old-tank Posted May 31, 2002 Share Posted May 31, 2002 Here's the story: Friend rebuilt the "sick-cylinder" in his 50 chev and 300 miles later a rod bolt broke and it now has a connecting rod sticking out of the block. I helped on the rebuild (arms's length)...you talk about a primitive engine. Anyhow he's warming to my idea of putting a 322 nailhead in it's place. Has anyone done a swap like this before? Details?<BR>Thanks, Willie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 1, 2002 Share Posted June 1, 2002 Figure out how to hook up a torque tube (Buick) transmission to that Chev Semi-torque set up they have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest COMPACTBC Posted June 1, 2002 Share Posted June 1, 2002 It must be do-able because I saw a '52 Chev at a car show here in Orange County last Summer with a nailhead under the hood. Looked really cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 1, 2002 Share Posted June 1, 2002 As with swapping a SBC in there, the steering box gets in the way. I don't have a fix for you other than a Mustang II front end. I know it was done a zillion times long before the MustangII fronts, I just don't rememeber the popular ways. You need to check out this site, I think the guys are more likely to know. Search the site and check out all the links there is someone who can tell you.<BR> <A HREF="http://www.hrdeluxe.com/" TARGET=_blank>http://www.hrdeluxe.com/</A> <BR> <A HREF="http://www.flatheadv8.freeserve.co.uk/" TARGET=_blank>http://www.flatheadv8.freeserve.co.uk/</A> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old-tank Posted June 2, 2002 Author Share Posted June 2, 2002 Looks like even if we find/make an adaptor the starter will interfere with the steering box.<BR>Willie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NTX5467 Posted June 7, 2002 Share Posted June 7, 2002 I suspect a trans upgrade will be in order as the Chevy 3-speeds were not very reliable even behind the Chevy motors. As the Chevy has rear leaf springs, the driveshaft issue should be easy to deal with. On the Chevy light trucks back then, they used a closed drive shaft whereas the GMC's had an open driveshaft. Only differences were in the end housing on the 4-speed trans and what happened on the rear axle. Having leaf springs back there (instead of coils) simplifies things.<P>The steering gearboxes and columns were bolted to the frame. Might modernize that with a more modern gear box and a flex coupling with a later steering column. A friend put a '70 Monte Carlo column in his '55 Nomad, "shaved" the lock cylinder off of it, put the '55 steering wheel on it, and it looked great. The color codes on the wiring even matched up. If done covertly enough, many people probably would not know the difference.<P>Don't forget about the front springs too . . .<P>Enjoy!<BR>NTX5467 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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