Five uncommon OHV's of the 50s

Too bad it came out later, but the 63 Cadillac 390 hooked to the 3spd turbo hydro (late 63) was not only good looking but insanely powerful for a stock engine. We had one in a 62 Ford unibody short bed. On the streets during the rise and fall of the muscle car, it shocked more than it's share. I raced a hopped up 350 4spd Camaro after school one day. The jokes ended that very afternoon.

 

Early '60s, a guy named Tom Foreman had a black "jail bar" with a big Lincoln Y-block and hydro stuffed in it. He dominated the local street scene (east end of San Gabriel Valley) for several years. Much like Milner in AG, he was a couple years older than the rest of us, he became a local legend and would be sought out by the "wannabes" from other areas. Did he ever lose? Perhaps, but I never witnessed it!

 

Excuse my ignorance, 1st Grumpy. What the hell is a "jail bar" ?

 

Yes, most overlook the fine Packard V8.

Yes, some 2x4bbl intakes were put in some '56 Golden Hawks by owners and/or dealers, but they never came from the factory that way. Some even upgraded to the 374" engine, but again never from the factory.

No, the S-P factory never sold any with 4-speeds. As Rich said, it is possible to adapt a pre-65.5 Ford pattern T10 or Toploader to the factory 3-speed overdrive bellhousing.

I've got a couple of bellhousings and Ford T10s if anyone wants to run the first of the big blocks.

jack vines

 

A Jailbar is a Ford Pickup/truck-42-47. JW

 

Originally Posted by blue57ford View Post
I some day hope to be running a 53 Lincoln Y and its 4 speed Hydro in my 57 F-100.

Lincoln Y in an F100 makes a great swap I run a 368 LYB adapted to a 4 speed stick in my '53 F100 , daily transport . Makes the drive to work in the morning something to look forward to .



.

 

Since I was in my early teens, I don't remember many details about the pick up. I know he and his father built it, I don't remember the year or the details on the engine mod's other than it had multiple carbs and had a healthy lope at idle. And it was fast....

Gary.. Here is a "jail bar Ford" that resembles Tom's p/u.

 

When I built my first hotrod,it took nearly two years to get parts enough together,by 1959 I had a fair pile and started on my 1928 "A" roadster. I had been looking for a Studebaker V8 but had no luck ,but did find a Y-block V8 Ford and really liked it,still have it in my rod. Why a Study was my first pick,well I loved Studebaker from bulletnose on body wise but took me a long time before owning any. The Study V8 had a super strong crank shaft that my grandad told me was the best yet,he was a great mec. so I beleved him completely,check and you'll find it was ture.

My rebuild now 1959 highschool hotrod;http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=793393

 

no luv for the IH Comanche series?? SV-266 (266 cu in, SV-304 (304 cu in, SV-345 (345 cu in, SV-392 (392 cu in. A friend put a 304 in his 53 Ford. With the truck 4 speed (only 2-4 useable) it made an interesting ride in its day.

 

How about the 327 Rambler from 1957?

 

Only first hand evidence and no science here, but the IH V8 is the heaviest, thirstiest OHV8 for it's power output I've ever driven. Your results may vary.

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The Gen I AMC V8 was hell-for-stout and an excellent performer back in the day. My aunt worked in an AMC dealership and once let me drive a sporty hardtop with the TwinStick floorshift. It was a Borg-Warner 3-speed OD with a separate in-out lever on the side and a kickdown ****on on the top of the shifter. It would hold it's own with any of the single-4bbl 348" Chevs, 352"-390" Fords and 383" Mopars up through the early '60s era.

jack vines

 

The old 270 hp 327 Ramblers were one of the best kept secretes of the late 50s and early 60s a car with the weight to hp ratio of a 300 hp 327 chevelle.

 

any of the afore mentioned engines looks better than the **** ugly engines the big 3 produce these days.

 

**** the closest I have is a 67 400 buick , 69 460 lin.
All the rest are the same ol same ol.
Guess I had better get started collecting.

 

Damn!!!!!!!!!!! I love the 4 brl rambler. That is way cool

 

that 51' Stude with that little 232 V/8 and overdrive sure spooked a few back in it's day....did they just get scared and move over...?

 

Do a Google search on Bill Kraft Rambler. That motor was punched out to 418 cubes and that intake (I'm pretty sure) is a one-off that he made. Speed parts are non-existent, but still a pretty cool engine.

 

1960 348 Chevy (looks the same as 1958 and 59)

 

My first choice for a light car would be an aluminum 221 V8 from Buick or Olds, next would be a Red Ram but would choose the 270 over the 241. Not likely that I will do either though as I'm still in love with my Model B 4-banger, the 4-port Riley is the best of the lot for street use.

 

It almost looks like he bolted four Stellings breathers to the ports for carb risers!

 

There is a guy out there that re-pops the aluminum Continental Mark II valve covers. Think they were $150 or there abouts. I bought a pair.

 

Not a V-8, but one half of one. The Pontiac slant 4. Also the 348 Chevys, talk about cool valve covers.

(o{}o)

 

When some one mentioned the 332 FE I thought things have come a long ways, now 363 and it looks like a 302 [same deck height] and about 150# lighter, not to mention the hp......

 

Here is my un-common beast (56 330 Desoto Hemi) just waiting for the right home...

 

well, I'm a Ford Y block fan. I have a '59 292 in a '30 tudor.

 

My hot rod

1956 Packard 352 w 3 speed overdrive

 

Road tester Tom McCahill described the new V8 as turning the formerly maidenly Studebaker into a rip roaring, hell for leather performer. Gober Sosebee set a record of 117 MPH with his hopped up Commander sedan at the 1951 Daytona Beach speed trials.

120HP from a 232 cu in engine in a light car was hot stuff in 1951 but soon fell behind as other makes introduced bigger more powerful V8s.

 

thanks Rusty - 1951 would of been a good year to have a Starlite cpe, an open road and a pretty sweater girl next to ya....

 

Poly Power