55 Belvedere gasser

I want to build my 55 Belvedere into a street and drag race early 60s style Gasser. That is no straight axle. I want it to be close to period correct. What would a common engine setup have been. I am replacing the 241. Would an early big block be ok or would I have to run some sort of hemi. When I say early 60s I mean up to about 66. Im even open to a radical small block as I have alot of parts. Thanks

 

I'm not the historian type but if I'm not mistaken, the 66 timeframe was dominated by Cadillac and Oldsmobile powerplants. If you want to stay with the Plymouth / Dodge engines then you have a wide choice of hemi's 331, 354, 392 and even a 426 as they were out by then but pretty much reserved for the factory backed.

Personally I would love to see a period correct max wedge style engine. Even if it was a 440 dressed up to look the part. I'm thinking an all orange color scheme including the valve covers and intake with period correct decals. Cross ram and Carter AFB's would be stupid cool and a little different.

Nothing says a gasser has to ahve a straight axle. The only reson they were used was to raise the center of gravity and to push as much wieght back on launch as possible. The classes where the cars were heavier usually retained the original front suspension.

Again, personal opinion, if you are determined not to go the straight axle route, lift the front end as high as safety and common sence will allow, remove the bumper and put a Moon tank in the grill. At the rear a set of pie cutter coker tires on period correct rims (Steels were common in the classes demanding more wieght) Squat the back end down, again as much as safety will allow.

 

Great Idea I had thought of of a Max wedge clone, I already have pie crust slicks chrome steels and skinny front runners. Thanks

 

A strong 383 with inline 2-4's would be pretty cool and period correct. The 343hp 2-4 was a factory combo in the early 60's.

 

Find a 413 if you want period correct, or get a later 383/440 and tell everyone it's a 413.

 

this guys stealin my idea!!, lol, go check out mine in my pics, im going with a 440 or 413 4 speed in mine.

 

Hellsgatesrods, My plan is more of a street style gasser look. no straight axle or radiased wheel wells. Just early sixties style. Thanks for input though. I have to admit the 55 plymouth does look cool with the radiased wheel wells and big slicks.

 

ill look forward to seeing your build too. need more 50's plymouths out there! lets see some pics of yours too.

 

I gotta get them up.