Exhaust & firewall issues - Help request

I finally got my motor re***embled and dropped back into my 34’s ch***is. When it came time to put the body back on it, I had to cut the firewall out to allow room for the SBC.

Some fabric on this firewall - when I bought the coupe, the previous owner, twice-removed had an aftermarket firewall installed and whoever did it, did a great job like 23 years ago. However, this was installed back when they had a 351C sitting in the ch***is. Now that I have my SBC there, I needed to make room. I swear that the 351C was substantially bigger and this made me never even consider the firewall being an issue.

Reinstalling a firewall isn’t the real problem here. What is the problem is that the rear-most exhaust port are inline with the leading edge of the portion of the lower cowl/firewall that would be covered by the hood, should I choose to run it later. I don’t plan on running it or the fenders for some time. Knowing this, I planned to run lake style headers, yep, the cheapo kit from Speedway. Like I said, these will be run until the fenders and hood go on it. So these headers are knowingly not a permanent fixture.

Here’s my question. What is the smart way to fix this? The way I see it, I could either make the rear exhaust header tube turn forward enough to clear the factory firewall then turn outward; or cut the factory cowl/firewall in someway, (a way not yet determined), that would allow the header to come straight out of the head the way we’re all used to seeing it. I’m leaning towards the second choice. Although it’s far more work, I keep thinking that I have to make a new firewall anyway, why not do that to? I figure if I do it this way, I’ll do it in a way that looks right even after the hood is used, keeping the original latch holes in tact. I really don’t want to just notch the area where the header tube would poke through, as this would look silly when I drop the hood on it. Does all this make sense? See the red line, that’s what I’m looking at.

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Vance

 

if there was room for a 351 ford , there should be room for a sbc

i think your motor is too far back , and it looks like you are using a LONG water pump. use a short pump and put the motor farther forward. a short pump gives you an aditional 1-1/2"

the firewall is all ready cut up more than it needs to be , don't cut it any more. a sbc can be put in a `34 ford with just a little t******* of the bottom of the firewall and a little notching of the center for distributor clearance

 

i agree with 36-3w, i had the same problem with my "A" i moved the motor forward by buying some offset motor mounts from ch***is engineering,I had to have them split a pair. the mounts come with one regular and one offset left or right.So, C.E. split a set and got a leftside and rightside. that moved the motor forward. then i had to run and electric fan behind the grille shell in front of the radiator....i also had to make a plate to extend my ****** mount....... hope this helps.....

 

Here's the headers I built on my wife's 27 roadster that has the same problem.

I was a bit worried when I was making them, but now they are done I think it looks fine.

It is a lot easier than cutting the firewall, especially if the headers are likely to be temporary.

 

Me too. You need to move the engine forward. Do as suggested for the best results.

 

Moving the firewall is a must for me anyway as I have a BBC that I want to put in the coupe anyway. But that won't happen for a while, (read into that as several years), as I only have the long block so far and I'm dieing to get this thing on the road. Thus making the SBC is a temp thing too.

The setback of the firewall that is in the car was only 2 1/2" and the BBC requires more. My little Campbell-Hausfeld welder and my limited ability can handle sheetmetal, I'm not so sure how well they can handle moving 3/16" plate mounts that are welded on the ch***is pretty well now. I'm not sure I understand what the 'offset' mounts are that ROCKET303. Maybe someone could explain or point me to a pic.

SimonSez, I see what you did and that doesn't bad at all, especially compared to what I was imagining.

Thanks for the imput guys.

Vance

 

Most 34's needing a large setback leave the side of the cowl alone and set the firewall back INSIDE the cowl panels. Sounds like that is what you need if you are going to a BBC later. Make sure you leave enough room for the dist on the BBC.