Who has put an SBC in a '55 DeSoto or Mopar?

[El Caballo]

Has anyone here ever put an SBC in a DeSoto? What does the front cross member look like and it’s position? I think they had 354 hemis in them if memory serves; how wide were those?

[caddychris]

Fuckin' wide man, you should'nt have any problems other than the ordinary stuff... like radiator, motormounts,trans mounts, driveline, linkages, and possibly steering, No problem, right? BTW, why not go with a 318 or 340/360 and keep it all mopar? they are great engines ang parts are easy/inexpensive.

[CheatersPete]

SBC on MOPAR!!! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Are YOU CRAZY!!!!!!

[old beet]

I know a guy with a SBC in his 56 DeSoto. Don't know much about it, except is has stock power steering. A real oddball box I think. (remember his leaks) Seems to fit easy enough. Car is totally stock other than that......OLDBEET

[El Caballo]

I have an SBC/TH350 in my garage, a bird in the hand...

[GRADY]

[ QUOTE ]
SBC on MOPAR!!! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Are YOU CRAZY!!!!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree, but could not function for twenty minutes...just staring at your avatar...
WOW http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

[Stevie G]

I'd trade the SBC for a 318 or 360 or ANY other mopar engine.
Chevy in a Mopar.....Yikes!

Then again, it's your car.

[El Caballo]

Not yet, but seriously thinking about getting it.

[El Caballo]

this, no grille...

[Upchuck]

[ QUOTE ]


I agree, but could not function for twenty minutes...just staring at your avatar...
WOW http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Mp33, Hank Cash and CheatersPete surely do got some nice avatars YEP! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[caddyman65]

[ QUOTE ]
Has anyone here ever put an SBC in a DeSoto? What does the front cross member look like and it’s position? I think they had 354 hemis in them if memory serves; how wide were those?

[/ QUOTE ] They had 291 hemis

[SKR8PN]

Putting a SBC in a Mopar,is like......
Washing your feet and putting dirty socks back on.
It may work,but it won't SMELL very good......

[El Caballo]

Whatever, SBC baaad. Is there anyone out there who has done it? I am getting to the point where I wanna do it to piss people off.

[burndup]

man, I remember when I HAD the coolest avatar... sheeeet.

A CHEVY MOTOR UNDER EVERY HOOD!!!

(so nailheads & olds become cheep)

[4gotn1]

It got alot of open space. I put a 318 in mine with no problems. had to fab my own mounts but looking back it was really easy.

[Chili Phil]

Hey man, the Wolfman IS everywhere and HE wouldn't do it. If you put a small block in it, the billit and tweed and pastels and crybaby doll will soon follow. Get a grip, man!! That's a nice car. Mopar engines, even hemis, are cheap, plentiful and they look bitchen dressed up.

I'm selling my Olds and this is EGGZACTICKLEY what makes me queasy about it. Sheesh!!!

Sorry for the rant, Caballo. Touched a raw nerve there, ya did.

[str8axle]

At the risk of offending the anti-SBC crowd, I'll admit that we did this swap to my brother's car. Put a 406/TH350 in a 1956 Plymouth in place of the flathead-six and 3-speed.

The original transmission mount didn't look like it could be made to work, so we cut it out and fabbed a simple mount that attaches between the framerails. Still enough room for the dual exhaust to run above the trans mount.

Welded brackets to the frame to handle the side mounts from the SBC. The stock mechanical fuel pump does come very close to the front cross member, but it needs to be that high for the stock chevy oil pan to clear the steering linkage. Running stock manual steering and Hooker tight-fit shorty headers and 2 1/2 inch pipes. Things are tight, but have clearance all around.

He's happy with it. Likes the fact that it makes the Mopar diehards cringe when they learn what's under the hood. Don't get us wrong, we'd love to have a nice little hemi under their, but they're not cheap around here.

Here's some pics:

[str8axle]

What went in...

