Has any body doen it? SBC in 1957 Fairlane?

Buddy of mine already has bought a ZZ4 Chevy smallblock and TH 700 to swap it into his 1957 Ford Fairlane.
I suggested him better go with Ford, but now he already has all the parts.
So now the prob is to find a way to get the Oilpan sit right.
Not much clearance there, cause the Crossmember and steering are right in the way.
Chevy is Rear oil sump, has the pump sitting in the rear so he´s limited in
cutting the pan, too.
Don´t have pix here right no, post them later, but engine sits very low and far behind at the moment.
So I would like to hear if anybody did it before and what are the tricks
before my buddy and I turn to cut the whole shit together

 

In true HAMB fashion, I am going to say it's like having your way with your sister. You might be able to, but can you look at yourself in the morning? The shame...

Unlike what passes for normal here, I will actually be helpful in the same post.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=303767

First generation Chevy II (Nova) has a front sump.

 

Some things just shouldn't be done.

No one's grafted a dog's hind leg to their back yet either, but that doesn't make it a good idea or mean it has to be tried. Some ideas should be let go. This is one of them. No more Chevys in post-War Fords. It just ain't right.

Find a nice Y-block or another blue oval motor and put it in that beautifully-styled '57 and do the right thing.

Chevy in a '57 Ford. Sheesh.

 

Thanks, thought about the Chevy II pan, too.
57 Ford Frame is very different than 54 Merc.Much less room there.
Thanks

I would prefer the Y block or maybe a FE engine, too.
But now the money was spent and what should he do now, dump it or what?

I would just like to know if it was done earlier??
I really searched a lot, didn´t find any Chev. powered 57 yet.

 

On a more serious note, now that I've vented my spleen....Here's the thing: You'll regret this swap down the road. It will hurt the value of an otherwise beautiful car when you go to sell it. '57s are one of the nicest cars Ford made. They're hot looking. But not with a bowtie under the hood.

I see this frequently in the Effie pickups, '53-'56. Somebody did this Chevy-in-a-Ford swap and the Ford guys hate 'em. Don't want 'em. You should have heard the comments at the F100 Reunion about this type combination. And you should have seen the difference in asking price- how much more it was- when the Ford was in the Ford.

I know, I know, there are plenty of folks who don't care. Yep, but there are even more who do care. Think about your potential buyer and value down the road.

If it is something pre-War, that is another matter entirely. If it is something interesting- like a Cadillac in a Ford- that is another matter entirely. But the SBC is so overdone, it just doesn't need to be repeated here. If we never see another SBC 350 in a post-War Ford I can die a happy man.

Ford motors are just as plentiful as the SBC. Go find one, sell the SBC and do the swap right. Down the road when you or your buddy go sell the car, you'll thank yourself and you'll get back any extra money had to spend at the beginning.

Just my opinion, but what do I know??? Nothin'.

 

Strange,Deuce Roadster and I discussed this very same subject last saturday night,except we were talking about using a big block 427 chevy,,he is a chevy engine kinda guy but likes Ford body styles,,32's,40's and 57's,etc.

He likes the idea,,I thought it would be a mortal sin!

In the long run I think it would be easier to sell the sbc engine and transmission and use a blue oval engine and transmission,,my 2 cents,for what it's worth. HRP

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXhrrz3kQ98

Sell the Chevy.

 

Keep the chevy for another project and get yourself a ford.

 

Sell the SBC and go Ford. You can legally marry your third cousin but will get snippy comments at family reunions!

 

Blasphemy.

 

i dont see any reason why you cant, theres alot of guys here that stick gm motors in model As,falcons,etc.... Its an abomination, but use what you got right.

 

ok, anyways, still searhin for someone who has done the same mistake

But I have open ears for alternative.

I would heva loved to rebuild the 292 that was in it. Intenally the engine was complete junk, was in need of a total rebuild.

I have now two years left to make his car run. Then he returns from Detroit and all should be done.
The reason he chose the chevy was as I remember that you can get a 360horse engine for a low price that you get parts for at every corner, low fuel consumption etc.
Gasoline here in Germany makes some people think like this.
He started already to cut the oil pan , build some trans and engine mounts and engine is hangin in the car already. Wanted me to cut the cowl and ev. the Floor to make it fit.
I don´t like how the engine sits. It just doesen´t look right, doesen´t feel right.
If I want hhim to turn from this route(it´s his car, his money, his decission) than I have to present him a real alternative.

