I know I have been preaching the Y block message here for some time, and I am not giving up on it. However, my 312 is in the machine shop, it needs some expensive parts, and Hot Rod Power Tour is coming up in 5 months. My 351C 4V is brand new, ready to go. All I need to run it is to put it in. So, out comes the 292, and for the time being at least, in goes the 351C and 5 speed. Hopefully, when I can get all my parts together, pistons, rods, etc, plus all the supercharger brackets, I can get my 312 back in. Again, there is a however. I plan on racing this thing, and if it runs a good number, I may be finding another `57 to put my 312 in, possibly a Thunderbird. I just am running out of time, and do not want to come up on May 30 when I will be preparing to leave for Dallas for the start of the Power Tour, and not have driven the Y block more than a block or two. Hopefully, when I get this 351C fired, I can start breaking it in right away, at least around here. Of course, once you start going fast, it's hard to put a slower motor in, but for now, I really want to concentrate on the bodywork and paint, and get this thing at least 20 feet presentable for the Tour..
So, here we go...
As soon as it is running, I will post some video here. Stay tuned.
James all those option can really get a guy tightened up...relax..the power tour will be there tomorrow! The 351 is my favorite...alone with a FMX... :003:
Quote from: JPotter57 on 2013-01-27 19:12
I know I have been preaching the Y block message here for some time, and I am not giving up on it.
James, I liked the Y-Block Engine, still do, just not enough to put one of them in one of my cars. LOL Jim
Quote from: JimNolan on 2013-01-27 20:14
James, I liked the Y-Block Engine, still do, just not enough to put one of them in one of my cars. LOL Jim
James you do seam like a practicle sort of guy....go with the 351 until your "passion" can be realized!
LOL, yeah..312 stuff is $$$, man. For all the little stuff I am looking for to finish the 312, I could finish the body and paint twice on my car. I just want to get it looking halfway decent for Power Tour, then maybe later on this year or early next year, finish my 312 and install it. Although, like I said, I might look for a baby Bird to put my 312 in instead. All depends on how it goes with the 351. It should be fairly brutal, lots of cam, compression and carb..I'm hoping for around 500 or so HP, but would be happy with 450.
The main reason I wanted to put one in my car, is the style I was building my car, the 60's Jr Stocker look, or at least early Modified Production. I have a lot of money tied up in the 312, but a lot more tied up in this 351C that I was going to use before I got all spun up in the Y-block scene. Seriously, nobody down here runs the Y except for Glen, so there is no Y block shootout down here. If there was, I would be more dedicated to getting it together and in the car. I love the Y block, but I am strapped for cash trying to get the body and paint done on my car before it starts getting hot down here again. By the time I am done with that, Power Tour time will be here, and I wont have my 312 done. Hence the reason for putting the 351C back in.
Oh by the way, I doubt anyone here would have a problem with the 351.... :003:
Plus, if it goes fast like I think it will, I may finally get around to tubbing the car, lol..If I do that, I will step up to a big inch motor, still streetable of course... :laughing7:
Buddy you are falling into the "go fast" pit head over heals!!
I started the whole y block thing to be able to race with the Y block guys, since no one was showing up at our shootout. But no one down here runs them, and I would be the slowest car running down here. It makes sense to use the 351, but I am torn, because a 312 sounds so good, just so friggin expensive to make run like a late model..
Besides, I always did like the way a tubbed Custom looks...take a look at the club event logo, lol
I guess I'm tired of the "go fast" thing, did SCCA in the early 70s, (was good too, 70 Boss 302), did the drag race thing before that, figured out that breaking stuff cost too much, so having said all of that, I like my 08 Shelby GT500 that puts 502 RWHP down with the A/C and Radio blasting 50s and 60s music, don't need to "tune" anything and nothing has broken despite being road hard and wiprd down before being put away...now having said all of that...my 36 Chevy with a 351C/FMX has been the best runner I have ever built, needs rebuilt but still fires up when asked.
James put the 351 in, go on the Power Tour and have fun. "Bucket list" items need to be started before you can't do them!