[str8axle]

The finished product...

[str8axle]

Forgot this one...

[bowtie327]

It seems this thread died a loooooong time ago, but I'm bringing it back! Did the sbc ever get put into the Desoto? I'm interested because Saturday I got a "56 desoto 4-door, no engine, no tranny, no drive line. But I do have a 327 and th350.:p Do you see where I'm going? Of course I would love to drop an old 330 back in it, or any hemi for that matter, but I have to use what I have. Maybe someday it'll get traded out for an ol' hemi, who knows. Isn't hot rodding all about working with what you have anyways? To me it is. But, the small block Chev and the Desoto, did it happen?

[Brandy]

If you wanted a Hemi then why didn't you say so? Once you convert it over for Chev, it's gonna be a pain in the rear to swap it back for a Hemi. NOW if you really wanna get crazy and make that thing move like shit off a shiney shovel, throw a Wedge in it! :D
xx
Brandy


It seems this thread died a loooooong time ago, but I'm bringing it back! Did the sbc ever get put into the Desoto? I'm interested because Saturday I got a "56 desoto 4-door, no engine, no tranny, no drive line. But I do have a 327 and th350.:p Do you see where I'm going? Of course I would love to drop an old 330 back in it, or any hemi for that matter, but I have to use what I have. Maybe someday it'll get traded out for an ol' hemi, who knows. Isn't hot rodding all about working with what you have anyways? To me it is. But, the small block Chev and the Desoto, did it happen?

[rustynewyorker]

It seems this thread died a loooooong time ago, but I'm bringing it back! Did the sbc ever get put into the Desoto? I'm interested because Saturday I got a "56 desoto 4-door, no engine, no tranny, no drive line. But I do have a 327 and th350.:p Do you see where I'm going? Of course I would love to drop an old 330 back in it, or any hemi for that matter, but I have to use what I have. Maybe someday it'll get traded out for an ol' hemi, who knows. Isn't hot rodding all about working with what you have anyways? To me it is. But, the small block Chev and the Desoto, did it happen?

That beats parting it out or junking it outright, so why not? And I'm a Mopar guy too. But you guys will want to swap out that rearend and ditch the damn tapered drum setup for something you don't need a puller to get the drums off with. For not a whole hell of a lot more than the cost of the rearend you can probably get a running Mopar and swap in the whole works - in September I got an '89 Ramcharger with a TBI 360 for $50. One water pump later, I drove it daily for a couple months - I'd still have it if I hadn't come up with a Suburban with 57,000 miles for $500 the end of October, and I'd have saved the Ramcharger to build something else with if a guy hadn't given me $400 for it and got it the heck outta my driveway. Not the first running $50 Mopar I've had, either.

Should be able to bolt in a number of rearends - 66-78 Mopar fullsize, some 59-65 Ford 9"s, and some of the GM leaf spring cars all work - just a matter of having the right spacing on the pads and the backing plates the same width or fairly close (narrower lets you run wider tires, there's some fudge factor to both measurements). Probably some of the newer trucks would fit too. There's some info on this over on the Forward Look board - www.forwardlook.net/forums - have a section on rearend and driveline there. Good info, once you get past the goofy BS that goes on. Some of the regulars don't get along very well and one of the "moderators" more or less encourages it (sometimes it seems like it's a WB teenybooper soap opera and not a car board).

[Automotive Stud]

Whatever, SBC baaad. Is there anyone out there who has done it? I am getting to the point where I wanna do it to piss people off.

Your not going to piss anyone off. Your just going to hurt yourself by having a lame run of the mill car with less value than if it had mopar power. :cool:

To answer your question, I don't think your the first one to have done it :rolleyes:

[fatty mcguire]

Do you want to sell the grill?

[SanDiegoJoe]

SBC on MOPAR!!! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Are YOU CRAZY!!!!!!

yeah - that's what I was thinking too... Put a Slant 6 in there!

