didn't do our own ch***is work, but did use the original frame. All the suspension was changed.The front is a Pete and Jakes drop axle with hairpins and coilovers, rear is Quarter Max ladder bars on a 68 Fury 8.75, also with coil overs. Im not sure what motor mounts were used, but there nothing special. We are using a 727 Torqueflite, and it fit in the stock x member without cutting. The firewall is stock with a recess cut for distributor clearance. the radiator is moved foward into the grill shell. We had to totaly replace the floor, but that was due to rust. the transmission tunnel did need to be made larger. This is what we started with. I will dig up some build pics when i can.
How fast do you want to go? I know people with GOOD flathead dodge/plymouth cars who find they have all the power they need for normal driving. It's the worn out ones that seem doggy. If I wanted to do a hop up on one I think I would leave it basically stock and add a centrifugal supercharger or turbocharger. Low compression flathead engines respond well to supercharging and it avoids hunting for expensive, hard to find parts while giving the same power or better.
Thanks for the info. on your build. Is this Plymouth still in your coral? Good to know on your suspension upgrades. Did/do you run front brakes? I get the picture that yours was really a strip runner, but was it streetable?
Good question. I don't need the horses or the noise. Just want to build a bad-*** dependable cruiser that has some reserves to do the job when I need it. I really like the idea of a blown flat 6. The Plymouth is on its way to me. I should be grinning or cussing by this weekend.
Its a street/strip car, and yes we still have it. It has planty of street miles on it. The license plate on the back isn't for show.
The Jalopy Journal
