My nephew has a 1951 Pontiac Cheiftain with a straight eight with manual transmission. The car is in pretty rough condition and the engine needs to be rebuilt. If he could choos he would like the original engine but with automatic transmission but he dont have the funds to do that now. What would you do in this case. Many will answer "keep original" but besides that... What is the best/cheapest way to go?
Cheapest is to find a donor with a SBC/ auto and install in the backyard. Sent from my LG-TP450 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Terrible 80 is correct...but that's not what I'd do. I'd grab a 400 Pontiac with a Muncie 4 speed [as long as all the clutch pedals and linkage is in the 51] and mount it all up. He'll have to fabricate engine side mount brackets and modify the trans crossmember to fit the muncie. The original rear axle will last as long as he doesn't beat on it too much. Put a 1956 Pontiac u-joint flange on the original rear axle to take advantage of a ****er-type U-joint. Drive it
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