Well, I've looked at the forums from time to time for the last couple years. Decided to make an account and post my ride. My Dad bought it for me in 2003 in rogers AR from a family that owned and drove it for many years. It was all original with the flathead 6 and 3 speed on the column. In 2005 it started overheating on us, found out the water distribution tube in the block was rusted badly. Bought a 39 dodge motor to put in it a few years later. I decided I wanted a modern drivetrain, I never plan on selling it, so I didn't care about keeping it all original. I sold all of the dodge and Plymouth parts I had for it, and bought a mild built Sbc with a 4 speed from my uncle for half of what I sold the original stuff for. Some guys will say it's sacrilege, but I think building a fun and fast car as cheap as possible is what hot rods are all about. Already have a 10 bolt rear end in it, motor and trans mounts built by a buddy. Been looking around for disc brake conversion kits, keeping the original front end though. Picked out fenderwell headers I'm gonna order, then I'll have to figure out how to make the steering shaft work. I'll try to post a few photos of it. If anybody that has modified the steering shaft to work with headers on a sbc, I would like to hear how you did it. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Welcome Austin,,nice photos..you failed to "Introduce yourself' as is the intent of this forum page.. the HAMBis like a "Huge" family and we like to know who is joining us and age and where you live.. you may need help one day and no one steps forward coz we don't know where the hell you are.
Haha, I guess I didnt really introduce myself. Im 17 from SW missouri. Ive been working on cars and motorcycles since I was 10. This is my first big project though. I sure could use help and knowledge to finish this car. Its came to a screeching hault recently. Glad to be a part of the forum.
This is from butchs cool stuff help: http://www.butchscoolstuff.com/blog...mount-tips-for-many-3956-plymouth-dodge-cars/. If you are dead set on fenderwell headers you might want to look at nova fenderwell hearders http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Chevy-II-Fenderwell-Headers-Raw-Finish,65985.html. The kind of go up and over but i don't know if that would work.
I looked at butchscoolstuff, ive heard of moving the engine 1" to the p*** side before, but engine and transmission mounts have already been built. I think having the engine an inch to one side would mess up the driveshaft unless i also pushed the rear end over and inch on the p***enger side. Any kind of exhaust manifold is gonna require modification to the steering column. Really doesn't seem like enough room between the frame and drive train to use normal headers, so fender well headers it is... Speedway sells SBC fender well headers for fat fender 40s cars, probably will use those. I plan on running the exhaust under the running boards and exiting in front of the rear tire. Do you have a 350 in your plymouth?
when i got the car it had a 350 with a 79 firebird subframe, 79 firebird ps. With that, the cast iron manifolds mentioned @Butches worked. I think you are going to have a problem trying to reroute that steering column, but there are way way more knowledgeable people on here than me about that. I think there are rack kits for it, but i think the steering arms need to be shortened to get the proper turning radius.
Im keeping the stock front end and manual steering with a disc brake conversion. Im gonna have to cut the steering shaft/column and use a couple steering u-joints to angle the shaft to the side. I have no idea where to start, and dont want to just start cutting blindly. Gonna wait until I get the headers here first. Ive looked at tons of v8 swapped 40's mopars, all of them have offset the engine to the side or put a different front end and column into it. Hoping somebody on here has done what im wanting to accomplish, and can point me in the right direction.
You may want to post in the general discussion forum, probably get more help there. Also try http://p15-d24.com/ Bunch of knowledgeable mopar guys over there. Good luck!
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