Guys! New to the site and working on rebuilding a chopped 1951 Chevy Styleline. I have already installed an XJ6 IFS and rear disc brakes on 1958 corvette rear end. Planning on putting in a 350 sbc with vortec heads and mild cam. Question is will the stock 51 ch***is handle 400hp? (yes, I know that there is a chance that the engine setup wont put out that much power). What mods can be done to strengthen...
The "front" half of the ch***is is pretty strong with the "K" shaped member that supports the transmission, and "takes the torque" from the torque tube. IF that's been removed, at least fabricate a solidly build cross-member for the transmission The rear is a different story. Start by making a rear cross-member to mount the shocks to, instead of having them bolted to the floor pan. The 51 Bus Coupe, the nephew and I put together, easily had 350+ H.P., a 2800 RPM stall converter/beefed aluminum Powerglide transmission, and a 56 Chevrolet rear end with Positraction and 4.88:1 gears. Front suspension was stock but rebuilt, and lifted 2 inches. Rear had ******* type traction bars with only 1/4 inch before the snubbers made contact. This car was built as a "Street G***er", had big and little Cragar S/S/tires, so it surely was't a slalom racer; more of a drag racer. We never had any concerns or problem with the ch***is, although the nephew scared the @#$%^&* out of me getting on the freeway one day, and trying to drive it like he drives his Cadillac CTS Coupe. The "hat" type construction of the frame is pretty solid; the frame of the hardtops and convertibles has an extra metal plate that runs the full length on the inside top of the ch***is. I am Butch/56sedandelivery.
The Jalopy Journal
