Motor swap questions - center sump

[so-cheap]

Well as some of you may know i purchased a 54 Dodge Coronet.
My first thought is to replace the wornout flat 6 with a V8.

The next question is with what.

First Choice: Chevy 350
Second http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gifodge 318 - 340

Ignorant as I am about motor swaps, I was thinking this would be pretyt easy. HAHA right.

The inline 6 mounts to the frame only at the front cross member and (I believe) by the trans. Unlike a typical Chevy that would have side motor mounts. So this poses a problem when trying to mount a 350 chev. I would need to build some serious mounts that would be about 10" long to reach the motor.

Second the sump on the 6 is in the center. The cross member is on front and in the rear is steering linkage.

I was told last night about maybe modifying a chevy pan to miss the linkage. However when I lower the car the problem may become worse than expected (lower the car first right?)

This guy also said I could run a chevy engine (with a center sump?) and a 4 speed trans and the front and rear motor mounts would be okay, as opposed to running a 350/350 turbo automatic, where I would HAVE to make side motormounts or risk ripping the motor out from engine torque.

Anyway. Anyone got any ideas on this?

[38Chevy454]

First, I am not sure a center sump SBC pan was ever factory, you will have to make it yourself. I would get one of those universal crossmembers that have the side mounts already in place, just cut to width and weld in to your frame. Or use the front mounts like the 55-56 Chevy's used. You should run a center support at the bellhousing woth that, look at drag race or circle track suppliers for these. Or fab your own, it's easy flat stock with holes cut to match the bellhousing bolts.

However, I might suggest to run a Mopar big block, I think they have center sumps. That would be cool with the old Dodge. Same thing for mounting that, use a weld-in crossmember. Run a 727 auto with it.

[hillbilly]

early chevies ran front mounts too....look at those lil holes on the front of the block, chevy put them there back when they came out with their v-8, and still put them there up until a few years ago... Nowadays, gold chainers swear they were put there by psychics from GM that forsaw power steering pumps and billet crap....

if ya look real hard, you should be able to find some early chevy stuff, the guys that put billet engines in their tri-5 chevies probably have everything you need in their scrap pile, and the ones who swear by subframing will probably have it as a package deal where you can roll it into the back of your truck or on your trailer....

[so-cheap]

Well a big block would be lots of fun. But...i would rathe go quick then fast. If that makes any sense. We tend to do alot of dragging off the lights here in PHX. (lots of lights) I think with a BB I would just spin tire alot. HeHe. I guess that is fun too.

Seriously though I think I really want to run a Chev. Its cheap and parts-o-plenty. I always end up with oddball cars cause I'm a cheapo and then I suffer cause I can never get parts for them.

[hillbilly]

rather go quick than fast makes perfect sense to me http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

i just went back and read my post....sheesh....sounded like I was being a smartass, thats not what I intended....

seriously, if you want to run a SBC, it might be worth lookin into the old engine mounts and tranny mounts from the early 283 stuff, cux they will fit on later blocks, and should be easy to fab some kind of adaptation to make it fit in your mopar....

I like the old mopars...had a 52 plymouth concord that looked like a fleetline with squared off fenders, the old flat 6 and original pos ground 6 volt worked fine, pulled it out of a junkyard and got it goin, had to search for the last owner, turned out he was in an old folks home and too senile to remember owning it...(sold it in the late 60s)...he signed the replacement title form for me though, he died before I could take the car to show it to him http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

anyway, best of luck with your swap, cant wait to see pics of it...

[Deyomatic]

Phil, I PM'd you.

If you don't go too wild on the SBC, you'll do just fine with the front mounts. You may also want to make bellhousing mounts if you go that route.

[metalshapes]

I use '57 front and bellhouse mounts in my Roadster ( Blown '57 SBC )
I stand on it every chance I get and they hold up...
You have nice pics of the car on your site ( 2002 GG ).
Thanks.

[Flat Ernie]

Didn't early Chevy II (Nova) have a center sump pan? I know they had an oddball pan, but can't remember what was odd about it....

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

[Zodoff]

yea,I think a nova pan is worth a look.
And there used to be some hurst(I think) adapter plates for sbc,who would put the motormounts in the front,out on the frame. (Might not be so easy to find,but I think they would be easy to make).

[Curly]

Ernie...front sump and notched for the tie rod to clear.