Technical Favorite Engine Conversions...

My 355 SBC in my Austin gasser makes 375 HP more than the original flathead 4 cyl. did. But then it was only 20 hp, so anything would be better!
And the 355 SBC I built for my '39 Chev gasser makes only about 350 HP more than the 216 with it's massive 78 HP!
My '63 Falcon I took out the 144 ci six, and replaced it with a 550 HP 464 CI BBC for a little more HP.
I still think as common as these swaps of SBC and BBC are, they're one of the best swaps still.

 

350 olds in my 41 ply.Hasn't missed a beat in over 30 yrs.

 

Olds 303 in my '40 Convertible

 

Not sure if its my favorite swap, but swapping out a non running 331 hemi for a running 331 hemi in my 51 Merc.

 

I did a "Burtz" Model-A motor for Mr. Morris last year and swapped it in with a '39 trans. and a Cline adapter. It cruises about 75 mph real easy. That was pretty cool!

 

My favorite swap is a SBC into almost any mid fifties or older car.

 

I do also have a bit of a fetish for w engines(348 and 409... honestly either makes me happy) into earlier cars. Had briefly considered a 348 in my 53

 

I put 460s in everything but my favorite conversion was installing a GM 6.2 diesel in my Jeep J10 pickup, did that in 96 and still driving it.

 

Here's an interesting conversion for a Bonneville Class.
Clarence Everett put the Flathead from his 17 year record holder Street Roadster Class
into a Camaro body because he said it was lots slipperier.

 

My buddy has a 409 in his 27 Model T.

 

Nailhheads in my roadster and like "Ivo's " T, here's mine

 

I like yours better than Ivo's!
Can't beat the Nail head.

Ben

 

It's been discussed from time to time — for instance:
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...bination-youve-ever-done-seen-been-in.150394/

 

My favorite swap was putting our 265 in my 59 Rambler American 2 door. The engine was from our 280 hydroplane and was bolted up to the Rambler’s 3 on the tree w/ electric overdrive. Ran into a single cherry bomb muffler it was the perfect sleeper for a 16 yo that still had a lot to learn.

 

My favorite swap was a wee bit OT but sbc/auto to bbc/muncie in a lightweight Nova was a big change. 3.08 gear to 4.10 gear was also a huge difference

 

I swapped the 3.08's for 4.11's in my 57 when I was a 16 year old kid, felt like I put a blower on that tired 283.

 

from a 4 cylinder motor
Hello,

When we towed the 1940 Willys Coupe home, I was now an experienced “towed car” driver. The large dock line rope for a big boat in the local harbor had an extra line and it fit nicely as a tow rope. We used it before years earlier in towing the Model A coupe home. That was an interesting situation. I had never been the "towed driver" and I did not have a license to drive. But, my brother drove his 51 Oldsmobile sedan and I was the tow line Model A “steering” person. This time, not a hitch... pun intended.

I learned that if I let the rope slack, the next acceleration of the Oldsmobile sedan would jerk the whole thing forward. So, my brother learned to stretch the rope until I was creeping forward. But, I had to step on the brake until it moved forward. We never got to an SBC motor exchange with Model A coupe.

This time, we got the 4 cylinder Willys motor running, drove it around the block and took it out to sit in the corner as a “running” 4 cylinder motor. This was the second time my brother allowed me to drive by myself, although I did not have my driver’s license as yet. (the first time was the running Model A back in 1957) My brother’s goal was to sell it when we needed the money as a running motor. It sat for one year and two months, before it got sold.

Jnaki

So, now, our prepped Willys Coupe body and frame was ready for the next motor exchange. It was a 283 SBC motor with 6 Strombergs that we had put together from a long block + a ton of necessary parts. As a full motor, it was easily set in place with the new motor mounts. Once installed, the rest of the running gear, including the LaSalle transmission and scatter shield was put in place.

Now, it could be rolled out and back into the prep area in our backyard garage location. We did not want to start it in the large garage where our hoist was put in place. We had to get the pulley/chain hoist out of the way, so our dad could still park his big Buick sedan in his normal place.

Note:
When we started the motor and backed out of our narrow driveway to the street in front of our old house, my brother was so anxious. But, he looked calm. He later told me that the feeling of the SBC motor firing up through the Hedman Headers open, was just plain old excitement!

He drove around the block and then started to go down the main drag out of our neighborhood. As he accelerated, the rumble of the motor and the feel of being pushed back into the bucket seat, was enough for me to want to drive it myself. But, I knew it was his baby and he was in control of the whole experiment. It was the feeling of having completed our first SBC motor build and now, the rewards. YRMV

After we got close to empty in the small Moon Gas tank, we stopped about three blocks from our house. Now, I was puzzled why. But, he told me to check the gas level. He wanted to go to the gas station or home was the question.

