A Hurst style front mount such as this one from speedway is a simple way to mount a small block V8 in an early chassis. This one comes with the Ford biscuit motor mounts. They can often be found at swap meets for a friendly price when rodders decide they don't need them anymore because they use side mounts. A cast iron V8 truck (or car) bellhousing from 55-59 (car 55/57) will let you use rear mounts on the bellhousing but you do have to run a manual transmission. There is no free lunch on body chassis for something to build any more though unless you just get real lucky. mid/late 30's through mid 50's pickups would be your best bet for simple and easy to work on. As a university student in Canada you are going to have to do some serious shopping to find a budget friendly vehicle to put the engine in. Not only has the buy in price have to fit the budget parts for the build have to be budget friendly. The first thing to do is sit down and draw up a plan on what you want and what you don't really want. Then what is within your skill and available resources level. Meaning what can you do that you don't have to pay for or get a buddy to do? Do you have the space to build a car or truck. Tools and equipment that you have or have access to? Your ability to bargain hunt and know what you are looking at?
Isn't it possible to safely bore some 55/56 265s to stock 283 bore? I remember reading people doing it
@62Fleetside , maybe mention your budget for a vehicle. @VANDENPLAS has responded in this thread, seems to be in tune with the market around you, he can say what may fit your budget.
My bad. I stopped reading that post after the manifesto about how bad a choice it was and some 55-57 only bell housing nonsense I’ll do better next time
You can have a lot of fun with a 265 in a light weight car. Years ago I saw a magazine article on an early fifties Austin A40 Devon that someone put a 265 in. But I doubt you have one of those in the back yard ha ha. Possibly the cheapest way to go, would be to put together a T bucket style roadster.
maybe i should clarify a bit more. this is a stock motor only to make something more compatible with modern road speeds and to show what would be considered closer today to a street rod. As far as the suggestion of a 350 sbc goes they grow off trees! I am researching my options to make an informed plan. Also i have no interest in mopar. and please refrain from opinionated comments that are of no assistance i simply want to know what a 265 would bolt into that doesn’t cost 10 grand for a scrap heap
It’s fits in anything you want it to fit. Probably 99.9% of the cars allowed in this forum. It’s an sbc those are even in aircraft Modern road speeds? No problem
^^^^^^^^ What Anthony says. The 265 is a cool motor and is no harder and probably easier to adapt to just about any 4 wheeled vehicle. A 2 bbl 265 makes 162 hp and the power pack made 180 with a 4 bbl, that’s enough hp to move a light roadster along fairly briskly. There are a few 265 build articles for the 265 on HAMB Dan
Build a T bucket for $3000, less if you have some parts already. For a body I have often seen 20's cowls at swap meets for cheap prices. You could make the back part of the body from a Ford pickup hood cut in half. https://www.tbucketplans.com/arly-hayden-budget-t-bucket/
@62Fleetside the 265 won’t “ bolt in” to anything that did not come with a small block or provisions for a small block from the factory . if your on a budget , which you haven’t let us know , or where you are located . a cheap car to stick this in would be pretty much any Chevy or Canadian Pontiac from 40-60 whatever . Or a mid 40’s and later ford ( there are a bunch of “ barnfind” 4 doors of all kinds fords , Chevy , Pontiac ) varieties on Kijiji and facefart market place right now for decent money . ( obviously tri-fives , 2 door impalas , 40’s coupes) . And most other 2 doors will have a premium price tag on them . 4 doors are cool , Biscaynes can be dressed up to make sweet customs , later 40 4 door fords and mercs come with suicide doors and can be dressed up real nice and have a much lower cost of entry then their 2 door counterparts . in Ontario there are a bunch of 4 door cars for sale right now that could easily fit the bill for a low budget rod/custom.
Direct bolt in would be a Chevy that used front mounts. Or a ride born with a 265 or a 283 that uses the front mounts. That’s a narrow field. I guess “bolt in” is where the confusion comes in. We build stuff. So “bolt in” is kinda of a strange concept here. Guys already posted some mount options if ya want a manual, that’s EZ if you don’t have one of these with your 265. Truck bells for c10s 60-72 have the mid mounts on the bell there’s a couple different versions. One with a hydraulic clutch that mounts on the passenger side. Saves some clutch linkage fab issues. But that’s EZ to convert one of these to hydraulic if you need to. The large center hole is important. There’s a couple different sizes and needs to match the trans you use. Saginaw and Muncie 3 speeds are not expensive and simple to rebuilt if needed. An s10 5speed would work with minor mods. Lots of info here. For an auto, side mounts for the auto bell needs fabricated. If you pick up a beater that used a flathead ford, that 265 is easily adapted to the ford trans. here’s a 283 mated to a flathead ford trans with a cheap swap meet adapter. Your 265 will fit anywhere a flat head used to reside. If you have the original 265 exhaust manifolds you have an advantage all ready for that those 265 manifolds clear the steering on lots of older chassis. under 10k? I don’t know the Canadian old car market but this ugly Merc will be cruising for way under 10k including purchase price Here’s an example of building a “bolt in” mount. We didn’t use the front mounts because we’re mounting the trans on the tail shaft. here are some examples of beaters near me This one is perfect for that 265 Here’s a few more 36 ford? Needs a ton of work and not for the faint of heart I’m just posting examples. I understand you live far north from central Bama. friend of mine picked up a good 31 model A 2 door sedan shell for under 3k. The chassis for those are super simple. They’re out there you just have to find em
265 in a budget beater. Nothing fancy. No expensive speed parts Old beater body and leftover chassis parts
My neighbor's Hilborn injected 265 (268) powered Willys gasser from the '60s. It still exists. Ran 11s at the drags in the '60s. In D/Gas trim. Shifted at 9-grand +. Good choice for a replica car.
After the suggestions and replies. I kinda think @62Fleetside is looking for a tri5 or 35/6 ford, that is affordable for him, and in good shape. That may be a tall order to ask for, or maybe he’ll let all know what he is actually after?
My dad had a similar boat, 1st a flat head then a 4 bbl 265, the 265 was given to me in the mid seventies and I sold it, dummy me. Dan Sorry for the poor photo of picture
According to my dyed in the wool Mopar buddy " a small block chevy isn't even a good starter motor for a big block Mopar" not my words , his. He's a member here BTW
Years ago, someone came to me asking if I knew where there was a '55 265 for the Nomad he was restoring, and I told him what junkyard had one. He told me that he'd already been there and that there were no 265s in that yard. I said, "You didn't open the right hood. It's in a '49 Jeep pickup".
The Jalopy Journal
