Hot Rods Small Block Swap for a 53 Plymouth

I know this topic has been covered before. I just want to make sure I'm not missing anything.

I have a 53 Plymouth with a Hydrive. Its tired and needs some TLC. Instead of trying to freshen the motor and trans I figured its time to put in a small block. I picked up a 318 LA cheap. Gonna put a 904 behind it. I plan on using a Engine / Trans mount kit from Butch. Going to find some Magnum manifolds to wrap around the current steering box. Might have to massage the firewall on the passenger side a bit to clear the valve cover. Will need to offset the motor and trans to clear the steering (Butch can do when I order the kit). Pretty standard stuff for these cars from what I have read.

Is there anything major that I am missing here? I'm just trying to plan ahead as much as possible before I start tearing everything apart.

For the rear end I hear that a Ford 8.8 is pretty close to a drop in.
Is there any reason why I can use the current housing / center section and drop the ratio a bit and get a different yoke? I have tried to find out what kind of rear end is in this thing I have have had no luck. I cant find ring gear size, or spline count, nothing! Maybe I'm searching for the wrong things. IDK.
Do most people swap the rear just to beef it up a bit for a small block?

Any info will help.
Below is a pick of the car. Family and I just went this weekend to get out Christmas Tree!
Thanks in advance!

 

If you put in a later model trans and use the stock rear end, where's the emergency brake?

 

Kudo's on your choice of engine and trans. As for the rear I think that if you say its a close fit then that is also a good choice. You seem to have your thoughts all aligned with the vision of a hot rod with a modern drivetrain As for the Christmas tree, nice touch.

Pat

 

That is a very good point. This is why I'm asking! Thanks.

 

Any other feedback would still be much appreciated. Still would like to find out more info about what kind of rear end this is.

 

I did the same swap using a 273 attached to a 904 auto trans. with a V8 Maverick rear end. I keep the center dump 273 exhaust manifolds and did not have to shift the motor to clear the steering box.

 

Good to know. I thought rear exit manifolds would be required. Either way I don’t have any manifolds so I’ll need to pick some up anyways. Thanks

 

I've got to be careful to not be blasphemous on this site, but I did a lot of laying on the ground and measuring slightly later model cars for wheelbase and tread and ended up with a $250 donor that gave me power steering, power disc brakes, tilt wheel, and 3-speed automatic transmission. Putting the (my '54) body over the chassis with a 3-inch channel saved a lot of hassle of lowering it. I don't know what MoPar car or truck could do the same for you, but if you have Stanley with you, it might work the same.

 

There are many documented Mopar engine swaps for the car so you can save some headaches.
Here is one:
318 into my '50 Coronet - P15-D24 Forum - P15-D24.com and Pilot-house.com (p15-d24.com)

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'65-67 C body axle should be a drop in. 318 needs to be rear sump from Van or Pick up, or conveted.

 

The original rear end that came in the car was the Chrysler corporate rear axle assembly. I think it was the same basic rear end from the 1930 up until the mid-late 50s then was changed. The ring & pinion was an odd size. Chrysler offered 2 gear choices, around a 3:90 something and a slightly lower gear in the low 4:00 something. As far as I've heard, the factory option gears was all that were available. There really is not a lot of info about those rear ends available. You really didn't hear much about rear ends from any manufacturers until the horsepower started growing rapidly in the late 50s and early 60s.

 

Rat, scrap metal 48 (Milo) just did this. Look him up!