[Brandy]

For all ya'll, that 56 DeSoto Firedome Bowtie has came from yours truely.

Sorry but NO HE WON"T SELL THE GRILL!:mad:
No he WONT PART OUT THE CAR!:mad:
No he WONT PUT A SLANT 6 IN A GREEN ARMY TANK!:mad:

The car doesn't have a motor, trans or driveline currently. It does however have a late model Chevrolet Camaro rearend under it. When I bought the car 2 years ago---to save it from the crushers--- the kid I bought it from took the rearend and drive train out to put in his 34(?) Plymouth. I told him if he made it rollable then I'd buy it. The car is complete other then the missing drive train and a rear windshield -----I bought one for a 55-56 Mopar, but it has too much curve to it so if any of you have a lead on one we might be able to do a swap of some sort...let me know!----I do think, since he is in high school and works at the local Carls Jr., he should do what he can afford. Then at a later date he can start the long haul of re-swapping it for a Hemi. Do what you want Josh, it's your car not anyone else's. And for the record, DeSoto's WERE NOT run of the mill. Chevrolet's and Fords were run of the mill because of the ability to mass produce them. She's a great car and she's gotten a youngin into rodding........nothing more important then that!

Partial to that "Lame run of the mill car"

Brandy

[bowtie327]

MUAHAHAHAHA!! You better not mess with me or Brandy will beat you up!:p But yes, it is going to take new life via a "bowtie327";) , and as Brandy said, NO ONE can have my damn parts! 4-doors are all the rage, for those of you who don't already know. Keep the info coming though, I can use all the help I can get. I appreciate the help, and the criticism, so thanks to all that give it.
-bowtie

[rustynewyorker]

And for the record, DeSoto's WERE NOT run of the mill. Chevrolet's and Fords were run of the mill because of the ability to mass produce them.

1955 Desoto production is around 70,000 for the 4-door sedans, and 112,000 for all models and body styles. They had the ability to mass-produce, too, just didn't sell as many.

I wouldn't lose any sleep over a guy Chevying a '55 DeSoto 4dr. Beats being mashed up and sent to China to become some kind of Chinese crap there.

I'd offer you a parts car for cheap if I wasn't the other side of the country away -

Oh yeah, and wth would anyone deliberately put a tapered drum rear into any car... jeeze...

[Brandy]

1955 Desoto production is around 70,000 for the 4-door sedans, and 112,000 for all models and body styles. They had the ability to mass-produce, too, just didn't sell as many.

I wouldn't lose any sleep over a guy Chevying a '55 DeSoto 4dr. Beats being mashed up and sent to China to become some kind of Chinese crap there.

I'd offer you a parts car for cheap if I wasn't the other side of the country away -

Oh yeah, and wth would anyone deliberately put a tapered drum rear into any car... jeeze...

It's not a 55 it's a 56. They may not have sold a whole lot of them.......but even less have survived a rusty death.

The rear was put under the car just to get her to roll. I didn't want an ass dragger to drag up a car trailer......bad enough I have to winch her up everytime.:eek: I don't know what gets more of a work out, my arm or the come along.....:rolleyes:

She'll get there one way or another........STILL MAKES A COOL CRUISER. I'd rather have an oddball DeSoto then a Ford Shoebox that he has and she has and they have and hey look there's 12 more all in the same parking lot. Just me I guess.
xx
Brandy

[leadsled01]

Whatever, SBC baaad. Is there anyone out there who has done it? I am getting to the point where I wanna do it to piss people off.
Ya, thats the ticket. I've got a sbc in my 50 plymouth. Just because thats what I had.. Mines got a 1980 firebird subframe and it fits fine.lol

[krooser]

I have an SBC/TH350 in my garage, a bird in the hand...
I've got a Briggs and stratton in my garage...let's see....now all I need is a a '55 Chevy...a couple of motor mounts...Hmmmmmm

[Mutt]

I've got a Briggs and stratton in my garage...let's see....now all I need is a a '55 Chevy...a couple of motor mounts...Hmmmmmm

Fat Hack will be proud....:D

Mutt

[El Caballo]

I've got a Briggs and stratton in my garage...let's see....now all I need is a a '55 Chevy...a couple of motor mounts...Hmmmmmm
Please be advised, the car is gone, I no longer give a fuck.

