So I cant really call this a build thread as I’m not that close to starting. However I’m trying to figure out which direction to go. Like the title says I have a 54 Jet Two door. It’s missing an engine and transmission but it’s in pretty good shape other than that. I’m torn as to a good engine choice, I don’t want a 350. I could go back to a Hudson engine but I don’t want a 4 cylinder. A 308 is an option but they are expensive and relatively hard to find around here. So what other engines should I consider. I am planning on a hot rod build and not a custom, I might even try to build a La Carerra Panamericana style car. But that’s a y’all order as I have not found one picture of the jets that ran it in 1954. Any ideas would be appreciated, as always budget is a consideration as I’ve got kiddos at the house.
They had 202 ci 6 cylinders in them. Much smaller physically that the 308. My pop has one that he raced in the mid to late 60's. It was a stock class racer. If I remember 18.00 range u/s. Everyone had to spot him! lol Flat head 6 with twin H. (2 carbs). Factory Aluminum head, Milled so far that the valves would just about touch the head. 5-8 years he raced it. He would come off the line flat to the floor. The tach would show 6000 rpm. I doubt it was really that high. Only thing he ever broke was spider gears.
People have put the 308 in them, it requires some firewall work. The Sloan Mcaully Jet that was in the Don Garlits museum had a wasp firewall installed so it was passed off as stock. I have a bunch of room to work with. Maybe even a big block. The only issue is that it has crossover steering that I have to contend with as well.
With cars that originally came six cylinder only, the steering box is often the big interference point when putting in a V8. If the engine compartment is wide enough and has room I would use a small V8 like a Ford 302 or Chev 350. Or maybe even a V6. Something that will not overpower the original steering and brakes. For street use you could probably get away with the original rear axle if you run an automatic. It's an unusual car and was considered a well made car in its day, the only reason they stopped making them was that Hudson merged with Nash and they didn't need 2 small cars (Rambler and Jet). They dropped all the Hudson cars and replaced them with modified Nashes.
How about a mid 80's Mustang turbo 4 cylinder?? Some one put up a build thread of a Oldsmobile ohc four in a 59 or 60 Rambler American. You could look around for a late 70's to early 90's Volvo 740 or 940 turbo 4. They were 2.3 litter 160 hp with four speed some had Laycock deNormanvile (think gear vendors) overdrive. Compct unit with good power run forever with basic maintenance. I had one with 245000 miles that ran like new, got mid 20's miles per gallon, didn't use oil, and pulled like a train.
Yes they have a bell crank type steering located in the middle of the car. Right about where a small block Chevy oil pan sump needs to be. At the time my pop was racing his, he and a friend wanted to put a small block in a 2 door he had. That stopped them. They were not fabricators. They thought it was too much work to do a straight axle.
I am presently working of a Jet. Finding parts for the 202 motor is not easy. It was only made for 4 yrs. If you are wanting to still look period correct. Think Mopar. My next choice would be the 230 flat head. It is the same length and similar features. It can go from mild to wild. That's my thoughts.
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