235 inline in a 60's style A?

I am trading a freind a 302/AOD for a '56 235/3 spd. Would it still "fit" in with my '60s style hot rod? Sorry for such a lame question but it is bothering me, when I think of a rod from the sixties I think SBC with chromw ALL over it, would a stovebolt dipped in chrome follow the same vibe? Anyone got any pics of inlines in sixties hot rods? And finally some tech questions; how long is one of these motors, can you shave the head for more compresion or do I have to fill in the chamber before hand, and is a cam worth the investment(power wise)for these motors?
-Jesse

 

Jesse,

I don't know if this is what you were looking for, but here's the little bit of experience I have trying to put a 235 into a hot rod. Unless you plan on heavily recessing the firewall or moving the grille so far forward that it looks ridiculous, you're going to have problems fitting the motor. They are LOOOOONG. I tried fitting one into my '31 Chevy coupe (which is a little bigger than an A), and it just wasn't happening without screwing up the proportions. Maybe you wont mind the grille sticking way out front, but I think it looks silly.

If you do decide to go with the 235, pick up an 848 casting head. They're the best the factory offered. A little can be milled off the bottom for compression. With head work, a cam, duals or trips, split exhaust, etc etc, the books say you're good for 175 hp or so. I never got that far coz the engine wouldn't fit.

Ed

 

just a thought,

you could stretch the frame..

maybe ad six or so inches right at the firewall

then maybe move the front axle (not the grill) forward a couple..

got a side shot of your car?

post it and have someone photo chop it for ya.

Paul

 

If you're not looking for a powerhouse I think a 235 would be way cool in a '60s style rod. The Stovebolt 6s kicked *** all over the flat8 fords back in the day from what I understand (too young to have personal experience there ). You could make the engine a little 'shorter' by taking the fan off and just using electric in front of the radiator. I think you can get a 5 carb manifold for those that would look absolutley trick with some old style air cleaners or stacks. They don't have a lot of power compared to modern motors but they have good torque and in a light car would be really fun around town. Good luck!

 

Like this?

 

I'd stick with the 302 or go with a SBC.

Just because a hot rod is supposed to be FAST... If you have a "engine budget", you'll get more power per dollar out of a small block (Ford or Chevy) than you will a six gun.

Sam.

 

The one out in the driveway is about 35" +/- from the back of the block to the tip of the fan.

 

Don't lsiten to any of the nay sayers. If you want the six banger go for it. Much cooler than some belly****on smallblock. Hell you can make a decent amount of power. I got one pulling my '59 pickup arouond so it should move your A on down the road. Rule #1 do what YOU want to do.

 

From the cowl to the front cross member is 32" so if I scoop out the cowl like that tudor(but not as drastic) it would fit just fine. The reason for the trade is cause they could really use the SBF in her '54, and if I had some money it would definatly have a SBC in it, I'll just settle for the stovebolt. A Chevy is a Chevy!
-Jesse

 

mine

 

[ QUOTE ]
I'd stick with the 302 or go with a SBC.

Just because a hot rod is supposed to be FAST... If you have a "engine budget", you'll get more power per dollar out of a small block (Ford or Chevy) than you will a six gun.

Sam.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sam, I'm from the same school of performance, but I like an old flathead as well! And I've had Six Shooters that would kick the hell out of "Most" flatheads...!

I guess I like the HAMB because of it's free reign of design and motor use! I say Go ahead and build a Packard rat rod powered by a Chev 6 shooter..., Have fun building and driving it!!!

I heard a "Top Fuel Racer" say: "Racing Sixes are like racing pigs; You can have some "Fast pigs"..., they're fun to watch..., but they're STILL Pigs! I love it!!!!

So lets see some more "PIGS"!!!

 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I'd stick with the 302 or go with a SBC.

Just because a hot rod is supposed to be FAST... If you have a "engine budget", you'll get more power per dollar out of a small block (Ford or Chevy) than you will a six gun.

Sam.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sam, I'm from the same school of performance, but I like an old flathead as well! And I've had Six Shooters that would kick the hell out of "Most" flatheads...!

I guess I like the HAMB because of it's free reign of design and motor use! I say Go ahead and build a Packard rat rod powered by a Chev 6 shooter..., Have fun building and driving it!!!

