Fake Hemi

I am building my 32 roadster with a 1958-era B/SR look. I am using pretty traditional equipment, but am fudging on the motor/transmission. I am running a 351 Cleveland that I already have, but I want to make it a fake DeSoto Hemi. I know, I know.... "just wait til you can find the real thing" . That's not gonna happen, so please refrain from frying me!

I have an original set of DeSoto valve covers from an old dragster that fit nicely over the stock Cleveland covers. I want to build a sheetmetal flange that looks like the edge of the hemi head from the sides, rear, and front, and that the hemi covers will bolt on to. I might possibly be able to weld it to the Ford covers and still have access to the Ford valve cover bolts. Anyone ever done something similar or have ideas?

I don't have the wire covers on the DeSoto valve covers, and plan to route the plug wires through the hemi holes and use grommets to seal them. I am a little worried about heat buildup from both the valve covers and the exhaust, since the edge of the hedders will be inside the "hemi head flange" piece.

Other things I plan for the engine are individual weed-burners and some type of fabricated log 6X2 or 8X2 manifold (probably actually using only 2 or 4 carbs), the correct DeSoto color, and probably some type of early look distributor, coil, wires, etc. What other ideas do you have to pull off a respectable fake?

 

You will definitely be made fun of on a regular basis. Fake anything is pretty lame.

 

Yup lame....Fake is Fake!

 

I don't quiet know what to say,,,except not all ideas are good ideas! HRP

 

It's gonna look like a strap-on on a dyke....

 

wont the distributor placement be a dead giveaway?

 

Please don't. Please?

 

I think "respectable fake" is an oxymoron.

 

Really....I am sure it will be more than the distributor....HAHAHA

 

Just don't do it