Im about to start making my new firewall. my motors set back about a foot. i was wondering if anyone has any pics of their custom firewalls with engine set back and maybe some interior shots also. there is so many ways to do it im just cant decide on the way i want to do mine. i need some insipation. thanks kevin
I'd be interesting in seeing some too.. Im building a 50 shoebox and sticking a 390 fe in it..thinking maybe 4 or 6 inch setback for mine.. any 50 era cars would give me some ideas..
Mine is a 28 chevy model, and I set my firewall back 4 inches. I cut at the area where the firewall met the body, this area was spot welded together. Then I made a 4 inch plate that would go all the way around the firewall, and bench welded this together , then installed it in the car...John
Are you just going to turn your engine mount stands around to set the engine back? I've heard this is an easy way to set the engine back in early Chevelle's. How about setting the engine back and moving the body back on the frame. Ala altered wheelbase? Take off the front bumper and move the rear wheel opening.
I would love to move the body back like the Seatons Shaker Chevelle and alter the wheelbase but, ive owned it for 14 years, it was my first car, and its a desert car with ZERO rust. I just dont have the heart to cut it up that much. im going to try and flip the mounts, but i dont think that will be enough set back for me but we will see.
Here's what the car looked like 2 years ago. everyone thinks im crazy for ripping it apart AGAIN. ive had alot of fun with it but it has never been "vintage" enough for me. ive been collecting vintage speed parts for about 5 years now and it should be done late summer with a blown/injected chevy, clutch turbo etc...... should be all era correct except for modern brakes because my 3 year old daughter will be in it alot!
Here's the beggining of my project. Easier for you GM pukes with the full chassis on those older cars.
Some more showing the firewall cut, and the new interior dog house. My fab guy went a bit overkill on that, which he has a slight tendency to do. I may make it a bit tighter to the engine on the drivers side yet.
What're we all doing, sitting 'round the 'puter waiting till its time to start seriously drinking heavily? Glad I could help, I've got some more shots, but those pretty much show it all. I do have some of the job we did when we put a 360 in a Plymouth Arrow pickup a couple of years ago. It was a standard shift, and had a smaller tunnel than the automatics had, so we did a similar dog house (which my guy made a bit oversized also). I'll post if you'd like, but not a HAMB friendly truck. (Although I'll bet no one would bitch about getting in it and mashing the loud pedal!)
I would love to see the pics. .........And yes im sittin around waiting to start the night/early morning!!
Here are some early shots, showing how we put a flange on the inside of the dog house's outer suround to make putting the closing panel on it easier. Also note the welded-on frame engine mounts. How many times have I heard the GM guys (don't take it personal) whine about "how hard it is to put Mopar engine mounts in". Check these out; factory spindle mounts drop right on.
So here it is finished up for the most part. we like our street stuff to look pretty factory. This truck is a sleeper. Still needs a big rear in it and probably some more brakes. Note drivers side rear header pipe has a wrap around it to insulate the starter from heat. I would have liked to ceramic coat the headers, but I did this project for an employee as a gratis thing and he didn't have the money to do some of the extra things I'd have liked to have seen him do to make it really right. Whoops! seem to have lost the images; I'll be right back!
Here is my simple set back. Only about an inch, but with a big block that meant some pretty serious mods to the firewall...
The Jalopy Journal
