Hello My 15 year old son purchased a ‘58 Delray and I’m hoping I can get some what works and what doesn’t from this site. He purchased a 350 to swap out the 235 but wants to keep the three speed manual. We have some body work to do including pulling out the cheesy sheet metal floor pans someone put in. He’s really enjoying the process.
Good way to go. And...Welcome to th HAMB. Let us know what part of the country you guys are in! Many HAMBers are anxious to fraternize, advise, and help. Looks like a sensible son there, securing some 'Stop-a-bility' for that little horse when it's transplanted. Pretty little Delray!
It's cool that your 15 year old son has an interest in old cars...encourage and help him all you can!
I've driven a couple 3 on the tree cars lately...I love it. Not for going fast, but for the remembery of when I first drove, several vehicles I drove had it. What specific problems are there with keeping it? Chevy built lots of 58 Chevys with the 283 engine and 3 on the tree, so it should be pretty easy to do, if you can find the necessary stock parts. I have a 59 chevy parts book, but getting a 1958 Chevy car assembly manual could be a big help for you.
Need more pics of that DelRay! Great to see a young guy showing interest in the "older" stuff. (sorry...CARS!) Work to keep him encouraged but don't "beat'm to death" with ....'do this-do that'! And certainly don't just grab it up and 'do it yourself'... Learn from others mistakes........ 6sally6
2nd what Squirrel said, the 58 assembly manual was immensely helpful when I put my mom's 58 impala together.
When I was a teenager my aunt had a '58 Del Ray with a 283/3 on the tree I loved that car,great to see a young guy behind the wheel of a classic car. HRP
Neat car, great project. My only advice at this time, is if the 235 runs, do the floors before the engine swap, and don't try to do both at once. One individual project at a time, get one thing totally finished before moving on to the second. Nothing ruins a project like tearing it all apart at once, too much down time.
Can't be said too many times. We need to see more of this car and your location to see if anyone is near you if you need assistance. Not that it looks like he needs it.
Love driving with 3 on the tree... '52-'59 Fords, especially. Linkage easily 're-bushable', when tight it shifted like a dream. Just felt 'right'. My F100 is getting some things changed, I have a '54 mast jacket with shifter and all, but spoiled with the 350 T.H.! Clutch pedal goes right onto the '55 passenger Ford pedal bracket, and I have a new full-synchro 3 speed trans! (one with overdrive would make me do it..) Also have a Chevy bellhousing out of a Jeep. Oh, Temptation! Thinking of a nice bench seat, too! Buck them fuckets!
Basic disk brake kit for the front with power brake booster and a 350 with a 4 speed is how I put this one together for a friend.
Thats exactly right! one of the guys in our club had the idea to put on some hs driven seminars this year on metal work, maintenance etc since we have no auto program at our locak high school. if we want youngsters getting into this and doing it the "right way" we have to start grabbin em by the ears and shoving their nose in it. we are going to do some car giveaways to high school kids too https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/47-coupe-build.1133545/
I remember building a 58 Delray with my buddy back in the late 60's . Found a 348 out of a 59 wagon. Rebuilt it with a Isky cam and solids, tripower . Some head work, headers and a 4 speed. A 4.11 gear . It beat a bunch of 383 Road Runners and GTO's and the rest of the muscle cars that local guys bought. Couldn't outrun the 396-375 cars and the 428 Cobra Jets, but sure embarrassed a bunch of new cars.
Yeah, he bought a book last summer at a swap meet, along with some metal. Only concern I have is connecting the bell crank to the block. I’ll have to look but I may be able to use the stock bracket from the 235.
First custom I ever saw here in Nebraska was in 1958 when a local car dealer bought his kid a new 58 Del Ray coupe and the kid lowered it, nosed and decked it with frenched antennas in the rear fender, tube grille and I'm sure fake Appleton's and chrome reverse wheels with skinny whites, painted a bright red with a red and white tuck and roll interior. I was 13 and thought it was the greatest car in the world.
Good luck on your sons project. Like said before, it's great to see a young one getting his hands dirty on his old car. You have come to the right place for help and pointed in the right direction. Keep us posted on your progress.