Hot Rods Early 331 hemi swap

I have read a bunch of threads on here about the early hemis and other swaps on the same matter, but I can't find info on one thing.

I have a 1950 dodge wayfarer business coupe. Going to drop in an early 331 hemi. The only problem is the block is an extended bellhousing.

Has anyone ever done a swap with the extended bellhousing? Any problems with the swap because of it?

I do know the early heads do not have as great of flow as the later model 331 but it is the only local one I can find.

Any thoughts would be great!

 

Haven't, but I suspect the difference would be in the tranny tunnel. Had a '48 Plym with a short tail 331/727 and a '47 Dodge with a 318/727 that fit the tunnel. A guy put a 392 in a '48 Plym with the OEM front end and had to recess the firewall a bit, my Plym used a Chevelle/Cutlass clip, Dodge was OEM front.

 

What will you be using for a transmission?

 

Hot heads makes an adapter for an Chevy manual...I hate to put a gm part on the mopar! ...but i have a few gm 4 speeds and want to maintain the manual trans

 

I may be just over thinking this too, with the extended bellhousing on the early 331's does this mean the clutch goes in the casting and trans bolts directly to it as well, with no actual "bellhousing" that I have pictured in my head?

If so, I don't think there will be any issues

If there is an actual bellhousing that bolts up to it, I'm concerned about it placing the trans to far back fir the floor shifter

 

I bought an adapter for mime that is pretty flat and takes a LaSalle transmission.

 

I'm out of monroe wi. We are close!
Is the extension the actual bellhousing?

 

There's some info in this thread, hopefully the links that El Polacko posted are still alive.

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/331-hemi-extended-block-modification.249741/

 

Yes the trans bolts to the outside.

 

Yes they made adapters to many transmissions in the day. And they were pretty flat. I used a Packard three speed trans at the time. Later I went to a Chevy four speed. You have to cut a slot out of the cast on bell to allow a throwout fork, The adapter I got needed a extension for the pilot bushing and I had to drill the end of the crank 13/16 to accept the adapter for that, Strangely, I still have two of the pilot bushings and adapters.

 

hopefully you have the lower bell part, you'll need it. Adaptor will be flat.

 

Wow! That was a great thread, thank you! I think I got all my answers. Even seen that wilcap makes an adapter for a mopar manual trans

 

How bad was it to cut the cast for the throw out?

 

It was easy. I bought my first adapter new so it came with instructions. But cast cuts with a hack saw easy.

 

Do you remember where you got the adapter from?
The ones in finding want to run a hydraulic clutch, but I'm set on manual linkage

 

I am talking 53 years ago. Don't think I can help with vendor.

 

Ha!
That's really interesting to be able to chat with someone that has done this kind of stuff first hand back when it was truly hot roding. Thank you for that!

When you said you had a few extra, was that something you would consider parting with?

 

Update
I did locate a 331 short block from 54. But I still plan on getting the 331 long block thats local. It would be nice to have a back up.

When I get around to cutting the bell casting for the clutch fork I will post some pics on here for reference for the next guy.

Thanks everyone for all the info!

 

Heck start a collection.

 

Gary, QEC, 73RR here on the Board, is supposed to be close to making an adaptor for the long tails using a C-4 & a flat bell if you want an A/T.

 

I have the lower bell housing and 331 with no bell 541-218-0249