You guys sound like restorers, gadzooks, put anything but a mopar in a mopar? Sacreledge!

Please...

[Radman]

My 55 Plymouth has a 76 Volare K-member and a BB Mopar. Gotta love big disk brakes and power steering! :)

http://img70.exs.cx/img70/9492/400inplace001m2bq.jpg

[bellyjello]

Forgot this one...
Why put a SBC in a Mopar when you should go with the BBC

[bellyjello]

Why put a SBC in a Mopar when you should go with the BBC
Has any one ever put a 318 in a Belair?

[Brad S.]

You guys sound like restorers, gadzooks, put anything but a mopar in a mopar? Sacreledge!

Please...

Kinda what I was thinking.

This is a pretty cool board to discuss Hot Rods and I'm picking up a bunch of damn good info. But when you guys start bitching about a SBC in a fucking Hot Rod.....what the hell. I can see "not liking it" but frankly if it's what I got so fucking be it.

"Your" definition of "traditional" may be for nostalgia or whatever but mine is "I built an old somewhat hopped up HOT ROD in my garage without a bunch of fucking nonsense I don't need". Not in a shop....didn't have some custom shit fabricated....without high dollar tools...or some high moral ground or delicate hot rod sensibilities which would prevent me from using the fucking parts I want to.

I'm keeping the cost as low as possible (still under $5K and I may just go barely over) while I use the info I pick up here to rip apart and rebuild this '37 in under a month. The SBC is staying in it as it's taking me to Austin.

I'll take the experience from this one and apply it to the next one. That one will have something more "traditional" but maybe not. It'll depend a lot on my mood and my pocketbook and not some fucking opinion I read on a message board.

[rustynewyorker]

I guess all I am saying is they're not really that rare. I could count a good dozen in junkyards around here, some still with the Hemi in them. Probably will be around until scrap metal is worth it's weight in gold, give it a couple years.


In the end, it's your car and you can do what you want with it, right? If it makes you happy, who gives a shit what anyone else thinks.

Somewhere I have a car magazine with a feature on a '65-ish Corvette. Wild '60's psychadelic paint, flip nose, blown 427. Oh yeah.. it's a Ford motor. I bet that pisses some guys off... lol -

[Brad S.]

I guess all I am saying is they're not really that rare. I could count a good dozen in junkyards around here, some still with the Hemi in them. Probably will be around until scrap metal is worth it's weight in gold, give it a couple years.


In the end, it's your car and you can do what you want with it, right? If it makes you happy, who gives a shit what anyone else thinks.

I got a little over zealous in my post. I've heard a LOT of shit from people around here who won't even change the oil in their car much less scatter one all over their garage and driveway.

I forgot I am posting in a Hot Rod forum with people who know what they're doing and have provided me with some awesome info and not having the exact same conversation with a coworker.

I have to remind myself that I've set goals for this one car to get me back up to speed and relearn shit my Dad taught me 20 years ago and I've forgotten. I've met all those so far and have taken a relatively big piece of shit that wouldn't move and barely ran and test drove it two weeks later after some serious bust ass work. I still have a lot of work ahead of me if I'm going to get this to Austin for Lone Star at the end of the month.

My mantra right now is "Under $5K and Austin....under $5k and Austin"

Oh......and this shit is FUN. I can't believe I stayed with motorcycles for so long.

[bowtie327]

Damn, didnt mean to cause a firefight. All I asked was if the sbc ever got into the mopar hoping to get some tips. Somehow this became an opinionated thread. Oh well, its funny watching people get their panties all bunched up.:p

[Brad S.]

