finally got a ride!!!!!!! woo hoo

[Danny909]

YES!!!!!!!!!! finally got my ride, muchos grassy ass to chopped50ford for the score. its a 54 belvedere mildly worked, shaved handles, flat black paint. but now the down side...we tried to wedge a mopar engine in it and well.....it didn't fit DOH!!!!!!!!!! oh well, i have a car waiting at a local towing yard that i can get damn dirt cheap and just rob the engine tranny and driveshaft out of. so now i am headed in the right direction with things, and got out from under that damn datsun!!!! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[Danny909]

another

[Danny909]

trying to fit 5 pounds of $#!* in a 2 pound box

[Rocky]

Moving from a datsun to a 54 plymouth is definetely a step up--congrats. So, what is this car that has your donor engine?

[Danny909]

it just didn't want to go

[Bryan]

right on, man!

[Danny909]

well......going tomorrow to do the homework but its a late 80's firebird with a 305 and 700r4. i looked at it last week and i am pretty sure it is a chevy 305 in the thing if not, i move on and find something elsewhere.

[Scraper]

Hella cool..lotsa potential there. Definately a step up from a Datsun (though I do still like 210 sedans and bullet side p/u's, but that's another story). Have fun with your new ride. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[Peter Pan of Chicago]

Great score! Congraulations. I remember years ago, I had a old early '60's car mag. It was like an old Car Craft or Popular Hot Rodding, anyway I remember this issue had an extensive "how to" on installing a Corvette SBC and trans into a '54 like yours.

I wish I still had it. The article with step by step pics was very interesting.

Anyhoo, good luck and keep us posted on yer progress.

Joel http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[Chopped50Ford]

I cant believe that damn motor would not fit, we tried it in several different ways...Danny909 is right, it was like stuffing 10 pounds of chit in a 2.5 pound bag. It sucks when you measure and calculate and it doesnt work. I guess its proof, engineering is never fool proof. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Since the donor motor did not fit it's for sale. MOTOR POST (http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=450806&page=0&view=collap sed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1)

Im glad to see your stoked w/ the car...its definitely a step up from the Datsun's. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Time to get some real cars in this town. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

When are we going to chop it? http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Danny909]

like i said, it always looks good on a dennys napkin. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif but it will get done, hell or high water!

[Chopped50Ford]

Ill take "high water" before "hell" thank you very much!!! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Danny909]

we'll find out tomorrow if we are in hell or high water

[Chopped50Ford]

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

[purple]

<font color="purple"> A step up from a Datsun? What model is/was it? I need to know....

Signed, the Datsun maniac
purple
click for a real Datsun, not a sorry 80s POS (http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&amp;Number=448638&amp;page=2&amp;view=collap sed&amp;sb=5&amp;o=186&amp;fpart=1) </font>

[Danny909]

69 2 door, rotary 13b and all that crap. still got it if you want it plus a parts car, and a bunch o'parts. or if you know anyone that wants it. 909-528-7518

[purple]

<font color="purple"> I'll PM you. </font>

[JoeMoto]

Nice score Danny!

[flatordead]

Nice score. The easiest thing would for shure be a SBC. You got rear sump pan, better oil filter location and thousends of different exhaust headers to play with to solve that steering box clearence prom. You might need to move the steering box a little or swap for something with rack&amp;pinion or a one piece tie rod and cross steering.
Good luck and have fun !!!!!!

[Shoeboxer]

Congrats, man! That's one nice chunk of metal you got there!! I can't wait to have the space or the money to get myself a good ride. I suppose if someone came up and made me a screamin' off on my VW camper, I might let it go if it'd get me a Shoebox or something close.

-Taylor

[BigDdy31]

All right Danny!!!! Cool ride. Congratulations man, I know you'll tear a bit of your hair out getting it motorvated but it'll all be worth it. If you get that 305/700 combo put in and going at least it will get you around until you can build yourself a 350 on the cheap and dump that 305 back in the bin.

