Okay, figured I'd get it going. Pictures to come... History Purchased the 1953 Chevy 210 from Craigslist at the beginning of October of 2010. This is my first cl***ic car but I do know a little about cars since my first vehicle required a lot of work throughout it's life. I had been looking for a cl***ic for months on eBay and Craigslist when this Chevy popped up. Me and my uncle drove the two hours north to pick the car up. When arrived the motor didn't run, it was partially converted to 12V, it had been sitting for 2 years and ALL four tires were blown. I was a bit hesitant and since it was dark once we arrived, it was hard to tell the overall condition. Once we got it home and I was able to see it in the light, I found that I was happy in some respects and a little disappointed in others. The drivers side rocker has the worst amount of rot but it isn't terrible. The tailpan also has a little rot. The floors where pretty bad off but from what I can tell at this point, the owner put new floor pans in the car but put them over top of the rusted out pans instead of cutting the old pans out. I'm not real sure what to do here... Current Mods Well within the first couple of weeks I swapped out the gas tank for a new one; the original one looked like swiss cheese! I put new 15" smoothies on it with some roller white walls. I then changed all fluids and did a tune up. After finding a disconnected wire in the ignition, the car started! We then tried to drive the car, only to find that the brake pedal went straight to the floor. After replacing all wheel cylinders and checking the brakes, we found that the stock master cylinder was shot! At this point I decided to take it to a shop to have it looked at. After some discussions we decided to change the front to disc brakes with a dual master cylinder on the firewall. While it was in the shop I ordered a new 12V harness for the car and dropped it off at the shop to have them install it. A few weeks went by and it was done! Drove it home and found that the linkage on the shifter was pretty bad, some adjustments and new bushing and it was fine. Performing a full check of the now running car and I found that oil was coming out of the tail pipe, never good! And the fact that is grinds like a mother when shifting, I decided it was time to make some more improvements. I started looking for a Chevy 350 that was fairly stock for about $350, when I came across another good score on Craigslist this week, a built 350 for $500! Now, I just picked the motor up this morning and here is what I know about it. Holly 750 double pump carb Roller Rockers Cam (not sure which) 882 heads Polished intake HEI Distributor Gear Drive Now there might be more but I'm unsure about everything until we pull it apart. The motor turns over and included the alternator and starter and EVERYTHING else! I also found a 4-sp manual (I wanted manual not auto) AND 10 bolt GM rearend out of a 68 Camaro today at my local hotrod shop (same guys who worked on the car) for $250 for both. Now the rear needs all new brakes and the transmission needs a bell housing. Gonna try to talk him down to $200 since it's missing the bell housing and the clutch plate. Future Plans Put new seals throughout the motor Install new V8 radiator with electric fan Get a driveshaft made Install motor, trans and rear end in the car Bag with the stock suspension (not running a mustang ii if I can help it) That's about it. I do have some ****py pics with my camera phone that I might upload to show the process but I need to get them off the phone and really, I just wanted to post this up while I had a few minutes before Christmas.
Welcome to the beginning of something that'll never end! Lol! I went with a 350/350th combo and 10 bolt rear and it runs good! Dont forget your gonna need wider leaf springs for the rear walton fab has a good bolt in kit!, oh and dont get a weld in trans cross member get one you can unbolt if you need to! I wanna see those pics!
with a v8 swap and stock front end your gonna need a ram horn exhaust manifold on p*** side and rear dump on driver side sanderson headers makes a set for that situation
Hey rev, thanks for the tips. Do you have a link to the headers from Sanderson? I see a ton of options and don't want to order the wrong ones. Any idea how much the Walton stuff is? They are closed right now and their site doesn't show prices, just trying to get an idea.
the leafs kit from walton cost me bout 380 but that was 2yrs ago they offer a hamb alliance member discount now ! You can also check out ch***is engineering website! Heres the headers at sanderson http://www.sandersonheaders.com/Sanderson-CC50-Small-Block-Chevy-Header-Set.html
Alright more info on the build, I know...no pictures. Almost went with an S10 4x4 rear end but from what I can tell online the 68 Camaro is a better fit AND is much better for the money. Ordered my triple core aluminum radiator with electric fan today as well. Will be ordering the Sanderson headers next week. This week I need to take care of getting the motor sealed again and getting the ****** on. I'm also having new perches put on the rear axle. Once all of that is done, I'll pick-up my headers, fuel pump and motor mounts.
