'48 Chrysler engine issue

A friend is trying to put a SBC in a '48 chrysler. This is a big 4 door car. While the engine fits, the steering box is in the way of the exhaust. Has anyone changed out the front end and steering on this year or similar MOPAR. If so, what did you use? Dan

 

I've seen 1 & 2, guessing on #3
1. Go with a custom "up and over" exhaust header. If you start with a couple of flea-market headers and start cutting, you can make your own. Depending on where your engine is set, you will end up with 2 or 3 cylinders where the header starts by going up, not down.

2. Change to a rack-and-pinion steering setup (Fatman kit uses Caviler rack and pinion, Datsun 510 tie rod ends, and is basically just two sturdy brackets and not much else. You can roll your own if you've ever seen one. People have worried about the small tie rod ends, there are alternatives.) Gives you the option of power steering. Ask around, especially on the P15-D24 forum.

3. Remount the steering box somehow? Move it over a bit? Find a smaller box that works the same? Just guessing on this one.

 

Wanting to change the whole frontend of the car is waaay overkill for this problem. Don't know what chev manifold you are using but there are basically two types with variations of each. One type has the main manifold body above the exhaust ports and the other below the exhaust ports. Either can be useful depending on the chassis specifics. Mid 60's and into the 70's 'ram horn' type are the over the port type and have center oulets..........the other, below the ports, have outlets nearer the rear and obviously much lower on the manifold. Early sbc, '55/'57 265/283 had a over port manifold with the dump at the front.

Also, you can offset the engine to the right (pass side) up to 2" if need be to gain clearance. It does not have to be centered...........but it DOES have to be offset equal amounts front and rear to remain PARALLEL with the centerline of the car.

Ray

 

Since you are going to a V8 the rack n pinion conversion is the simplest solution. As mentioned already the brackets are easy to make. The tie rod thing is also easy to overcome. If you take the adjuster from the Cavalier setup you can modify it to accept the original and still available Plymouth tie rod end. This makes everything from the rack to the adjuster the same and everything from the adjuster out to the steering arm the same. I can show you how to do it if you pm me or send an email to olddaddy@rustyhope.com.

The P15-D24 forum is the place to go for info on all things relating to 40s and 50s Mopar.