LOL I was wondering why Chopped50 had that 383 in the classifieds this morning. Now I know. One of you HAMBers go buy that motor. It's dirt cheap for a good 383 and trans. And the 383s in general rock out with their c...well you know what I mean. Plus I thought I saw a dual quad 383 manifold for sale in there somewhere too. That would make a great match.

[BigDdy31]

And if ya get the SBC, here are some headers in a Sean Auction that you might be able to use.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&amp;Number=450939&amp;page=1&amp;view=collap sed&amp;sb=5&amp;o=&amp;fpart=1

[tragic59]

Congrats. Lots of potential for that to be a sharp ride. Believe me, I was looking at it in the classifieds and trying to figure out how I could bring it home and not end up divorced.

Too bad y'all couldn't shoehorn that 383 in there... If'n you're interested in keeping it all Mopar, you should look in the recycler for 80's Dodge pickups. You'll definitely be able to get a 318 in it, and if you look, you'll be able to score one running and driving for less than $500. Same goes for late 70's-80's Diplomats, 5th Avenues, Volares and Aspens. Usually score them for afew hundred dollars, drive them home, pull the motor, tranny, rear end and front K-member, and have an entirely updated chassis and drivetrain with disc brake front end and torsion bar adjustable ride height.

Just some other cheap options for you, if you wanted to keep it Mopar.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do, and keep us posted on your progress.

[FnDIRTYGREASER]

sweet car.. I was looking at that ride, but just didnt have the funds. Glad it went to a good home!

[Danny909]

thanks going out to everyone for their support! my first real ride i am still stoked about it. i found a donor engine 305 with 700r4 tranny out of a 87 firebird in my friends tow yard. it clears tomorrow so i am hoping that by the weekend or maybe the (seeings how next weekend is the 4th) to have the mill at least in and postioned to see what kind of interference problems i have also. but again thanks to everyone for their support, it is greatly appreciated. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

[blueskies]

you could always put a six back in, I'm sure it would fit http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Pete

http://home.rmci.net/blueskies/rebuild19.JPG

[atch]

you shouldda stuck with the 383 and used a bigger shoehorn...

[Fat Hack]

How about a small block Mopar? (318-360)

Or maybe a Slant Six???

Damn...even a 3.9 V6 from a Dakota (318 minus two cylinders!)

Inline Ford or Chevy six from 60s, 70s or 80s?

Small block FORD?

Buick 350?

Olds V8?

Pontiac?

Lexus???????

SO many choices, man...measure the car, scribble some notes...then go to the junkyard to look at engines...note things like width, length, starter and oil filter location and oil pan sump location and shape.

Find something that will run and slam dunk it! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Cool car, by the way! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[Chopped50Ford]

Unfortunately the poor 6 speed had a rod out of the side. I would like to have seen the 6 running again, but none were readily available thus the reason for the change.

Boy im glad that I dont have to clean that 305 http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Danny909]

150 for a running 305 and 700r4 cant be beat, i would probably pay double to triple that at the tight ass places around here. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif don't worry chopped you'll be right next to me pulling that mill out.

be afraid very afraid!!!! oh yeah no callin in dead either!

[Radman]

SWEET! Another Mopar!!! Graft a mid 70's f-body front sub with disk brakes and torsion bars are your stylin!

[Chopped50Ford]

I pulled that damn 383 out myself and it was a bitch. The truck I pulled it from, I ended up cutting the front sheetmetal out just to get the oil pan to clear. If not, I thought I was going to need a damn crane to erect it out.

-burrrr- I dread the though of trying to pull that wire/hose infested 305 out..."ack"

Fat Hack, we thought from the beginning the motor was a 318 (can you tell I dont know crap about motors). It was supposed to fit in like "a sweet foot in a new shoe". Its truly a bummer and let down that our poor engineering just didnt cut it. Oh, well (scratch) chalk one up for experience. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif Its too bad too, because that 383 ran bitchen too, plus since spending 6 hours scraping all the shit off of it and getting black tar all over myself and the new poured concrete. I almost looked like another race when I was done. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

But, isnt that what its about???? I think so.!!!!