A little update, ordered a 110 gph fuel pump; decided it would be better than the 80 gph since I'm running a double pumper 750!
factory manifolds are cheaper than sanderson and get the job done. do you have a kill switch for the electric fuel pump? Lotta cars burn down because the fuel stays on and ignites.
I went ahead and ordered the Sanderson's. As for the fuel pump, picked up a 110gph mechanical fuel pump.
Factory for what? It's funny, when I asked on the board what to get, I only received one response about Sanderson's....now, I'm told that factory (for what vehicle god only knows) are better and cheaper.
Oh and I'm not missing the headlight bezel or gl*** and bezels for the parking lights, I took them off when I stripped the grille.
Really anything from Corvette ram horns to stock '55-'56 Chevy manifolds. Although I believe you're engine might be a bit hot for the '55-'56 units. So the only thing you have planned for this car right now is bags huh? That seems to be "the formula" for '53-'54 Chevy owners. It's like 392's in '41 Willys. Are you going for a custom or is it going to be more about how low you can get it? Is there a time period in mind that you like or perhaps a paint job that you'd like for the future? It's hard for me to grasp the end result of the car when the only thing planned cosmetically is bags.
Um, did you not see the whole, change out the stock BS under the hood for a 350, 4 speed on the floor and a 68 Camaro 10-bolt in the rear? As for paint, I'm thinking of a partial strip. Just enough to give it that worn look. But want the engine compartment clean along with the interior.
There is this thing, called a search function. I won't try to save you any more money. Keep on spending. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=497637&highlight=exhaust+manifold+chevy+swap http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=457168&highlight=exhaust+manifold+chevy+swap http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=499668&highlight=exhaust+manifold+chevy+swap http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=513236&highlight=exhaust+manifold+chevy+swap
Ummmm 350 and 4 speed doesn't really say much as for the style of the car. In fact, it really doesn't say much at all since it's a pretty basic swap. I guess that's what I was getting at. It's a mid 50's car so unless you're going to make a drag car out of it, it's gotta have some style and 350 with a 4 speed is not saying style it's saying "good runner" to me. Nothing wrong with it and in fact I am a huge fan of SBC's but it's not something that I would define my car by. Now stripping it to partial paint and clean engine says a bit more though. Now I know where you're heading with it and I can't say I'm on board but that's why it's your car and not my own. Good luck with the build and have fun.
Saving money is always good 53sled, but it doesn't help when I've already ordered the parts. Oh and for ideas........FAVORITE 53 OF ALL TIME!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4f-GDe9-yY&feature=related
Just bought some exhaust manifolds from a 67 camaro for 40 bucks that im gonna use for my 350 going in my 54
Updates...got the 350 sealed up but now thinking I want to paint it something other than the red. Got the V6/****** removed from the car and am starting to cut out the rotted areas in the tailpan and the driverside rocker. Painted the rims flat black and installed chrome outter rings along with 6.70-15 wide whites. Have decided to paint the car flat black once I get all the rust issues sorted out. I'm learning how to weld and have been working with a professional welder everyday with little projects that he has. Starting to get the hang of it so I picked up a 220V 180amp MIG welder by Lincoln Electric and once I get the engine bay cleaned up and the emergency brake removed, I'm going to install my new Walton Fabrication engine mounts. Then it's rearend swap time. After that, sending the car to a local shop to have the frame and underneath sand blasted and sprayed with an undercoating. Once the drive train is in, it'll be time to start prepping for paint. Oh and I finally got both the front and rear one piece chrome bumpers. I am also getting ready to french the headlights with the stock bezels. Does anyone know if the stock tail light bezels from a 54 will work on a 53? I'm thinking of using those to french the rear.
Spent some time and painted the dash gloss black...decided blue interior wasn't going to cut it. Also cut the driverside tailpan out, need to modify it for the new pan...then I'll cut the p***enger side and get the new pan installed.
Alright, had a fellow HAMB'er come over today and we knocked out a few things that I've been wanting to get done. Thank Travisty for your help man, wouldn't have been able to do it without you. Travis helping on the p***enger side head light. Welding in half of the tailpan. Frenched Head Lights Tailpan repair Next, other side of the tailpan, then the drivers rocker.
Get the parts from National Chevy ***ociation, got the drivers and p***engers side (two separate pieces) for $50 shipped vs the one pieces online for $250 plus shipping.
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