Hot Rods 283 c.i. in the 39 Ford

Well I have had my 39 Ford for a while now and well I have to say even though the Flathead is a cool little power plant I decided that I just would like a little more power. So I thought about it and decided that I would put my 283 in the 39 being I have the adapters and put my Flathead from the 39 in the Model A truck. I think that this will be a better swap all the way around. I also took some pics of the 283 in it's new home. I eventually want to get a 3x2 set up for this but this is what I have for now.

 

This is were I am at right now.

 

I am trying to figure out the best bracket for my alternator.

 

Looks like you have plenty of room using the old style distributor. I plan on doing that using a Pertronix in an old distributor when I stick a 283 back in my '40. I had a later distributor before but it was tight. HEI is definitely not an option. I have a 3 deuce Fenton that uses Strombergs that I plan on installing next time, too.

 

Wow!!! That thing is awesome!!! I love the idea of a 283 in between the frame rails and the one you have is really cool. Love the old 4bbl on top as I think that was the most common thing to do. I was going to go with a '59 Corvette Intake Carb setup until I found the love of my life which is a Weiand 4x2 intake with 94's on top. If I had not found that I think the 4bbl would have been awesome and would probably run better.

The white on the firewall is killing me though. I was sure that I should do mine black but seeing yours makes me rethink it!!! That's thing is going to run like a bat out of hell!!!

 

Oh and gold on the motor is always a nice touch.

 

lookin good joe, come down the barn sat i show you backets

 

I had an aircleaner just like that, gold and everything... looks good, Alt brakcets, alan grove makes one that is nice and tight to the block, mounts off the water pump and intake.

 

Joe

perfect choice


I prefer the lines of your car with the hood down anyhow

 

lol... I get it...

Looks good Joe- If you're going to do it... you might as well dress it up a bit, right? I like the finned valve covers and paint choice.

 

Thanks Everyone I am hoping that I can finish it all up this weekend.

 

Good looking powerplant. Thats a swap you wont regret.

 

283 fo shizzle!!! I just put on in my Fitty Chebby.....cranked it the other day for the first time and I already feel 24.6% faster and cooler. I reckon you'll do the same, except your car is just plain cooler than mine in every way! I'm now installing the radiator/brakes/driveline. I'm happy I went with it over the standard 350...although I did put a th350 behind it.

 

Very sweet car. So what are your plans with it?

 

I have a good ways to go to get it road worthy, but after I get it moving under its own power, I'm going to graft in a 50 Merc grill cavity and grill a la Bass's car. I was so impressed by the look that I'm going to creep it for my own

The body needs extensive work, new doors (may have to patch the driver's side b/c those are so hard to find) floor, rockers, rear quarters. As of now, I think I'm going to strip it down and paint it satin charcoal grey, perhaps with some spots of orange here and there, perhaps one large scallop like they did with the Corvettes back in the day. My paint ideas change weekly

Do you have any larger pics of your car that you can post? I'd like to see more.

 

I've got a small block Chevy in my '40 coupe. It has a Delco Remy distributor (1973) with the Pertronix electronics set-up and works great! Plenty of clearance between the distributor and firewall and the Pertronix is one of the best improvements that I have made!

Buckshot40

 

Well if I ever finish welding up all the chairs my friend brought over today I can work on my car again. He owns a local bar and for some reason they keep breaking the chairs...............lol.

 

Joe, I used the Alan Grove low mounts for the alternator and AC. I really hate the look of brackets that hold them up by the carb.The only drawback is having to notch the inner fender panels for clearance. No big deal though. Even have mine drilled out for looks. Nice clean look. Hope the picture helps.
I also used a swap meet Chevy distributor with the Pertronix. Works great. Mike

 

LOCKWOOD...man what a nice job. a little bit more power you say. brother you can smoke the tires at will. i realy like your intake, brother that's doing it right. and i won't tell anybody you have a MALLORY dist. some of these folk's think mallory is finished. but their dead wrong. would love to see future pics...POP.

 

I too hate the look of the brackets that hold these things in place..

as a result.. I mounted my alternator even lower..

(this is on the woodie)







use this link and you can even get the part # for the belt!!
http://images52.fotki.com/v1554/file8nKJ/6a74e/2/206474/5125169/DSC01079.jpg

I do have a Mustang 2 up front.. so your setup may vary..

heres how I did the same thing on the vert.



(please excuse the wannabe olds covers)

 

I'm glad you started this thread because I've long admired your avatar pics of your 39.

Sorry to throw your thread off-course, but I'm building a 38 Ford using all the front sheet metal and rear guards from a 38 Deluxe sedan my father bought in the late 70s mated with a 39 Deluxe coupe body I purchased a few years ago. All the 38 sheet metal still wears its original green paint, though its very faded and had a bunch of primer overlaid in areas from an older abandoned attempt to restore it. I want to keep the original green paint, and paint the coupe body to match, and I noticed how close the colour on your 39 is to that on my 38 panels and was hoping you could please tell me what the colour is, if you don't mind?

Its a bit hard to see from this photo, but you can just about make out the original green paint from when my father first brought it home circa 1978.

 

Here's a mock up photo of the Alan Grove brackets I used. Should give you a good idea about the height. They don't come drilled but look better that way. Mike

 

the 283 is a good fit on fat fender fords

 

No problem the color of my car is almost a seea foam green. I really do not know the true color because I just mixed it up in the garage with some left over apple green and gray primer.....lol....... Although I am going to take it to a local paint place and see if they can mix me something to match.

 

Wow! Mike that looks great. I am still coming up with something I will post it when I am finished.

 

HOLY SHIT!!!!!!!! I just took the 39 out for a test run and damn it is alive.....now I know why the boys of yesteryear made adapters for putting other V8 in these old Fords.........I have to remember that the transmission is not built up compared to the 283 that I just dropped in this thing. I will try and get some one to video the car but I still have some stuff to do. I found that it needs a rear wheel cylinder and the exhaust is still not hook up I ran it down the road with open headers.........and it seemed to draw attention..........lol

 

That's awesome man. I can't wait to see some video. You are getting me really excited for the day I can blast off down the road in my 265 (.125 over) powered '35 with the transmissions that you helped me with!!!!!

 

Well the rear brakes are done and the exhaust is hooked up. But I am going to put a new oil pan on it being I just picked up one. Then hopefully this weekend I can get some video of it.

 

Well I am having some fun with the 39 since the engine swap and I thought it needed a little more so I got it a present.

 

i'd run a low mount alt out of sight out of mind