When I told him it was enough to get us home, he jumped out and told me to drive the SBC Willys Coupe home. Wow! I slowly started to accelerate and the motor was pure heaven. Powerful, but, I knew I had to be in control the whole time. It was a well constructed, but powerful coupe for a first build for both of us.

 

I have two or three versions of it. Gene.

 

I have a 426 Dodge and push button trans in my '40. I originally wanted to put a 430 Lincoln or FE in it. But everything I read at the time said it was painfull. It wasn't too bad to get the Dodge stuff in and it's been fun. So I guess it worked out ok.

 

Some years back I had a "house cleaning event", decided my 50 year collection needed a new address so took 95% of it to the recycler, filled up the bed of my pickup.
The cover was missing from that swap book (among others), but I wish I had kept it.

 

I have never been a fan of the extremely narrow appearance of the SBF, so as an enthusiast for early Falcons and Comets, I always enjoyed Wally Parks' 265-swapped '60 Comet.

 

I had a 39' Ford deluxe 2 dr. sedan in 1967 with a 389 Pontiac. Great engine and fit the car well.

 

Hello,

When we started going to Lion’s Dragstrip in 1957, it was the most fun I had ever been doing. Better than bicycling, skating and even making a swish shot from the freethrow line. Now, after seeing the tiny race cars whizzing by from 1955 from our junior high school to actually driving into the entrance, it was something I did with my brother that most kids from my group had no idea why.


But, something clicked when a flashy, red, race car fired up, rolled into the staging area and got ready to launch.

We were impressed as to being so close in the pits and starting line when the race car rolled into its place ready. It was fun watching it win, race after race against some of the top race cars in So Cal drag racing circles. We saw the progression of changing or adding to the build to go fast and faster.

Ivo total

Then the new twin showed up at the end of 1959.
twin injected Buick motors...
If one goes fast, two should go twice as fast… YRMV

Even for those under the bleacher seat folks, it was fast…




But, wait, that was not the favorite engine conversion. That would be too simple.

Jnaki


Not only were they prepping for the always packed So Cal contingent in the A/Gas Dragster Class, but after the record setting runs, the team of Ivo and Prudhomme started the whole pro touring attitude to dragstrips all over the country.

The first one that was the most famous, due to the fact that no one else was doing cross country road trips for drag racing sponsorships. Sure, others towed across the country for a big Westcoast event starting in 1959, but these two guys started the whole “pro touring” events and attractions.

“Road Kings? Ha! True to the club's title meanings...”

Ever since Don Prudhomme was part of Tommy Ivo’s crew and friend, my brother and I have always liked the progress of his career. It was one long, successful, competitive career. He was seen as an integral part of each of Tommy Ivo’s Buick FED race cars. He was even part of the first professional USA road tour of the major dragstrips with the Ivo Twin Buick FED.

Don Prudhomme Book excerpt:

“Then, as history has told us, he and Don Prudhomme went on a cross country road trip to start the whole touring thing for the big time, big name drag racers, first from So Cal, then from all over. They were getting paid to tour and show up at various drag strips in the USA.”

We all started somewhere, some just started in the right place at the right time…
San Fernando Valley, So Cal. + Lion's Dragstrip...

By early 1960, Don Prudhomme had his first Buick powered single engine car.



After they got back from their USA tour, the single buick FED got into the changes to go faster in all sorts of combinations.

Don Prudhomme had his time in the newly painted white body and Stromberg carbs at first. Then. His progression was to add a Hemi motor for more power. Then a 671 version pushed it to its structural limits.

As drag racing history moves forward, as he became one of the most prolific race car drivers and personalities in all of drag racing… to this day. His list of race cars was something to write home about… any time. The builds and race cars kept providing us with new versions as technology moved forward…YRMV

 

Once a long time ago I helped a friend take a tired flathead out of his 50 ford and replace it with a Y block from a wrecked 55 T bird following an article in one of the little pages rod magazines of the era. Woke tht car up and we prided ouselves we could do a one wheel peel from one telephone post to another. Turned out to be the fastest rod in our little town for quite awhile.

 

I had a Triumph Spitfire a few years ago that I stuck a 327 sbc and a th350 with a Ford 9” rear…

 

From the early 60's in Oregon: 1955 MGTF with a Hilborn injected Studebaker 289.

 

I'm partial to 351C and BBF swaps but they're OT by a couple years, I guess.

 

That's the kind of swap that gets me going. I want to do a poor man's Cobra with a 289 and manual trans in a Sunbeam Alpine or similar 60s Brit car.

 

GMC In A 39 Ford...