I did on my '27 Hiboy...Almost. I had my 354 Chrysler with '37 LaSalle box set in just right...then removed the engine for rebuild. My nice extra 350 Chevy with 350 Turboglide was sitting so pretty with 3-jugger and Cal Custom covers...It would fit nicely, and I could drive the roadster. A sudden pang of sanity struck, and the idea was abandoned. Now, if it went the OTHER way.... There was a guy hereabouts with a nice little late-'30s Plymouth Coupe...Looked in the engine bay and saw a SBC! If anything ever looked out of place... You get my drift...
...yeah, not really. The 331 is in place and has all of the associated bits and pieces where they need to be. Even if the 331 needs a rebuild it will still be cheaper in the long run to keep it in order to avoid all of the modifications that any swap will entail, and there will be plenty. These cars just may be a bit more involved than swapping a Nailhead into your '54 shiverlay. .
Since people put those things in everything I'm sure someone will post sooner or later. Be just another boring SBC power car...
I swapped in a SBC/TH350 in my 61 olds instead of the 394/slim jim. No regrets! I use the money I saved for gas, and I'm cruising and having fun. Also SBC parts are a dime a dozen and available everywhere.
I´m just in the process of talking a buddy out of swapping a 350/350 in his 56 DeSoto Sportsman Coupe. His 330 Hemi needs a rebuild and he doesn´t realize he´ll spend more and lose more money than he would when he´d just rebuild the 330 Hemi... The stock rearend doesn´t have an emergency brake, that is attached to the trans in stock configuration. So he´ll have to swap rearends. Ok, different wheels, different bolt circle, different driveshaft, rebuilding a 350 and a TH 350 or 700,fabbing mounts and so on,it´ll cost a bunch, but the worst of all, he is ruining a perfectly good car that has survived unmolested for the last 60 years.... I suggestetd him to sell the desoto and get a tri five Chevy...they are great cars and come with a sbc from the factory...I just got a 55 and love the fact it´s a 235 I6
have seen a SBC in most everything, whether it made any sense or not. if you do it to that beautiful Chrysler New Yorker then put a special hood lock on it that no one else can find. hope that you plan to keep it forever, because selling will be tough. of course you could always run with Plymouth/Dodge power.
I'm a Chrysler fan but I can see doing this if the original engine is long gone. There are a few of those cars that have had the engine taken out and are for sale cheap. The Chev engine and trans should fit easily since they are quite a bit smaller and lighter than the original. The Chrysler Hemi 331 is actually closer in size to a Chev big block. Don't know anyone who has done this (for obvious reasons) but should not be much of a challenge for a good mechanic and fabricator. You can take a center tap off a 12v battery to run the 6 volt electrics. Or get 2 6v Optimas and wire them in series for the engine, and take your six volts from the first battery. Originally it was 6v+ ground and you are going to 12v- ground but the only thing that is polarity sensetive is the radio, and you can change the vibrator to fix that.
Thanks for the feedback, positive and otherwise..... I love my hemi, don't get me wrong, but with an estimate of nearly $4,000.00 for a hemi rebuild, I opted for a completely rebuilt 350 and trans for $1,500.00 I drive my car and we go to shows all over the place. Ever try to find a hemi water pump while stuck on the side of the road ? The only part store within 50 miles had one for a SBC though!
The I6 in my 54 Windsor was long gone when i got it. 350 SBC is cheap and plentiful. Just finished dropping it in and it was ridiculously easy. If you have some SBC motor mounts and a welder its no sweat. Be happy to share any pics and tips i learned along the way if youd like. Not much to it. Gobs of room. Should start finishing it up this weekend get it ready to fire off.
yup! Being a sheep & going SBC like everyone else is a cheap way to go. But cheap 318/360s can be had from old Vans & Pick Ups....
I say put it in there all nice and pretty and open the hood at every show to irritate the cuffs and pompadour crowd
Certainly dont consider myself a sheep. Just a hot rodder. Doin what you can with what ya got right? Haha if i had it my way id gladly trade my 350 and help install it in exchange for that hemi for my 54 Im all for keeping rods traditional and cool, but on a 54 windsor 4 door im building just to beat the hell out of while i work on other stuff, im going cheap so i can put more money in my flatheads!
NY Delux, what ever you do just don't slap all that cheap Chinese chromed tin on it that far too many small block Chevys wear. It's that cheap tin that really gives the belly button look to an engine bay. -Dave
^^^^^Really!!! Tongue-in-cheek, I know... My bud Teddy DeMello and I bracketed some Chrysler Firepower valve covers on his black '33 Tudor, ('53 Merc flatty) Ran the plug wires thru the holes to the plugs, and cruised thru John's drive in... Guys standing right alongside all said, "Wow...Chrysler engine!" and... "Big Hemi! Listen how smooth it runs...but these things go!" We laughed hard... My 354 Chrysler has Peter's aluminum front cover for Chevy water pump. 2 guys looked at it, said "How come you made the BBC look like a Hemi?"
49- your probably right. Really confuse them with some Olds covers. What I'm trying to say is show some creativity and pride, so you will want to open the hood. And, not just to piss old farts off. -Dave
a moving car with a reliable powerplant is so booooring. I know every time I drive one of my stupid cars that is SBC powered I wind up wanting to just kill myself.
Hey Welderup! Just joined the forum today because of this post actually. So everyone please forgive any noob mistakes I make posting. I have a 54 Windsor I'm in the process of chopping the top on and making a lead sled of sorts out of. I have an lt1 I'm looking to swap in and I would sure appreciate any advice/tips/pics - anything really. I was thinking I would need to fab a cradle but sounds like you were able to just use some sbc motor mounts? Hope you get the message and if anybody else out there has any advice (other than I'm a douche for putting a Chevy in a chrysler) I'm all ears. Thanks!
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