I heard a "Top Fuel Racer" say: "Racing Sixes are like racing pigs; You can have some "Fast pigs"..., they're fun to watch..., but they're STILL Pigs! I love it!!!!

So lets see some more "PIGS"!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree to some extent.

But that "free reign of design" has pigeon holed most of the followers on this board into thinking that the term means "something other than a SBC".

Besides, you'll put the same amount of money, work and time into a six cylinder car and you are left with something that is SLOWER and doesn't have the resale value that the same car with a v8 would have...

so the benefits?

I guess you can spout off how you have "something other than a SBC" in your car... so you'll have THAT going for you.

Sam.

 

[ QUOTE ]
I guess you can spout off how you have "something other than a SBC" in your car... so you'll have THAT going for you.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sounds like enough to me.

 

Sorry Sam, I would rather have a Chev inline than a Ferd 8. And since when do we build these cars for the resale value, you've said yourself that most of us will lose our ***es building these cars. I'm building this car for fun nothing else. I'm also helping out a freind, and we'll both have cars on the road because of it. If I'm building this car for the wrong reasons then so be it, I would love to run a SBC but just can't afford it, maybe the next one I guess. Oh ya anyone got anymore pics of iline powered rods?
-Jesse

 

too bad you already made a deal with a buddy, I bet you coulda sold that 302/aod and gotten enough $ to buy two 235/3spds...

Then again, maybe your buddy really needs it, ida know, your bidness

As much as I'm a Chevy guy, my most favorite engine noise made by a common engine is what comes outtof a ford 302....

 

It's your car, build it your way.

Mine, with a GMC 270 six

 

Alfster...just outta curiosity, what kind of work have you done to that motor? What year and model rear end are you using? What kind of times does it run? Just asking, since I'm gonna be running a slightly hopped up 235/saginaw 4 spd.

 

Oooo, I likey! did you build hat manifold or is it a McGurk, or.....?
-Jesse

 

Alfster, that car is bad as hell!! Do you have a website with more shots of it I can admire?

 

Here's one from the early 60's in Windsor Ontario Canada. Richard Naklie was the owner - (he worked occasionally as a stand in for Woodie Allen) Anyhow, I wouldn't mind owning this car today!

 

Nice car, that is kinda what I'm after with mine. Was it ever in any mags?
-Jesse

 

I've been saving pics that others on the HAMB have posted...hopefully nobody gets mad if I re-post them....

 

another swiped pic....

 

Great pics Barnett, that competion roadster is ****in ***s!
-Jesse

 

id say go for the inline 6. also you will stand out more with an inline 6(lbc) then an sbc, cause bout 90% of the cars i have seen have a sbc, and once you hop the motor up, and of course the split ehaust. it will be one bad motor. maby even use a wayne 12 port head.

 

<font color="red">
Yes, go with the six. Especially if you are not going to run a hood. Everyone just stops and looks when we pull into an event.

Barnett,
This is the car you helped out with designing the signwriting for. Thanks again.
The motor is basically stock. It runs a HEI distributor and the intake / exhaust you see here. The diff is an Aussie (Borg Warner) Falcon LSD with real lazy 3.23 gears. We are going to fit 4.11 gears real soon.

The intake and exhaust are home made and it runs 5 single barrel stromberg carbs. These are fitted with adjustable main jets. At present we are only running 2 carbs but will be adding more as we work the motor over.

It ran a low 18 sec quarter at the drags. It bogs down badly at the start. 4.11 gears will improve that heaps. Gearbox is a Muncie M21 4 speed.

Latest score is a fully rebuilt 371 blower with racing end plates.

There is more information available on Daniel Strohl's modified site along with a video.
http://danielstrohl.com/alfster.asp
http://danielstrohl.com/permanent.asp?id=73
</font>

 

Not that I know of. He replaced it with htis one:

 

Very cool...that sounds GREAT!!! You're runnin the rear end gears I'm thinking about for mine. No crime in runnin' inline! (TM)

 

The rear thats goin in mine is a Dana 44 outta a '54ish Ford car, so maybe 3.90s or?
-Jesse