Damn, didnt mean to cause a firefight. All I asked was if the sbc ever got into the mopar hoping to get some tips. Somehow this became an opinionated thread. Oh well, its funny watching people get their panties all bunched up.:p

Yeah yeah yeah.....instigator.:D

[Brandy]

Yeah yeah yeah.....instigator.:D


Yeah! I totally blame Josh!!! :D

I've been defending that car since I bought it 2 years ago......Finally sold it and I'm STILL defending it. Oh well, maybe one of these days, when I'm broke down on the side of some shithole road....that seafoam green, Chevrolet powered, four door DeSoto will save my ass.:rolleyes:
xx
Brandy

[mopower]

I put a 440 in my 55 plymouth, and from what ive seen, the 55 desotos and plymouths have identical frames and front suspension. Ill admit it is a VERY tight fit, but damn if it doesn't look bitchin because it takes up every square inch of the engine compartment. Big block mopars are not the easiest to find, but if you find one usually you can get one cheap. They are a great pay off because as is they are torque monsters. As far as mods, you are going to HAVE TO take out the tranny crossmember. Stock manifolds also will not fit, i had to use sanderson shorty headers, but they fit perfect. I then used a summit no name aluminum radiator and electrical fan. If i have you any bit sold on this swap, email me and ill send you some pictures.

paul

[leadsled01]

[QUOTE=
Oh......and this shit is FUN. I can't believe I stayed with motorcycles for so long.[/QUOTE]
Same with me!!!

[bowtie327]

mopower-
Go ahead and send me them pix! Thanks.
-bowite

[jimi'shemi291]

Okay, guys & gals, I KNOW this is an old thread AND I'm a committed MOPAR dude. BUT, I love all American (and some foreign) makes, from 1901 to 2001 !!!

While I would love to see any DeSoto stay MOPAR and get hopped up a bit, I'd rather see an SBC in there than to see these wonder, unique cars go to the crusher.

I'm gonna be banished from the HAMB for this, BUT my small-block FI 350 Chevy has always been able to run rings around my FI MOPAR 318. Sorry. Before I'd stick a 318 in a two-ton behemoth like a '55 - '59 DeSoto, I'd go with a 340 MOPAR or big-cube Chevy, any time. You can put a Chevy in a Ford any day of the week, but I'd never put a FOMOCO product in a MOPAR or a GM. I've drivine a 351 Cleveland (for years) on and off, and it could hold a candle to my own 350 Chevy. And it couldn't hold the slippers of a low- or high-deck DeSoto, either.

If I owned the world, Hemis would rule. (Whether it be '50s DDC, the Elephant or this modern version.)

[Tuske427]

My 57 Plymouth has an LS1 in it. Runs all day long. I drove it from La to Tulsa and back with only 250 miles on the car since building it, no issues during the trip. That trip put 3k miles on it. Took it to San Diego the other weekend, again, ran like a champ. Yes, the knuckle draggers and purists hate me. Don't care.

When I was in Tulsa there was a guy parked by me with a 55 Plymouth sporting a caprice/ impala chassis complete with sbc drive train. he loved it, too.

I also saw last year a 58 Plymouth with an LT1 in it at the Woodley Park spring fling. Of course he, and I too, kept our hoods down.

They're out there. And, yes, I've also seen Chevies with mopar engines, fords with chevies, chevies with fords, etc.

[X426X]

I've installed big block Mopar engines in a '60 Pontiac, several '61-63 Ford Galaxies, a '69 Lincoln MkIII, a '73 and '86 Oldsmobile, a '68 Firebird and a '73 Chevy.
:cool:

[vertible59]

Has any one ever put a 318 in a Belair?
Don't know about that, but my pal in NC had a '55 Chevy gasser with a 413...crossram and all. Needed a mop for all the crocodile tears.:D