I have not done a lot the past few days. I have an appointment with the state patrol to do an inspection on it so I can start the title process. I’ll need to rig lights, fenders, bumpers on it for that…yes it’s as dumb as it sounds In other news, a friend of mine called me a week or so back and offered me a rebuilt 265 out of his 56 Vette. Said he replaced it with a 327 and never looked back. Said if I can use the engine, it’s mine. He did mention it made a weird noise he could never figure out, but he drove it for 3 years with no issues…so I went and picked it up today. It may go into the 32, at least for now?
This is a really cool project. FWIW, the fan in my '41 truck is 7/8"away from the radiator and it cools just fine and I don't have a shroud. It's a 59AB with a stock fan assembly.
All I know is it came out of a restored 56 Vette. Being's it's going into a Ford, it probably makes no difference
Getting it ready for its inspection, I bolted on the old chrome Hurst front mount I got off eBay that showed up on the brown truck yesterday, welded the engine mounts in, then pulled the 283 out. Bolted a crusty Flathead in it so it is more stockish. This engine came with the car and so I figured I should use it as I have pics of the car when I got it (in case the WA State patrol officer wants to see them). The titling process in WA is a pain…but I try to play by the rules. Like the little sign at my local Hells Angles club house says “honestly matters”. the Flathead bolted right in where the chev mounts were.
It doesnt really matter, but the casting number is for a 55. So the question then is does it have a provision for a oil filter? 55 265's didnt have one so you would need a beehive or some external/remote filter, where 56 engines had the filter cannister that all other small blocks would have up to 67 before going to spin on filters. If you find the noise and its related to the cam, any new cam needs the oiling groove on the back lobe otherwise it wont push oil to the upper end of the engine.
Yes, I realize it' a 55 engine. It has no oil filter or starter provision. It still came out of a 56 Vette, obviously not the original engine to the car. I do know about the early cams, if I run this engine, I may jam a little lumpier cam in anyways. My friend described the sound as like a noisy fuel pump. He had the pan off (while in the car) and could never figure out what it was.
It’s only a vin inspection because I don’t have a title. All they will do is verify the vin umber and put a WA state vin tag on it. Then I register it and 3 years later I get a title. It’s not a safety inspection HOWEVER…WA state requires the vehicle to be fairly complete and equipped for street legal- lights, bumpers, horn, etc. Really dumb. Maybe it’s overkill for such an old car? But it takes weeks to get an inspection scheduled, so I don’t want to do it again.
The Jalopy Journal
