Looking to get some ideas for my new chassis for my street/strip pickup. Here are the specs: -28 Ford closed cab,28/29 grill shell -2"x4" chassis,drag race ladder bar setup,4" drop axle,9"rear 4.11 gear Brookville front crossmember, -blown 355SBC(500hp),2" belt drive,powerglide/transbrake,3000 stall Its 8" to the outside of the blower belt from the four mounting holes on the front of the block. I'm thinking 108"-110" to make it fit with the stock firewall?
Flip the firewall stuff the motor back and it'll fit stock wheel base (103 1/2). Better weight distribution and nothing looks better than a motor stuffed way back.
You cant do that if you're taller than 4 foot, there's bugger all room in those things at the best of times.
Hard to flip the firewall on a 28 / 29 too. Mine's 109". Totally different deal but I don't think it looks too stretched.
On my 29 Model A Sedan, I have a 132" wheelbase. I needed the foot room, so I moved the hemi engine forward 8" to get the bellhousing out of the passenger compartment. Then with the blower drive in the front & a laid back 32 grille shell, the front end got way out there. However, I just set my Ackerman angle for that length. I have a good turning radius & it handles just fine. Also helped smooth out the ride.
On my 34 pick up with a blown bbc I'm at 113". I would think 110 would work for an A pick up with a sbc.
striper that nailhead helps you pull off that wheelbase thats a long motor. I'm a fan of proportion and those SBC's don't need alot of space that's one of the reasons they started gettin used so much.
Keep it close to stock...I'm running 104.5 which gives me just a little more room for the engine...Don't go over 106 or it will look wierd...My 2 cents
Yes its going to be fenderless.I don't have the room to recess the firewall.I will try to keep around 106-108"
My '29 closed cab on '32 rails , is stock '32 wheelbase 106 1/2 ...with blown hemi .....proportions are right with my eye ..... cheers Steve in Oz
I've gone 106'' just enough room for my sbc, but I will have to add a notch/bulge in the firewall for the dizzy.I think 106'' looks just right and not too long. Nick.
3" drive , Running a GM steering box , cross steer fashion , 671 blown 354 hemi running the water pump , alternator , distributer off a separate drive with toothed belt under the Vee of the engine .....all outta sight , the car is all pulled apart , doing the machine work now , I'll try to find some old mock up picks on the old 'puter cheers Steve in OZ
I will do some measuring but I hope if I go 108" it will fit without a notch for the distributor. 108" will be good for the race track also
I'm kicking the crossmember ahead in the frame enough to use a '36 spring in front of axle setup while keeping the wheelbase stock for full fenders, splash aprons, running boards, and bumpers. This makes room for my small block Ford (the flat motor I thought I was getting turned out to be frozen up) at the small cost of a shorter splash apron in front and longer struts to brace the radiator (no hood planned at present). Using a Model A yoke in the '36 wishbone will allow said wishbone to run to a crossmember between the front sump pan and the bellhousing. Mustang steering rack bolted to the axle completes the picture.
You could always stretch it 4in and go with a spring in front. I am building mine 107 1/2 so I don't have to mess with the firewall. I'm 6'6" so I need all the room I can get. Also plan on running cross steer so you can get the column up higher off the floor.....
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