[FEDER]

Dannhy just this weekend I saw a 52 plymouth 2 with a 440-T/F in it. He did have to cut the firewall it was inset about 4" back the width of the motor. It had a A Body 8 3/4" rear end in it. The car was no show car but had an ET slip in the dash. 13.04 @ 110 had an edelbrock intake 750 vac sec Holley and a Mopar 284-484.Weld a wheelbarrow insert in the firewall and RUN THAT MOPAR ---FEDER

[wagendad]

[ QUOTE ]
Congrats, man! That's one nice chunk of metal you got there!! I can't wait to have the space or the money to get myself a good ride. I suppose if someone came up and made me a screamin' off on my VW camper, I might let it go if it'd get me a Shoebox or something close.

-Taylor

[/ QUOTE ]

If you sold your bus, would that mean you would stop hosting that bus event? And totally get out of VWs?

[tragic59]

I'm not a Chevy guy, but isn't the 305 kind of the red-headed stepchild of the SBC family? I mean aren't thy known to be slugs?

I've been wrong before and could be wrong here... I just think you could find a running small block Mopar mill for not much more than the $150 you're talking about. Hell, find another(better) SBC for not alot more than the 305...

[Fat Hack]

Nuttin' wrong with a 305 Chevy...it's just a 350 with a smaller bore, but the same stroke. Makes an excellent all around engine, and can push a HEAVY mid 70s four door into the high 14s with basic bolt-on mods! Good choice for this 54 if ya GOTTA run a small Chevy!

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

That said, yes...the 318 and 360 Mopars are pretty common and can be had for dirt cheap or free with little effort. They are the same GENERAL shape as a small block Chevy...with the distributor in rear and all, but the oil pan sump is sorta odd...might cause a problem, but it's worth looking into.

The small block Mopar would most likely use a 904 auto tranny...not nearly as bulletproof as a TH-350 or other GM auto, but if kept cool and with the TV cable adjusted properly, it can live okay.

I would give a SERIOUS look at a 350 Buick. It's very light (over a hundred pounds LIGHTER than a small Chevy or Mopar!) and it has a rear sump pan with the distributor up front at an angle for easy fit into the car and easy service. They aren't real common, but if you find one, it'll be cheap or free, and it can use any B-O-P pattern GM transmission.

Of course, I personally say ANY engine is cooler than a small block Chevy, but if you want to go that way, the 305 will serve you well and should prove very reliable to boot. I've owned several 305s (four of 'em!) and I know them to be very capable performers. As a bonus, they deliver decent fuel economy as well.

The other low-buck engine I'd recommend without hesitation would be the common-as-nails 307 Olds V8...found in every type of RWD Olds from 1977-86 or so. Dirt cheap and they will run FOREVER! Also a rear sump design with the distributor in back and uses B-O-P pattern GM trannys.

I dig your new ride...hope to see it motorin' around soon...even if that means runnin' a small block Chevy...keep at it, Dude!!!

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[Danny909]

im just looking at the overall cost right now, i am on a limited budget. but eventually i will swap to a 350 but i'll just wait for the 305 to dump on me first. i didn't want to run a small block just for the fact that everyone and their great great great great grandfather is running them. oh well damn the black eyed peas for wanting to be different. one good thing about the small block is i am out in east la bib and something breaks parts are easily available. unless i am in mopar town then i am really proper fucked then. but for a buck n a 1/2 for engine and tranny i cant complain.

[32viper]

This is the reason I hang out on this board...the youthful enthusiasm of hot rodding an old car. I don't care for the engine choice but it is a great engine to learn on. Good luck Danny.