I can use a little help from the experts. I have a 53 two door super with 322 with auto trans. My question is; will the running gear from a 56 century the 322 engine, auto tranny, and torque tube rearend fit right in my 53, without any modification? Any help on this subject would be appreciated.
Thanks don53

I hadn't responded hoping someone with actual experience would do so. However I have been thinking about this for a while.

Today it dawned on me that you'd have to make at least one modification, that being for the rear shocks. You have lever action shocks in your 53. The 56 has tube shocks. So you'd have to investigate and maybe fabricate top mounts for the shocks.

Do you have any measurements on your driveshaft? I'll take a look in the manual to see if I can find one there. That will give ou an indication of the location of the tranny. I do think you'd be looking at different motor mounts as well though.

Looked at the 56 Service manual today. The wheel base on the Special/ Century ( 40/60 series) is 122" for 56. The rear tire tread width is 59". The wheelbase length on the 50/70 series is 127".
I cannot find the measurement of the length of the driveshaft or torque tube but the book shows only one regardless of the model. And the book does not have different proceedures for the rear axle repair between the 40/60 series and the 50/70 series BUT the rear tire tread on the 50/70 series is 62.2" so obviously the rear axles are different.
Again, you have to account for shock absorbers to mount the 56 rear axle in your 53.

Good luck

I can understand the rear shock mount modification and the
difference in rearend, but isnt the motor mounts the
same with the 322 motor? Thanks don53

I heard that the blocks are the same for 53-56. But the frame is different between the 53 and the 54-56. So I don't know for certain that the mounts are the same. I bet some place like CARS would know or Carmine Faso would know. actually this question may be better answered on the V8 web forum.