I'm putting together the pieces to put a '56 Caddy motor in a '49 Ford. I've got the Hurst frame mounts and engine mounts. My question is about the center link in the steering. I ***ume I'm going to need a dropped one to clear the oil pan? I've got a copy of an old Hurst ad that shows they sold a dropped one. A buddy of mine bought one at a local speed shop back in the day and said he thought it was made by Ansen. Who all made them? Does anybody have pics? Another Hamber has one for sale but were not sure if it's an old aftermarket one or something homemade. Here's the pic he sent me of it (posted with his permission). It looks like a lot of drop to me. The Hurst ad Thanks for the help!
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=693307 Dan, tuck has a good method to drop a stocker there. I've never seen an aftermarket link, don't know of a current supplier.
dan, i did a little research and i think the dropped link will be needed with the long rear sump on that engine. don't know about different motor mount styles, but i've seen ones that point straight down--should be easy to fab frame mounts. also, caddys had a couple types of front covers which pointed the oil filter in different directions. hope that helps!
A 1960 Hot Rod Mag item featured a 1960 Plymouth Valient, with a sbc installed....The drag (center) link was run thru the oil pan, via a tube that was welded thru the pan. It must have been close to the pan bottom, in order to clear the rotating pieces. I never saw that done since......Just wondeing if it's possible in your installation. 4TTRUK
Way back in the day I had a dropped drag link in my 53 Ford to clear a Chev - I think I bought it at Honest Charley - the original one. Looked to be easy to make if you could weld. About 3/16 plate welded to stock link,then link cut and dropped to new position and welded - like the above link !!
I sat my 350 chevy high enough to clear the stock draglink after heating and dropping the steering arms....necessary because I flipped the spindles. Came up with about 5/8ths inch clearance between pan and draglink and with the dropped steering arms, it effectively shortened them to give me faster steering...a win-win deal IMHO.. But, I had to do some driveshaft tunnel/floor work to gain clearance.
This shoebox with a Nailhead belongs to my buddy Rob...he found an N.O.S. Hurst dropped center link on eBay to clear the pan...
Good info, thanks everyone! I think I need to just go ahead and drop the caddy motor in to see exactly how much the center link interferes.
Here's a few pics of mine.....I think it's an old Hurst dropped link..... Chevy engine in a shoebox..... Hope that helps a bit..... CB
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