Car is a 57 Fairlane coupe with 9" Currie Rear and detroit locker. Disk Brakes all around. He wants some streetable performance.
I might have luck finding someone to take the ZZ4 and TH 700. Hope they pay the money he purchased it. Buit than i need a plan B

What engine would you guys choose.
-Good Part availebility
-low fuel consumption
-Autobahn worthy(our cruising speed is about 80-120miles/hour)
makes an overdrive very usefull (AOD trans?)
-about 300-360 horses
-same costs as the ZZ4 plus TH700

I guess Y- block is out already
Maybe FE block? But they are thirsty
SmallFord Roller engine?

I don´t like this shit. Have to deal with decissions other people and try to
do the best.
Hope you understand what I´m talking ´bout.
Promissed to get the car running so I´ll do it somehow but want to get sure every option was thought...
Thaks againn that you folks even care about my writing
-

 

OMG, everyone is pissing on this guy's parade since they haven't the resources to help him.

Stick a front-sump '62-'67 Nova pan and oil pump on the SBC and everything from there is a piece of cake with a little fabricating skill.

Bob

 

I'm with just about everyone else here. Sell the chevy and do the right thing. Look at the other way, if you had a 57 Belair would stick a Y-block in it just because because you had it?

 

I´ll try the Chevy II Pan. Somebody in my neighbourhood has one laying around. Crossmember and steering is very in the way. even if i tryed to let the pan go it colides with the Oil pump. Than again rise the engine higher it interferes with the Kardan tunnel. Pics make it clear, will post them in a couple days. don´t have them here...

 

Chevydeuce: Just for your information, 'Kardan tunnel' is called transmission tunnel in English. Kardanwelle is a driveshaft in U.S. English or propshaft in real English.

There is a beautifully built 1957 Ford two door wagon, black with a 392 hemi around here - bitchin' car and I have never heard a negative comment from anyone about it - just playing devil's advocate here, but I too think it is a travesty to install a Ch*vy in a post war Ford.

 

NO! God please tell me it isnt so. Will customs now follow the way of almost every 32 Ford out there,with a small block chevy? Now where did I put that Toyota Sr-22 motor for my chevy roadster?

 

a friend of mine has a 58 Fairlane where he has a Camaro subframe installed. A Chevy motor would be easy to install, but just wouldn't be right. stick with the Ford motor

 

hey DEUCE...it's his car, his money, and his idea! NUFF SAID! now get your ass in gear, and get-er-done. man in doesn.t mean squat what we are you think. and by the way, this hotrod fit's what is required on this site, in my view!...POP.

 

While i can't offer any technical support, I can offer some moral support. Since you have the sbc, AND that's what the owner wants, by all means, put it in there. It should be more or less a bolt in, by that, I mean that you shouldn't have to butcher the car to do it. If, down the road, the owner decides to sell, it will appeal to the sbc crowd (and there's LOTS of them) and the ford/ford guys, if they really want the car, won't care because engines are easy to change.

 

If the swap does happen, an answer to the problem would be simple. Just tell him to keep the hood closed at a rod run/car show and don't ever plan on trying to sell the car.

 

Errrm, two words.....
FUCK NO!

 

Jim Reath put a big blockchevy in a 55 T-bird in 70 something; i will try to look for the article, but i can't guarantee finding it anytime soon.

Alternatively, you might try calling him but i think they are closed?
(562) 426-6901

 

There's a nice guy on here, Kevin, who's HAMB name escapes me, but I think its Gasser57? He's in Indiana or Ohio, and has a 57 with a 383 Chevy I believe. Car runs like a scalded ape. Do the swap, if he has the parts, just use em.

 

I have a 57 and would never think of getting rid of the Y block

 

umm please for the love of all things greasy DONT

 

Y-Block, Please!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uo5l_Jd36h8

 

I would try to use a front sump ChevII as mentioned - I wouldn't cut the car to make it fit though. Personally I would give up the ghost at that point. The "cutting" of the car is where the value is lost. If the oil pump itself hits, I believe you are out of luck. If the front sump pan works, I say go for it.
As far as I can tell you didn't ask if you SHOULD put a sbc in .. you asked how to do it. There isn't much out there more traditional than a SBC in a Ford...people have been doing it for years, no matter what anyone says. Wouldn't be my first choice (I would prefer a 427 Ford) but it isn't my car either.

 

I had a 56 ford with a 360 horse 327 in the early 60's it was a great combo. had a notched oil pan. I had a 63 nova with a big block and that oil pan would have worked well in the ford also

 

Small block roller motor is a good start. AOD mounts right up, and basic go-fast parts gets it in your power range. Putting a late 302 in an early chassis is well documented. You can keep the EFI for better fuel consumption too.

Another option is the 99+ 281 cammer motor. The power is less than 300 for most, but they have excellent gearing options to make up for it. Some are all aluminum too, and all are dirt cheap. From what I understand, they take a fair amount of fab to install.

Check www.57fordsforever.com Most motor swaps are covered there. Not SBC though....