49' wayfarer and a hemi

I need some opinions and information on this car I am considering buying. The car is a 49 Wayfarer 2 dr business coupe and included in the deal is an old Hemi which I believe to be a 331 CU because of the extended bellhousing on the engine. Will a 331 Hemi work in this car ?


Tommy

 

If nothin' else, you would be the only one at any run with one.

 

Where in 'Bama are you from?
If you don't want the HEMI.....share.

Tell us a little more about yourself.
Lurking for a year?
Not bad.

 

I'll try to get some pics of the car and engine and post them this weekend while I am still pondering over purchasing. Tommy

 

Stevie, I am in the Huntsville area.

Tommy

 

Assuming that the changes between the 46-8 & the 49 aren't vast...you should have no huge problems doing the car. You can up date the OEM IFS (disk brakes relocate shocks, ect) or subframe with a chevelle, Cutlass or Camaro clip. Check out Scooter McRads Hemi tech index & his build of a long tail.

 

Check this post out!http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=155746&highlight=49+wayfarer+pics

 

Thanks guys, Cool links


Tommy

 

it would make a nice car.. I did a 47 about 40 years ago its a little tight but has been done many times,, If you dont want the car I need a morpar project. PM me i am here in huntsville..Bobby..

 

That extended block is going to mean some serious firewall work. I'm putting a Dodge Red Ram Hemi in my Wayfarer roadster - basically a convertible version of your business coupe. The smaller engine - the 241 is the baby hemi - fits right in, but depending on the transmission I choose, some motor mount and tranny mount fabrication is going to be necessary. From what I hear, it's a lot easier and cheaper to drop in a 360, but then a 360 isn't a hemi.
RT

 

Here are some pictures








Tommy

 

Here is a picture of the car.



Tommy

 

All long tails (51-3 only years made) are 331s. That casting # was used all three years, & all are identicle. There is a flat in front of the valley cover that should have a code on it. C51-8 would be a '51.

 

It looks to me that it would be a cool car to have. That just my opinion though.

 

I would think that the hemi would require alot of firewall work, but then again, I think any engine would. How do I know? I built this 440 powered '49 wayfarer sedan and it took all kinds of engineering to get the engine to work in there. I imagine it would be even worse with the stock front end (mine has a mustang II). All in all, they're pretty sturdy cars, with really beefy frames, but you can't get hardly any reproduction parts for them. I made my own patch panels when I built the sedan. If you want to see some pics of the build go to groups.msn.com/smithswayfarer

 

I was going to put a 241 hemi into my wayfarer but the engine is so wide I would have to cut up the fender wells, Now I am trying a small block 408 stroker and it is still very tight not any room for the exhaust on the passenger side.

 

On a '47 you have to trim the pass side inner fender to get an LA 318 in....