"My 351C 4V is brand new, ready to go."
At least the 351C is a bolt in with no major modifications. When the 312 Y block is ready, It's no big deal to take one out and put another one in. It's been a while since I installed a 351C. Are the radiator outlets the same for a Y block?
It might be a good idea to make up two different sets of header pipes that will hook up to the same exhaust system. That way you can change engines back and forth depending on where you were going.
I do realize that all these things cost big dollars though.
Quote from: JPotter57 on 2013-01-27 20:29...take a look at the club event logo, lol
Emm, where is it?
My 312 is in good shape, just I wanted to go ahead and bore .030 so it would last forever, pretty much. It would go std. if I were so inclined. Machinist said it looked great. Since I am doing new pistons, I figured why not new rods too. Mummert has both for about $850 or so. Thats the thing:When trying to get all the other stuff done, it's hard to do the engine stuff too, so I will have to save a little longer for the engine stuff, since I already have a new engine. As far as the exhaust systems, that's no biggie either. I kept the 3 inch stuff with flowmasters off my old `57 when I sold it, so, it's just a bolt on to my new Cleveland. I can remove it and hang it in the rafters when I swap it later, and just run new smaller stuff to the Y headers. It's only money, just a matter of when it is spent.
Quote from: JPotter57 on 2013-01-27 20:29...take a look at the club event logo, lol
Quote from: Tom S
Emm, where is it?
You're not gonna tell me where that 'club event logo' is?
It's on the old newsletters at the main site...go to the download section, pick any newsletter, there should be one in it...I'll try to post one later today when I get home.
Quote from: JPotter57 on 2013-01-28 07:45It's on the old newsletters at the main site...
Ha! Thanks, I looked there but didn't open one of them this time.
Hate to see you put in anything but a Y, But want to see you drive it more!
James, I know first hand about the expense of building a competitive y block, and while I love them, I fully understand that a sbf or even a Cleveland can be built with off the shelf parts that will out perform a y block. I don't know how long the shootout will be held (NMRA) not having an event in Columbus this year and the expense of making a 1400 mile round trip betting the weather will be good. I wish we could get more y block racers down here in the south, but I don't see it happening until this economy turns around. I still think that the show and race at Meridian is the best bet for getting together down here. Let me know if there is anything that I can do to get you on the road.
James, Get that 351 running and come to Columbus for the 57 shootout. Tom
Thats the plan. I dont plan to get rid of anything. It is just taking me longer to find and pay for stuff. It will ultimately have my f code 312 in it.
James:
I don't know what all you have in your F code pile so far, but a guy who builds Studebaker blowers has contacted me, he has a VR57 blower and a bonnet, was wondering about pricing, so the stuff may be for sale. Let me know if you need his contact info.
John
I have the blower, need the bracket, which Frank may have now. Also need the bonnet.Im following one on ebay, but will likely get outbid on it. I have to go to New Orleans while it ends, and my esnipe may not be enough.
"It will ultimately have my f code 312 in it."
Just my opinion, but that is music to my ears.
At least your other option is a Ford engine.
There's a real nice looking 57 Thunderbird around here that has a ch%*y engine in it. I've seen it several times at the Cape Cod cruises. It turns my stomach.
Ouch..that's just not right. I wouldn't want to see a Ford engine in an old corvette either. Chevy or mopar in any post war ford just doesn't cut the mustard. (Wonder where that phrase came from..who the heck cuts mustard?)
Dont get me wrong Glen, I wouldn't start from scratch to build a Cleveland. If it wasnt already built and ready to drop in I wouldn't do it. This is a fresh never fired .030 Cleveland, new solid cam, the works. Drop in turn key and run. If my 312 was even bored yet, I would go ahead and build it, although I still need to buy pistons and rods, plus a lot of other stuf that my 351 already has. Once the car is driving, I can spend the money on the 312 and get it built properly, and not cut any corners. That is the end picture I am looking at.
James, let me know if you need someone to watch the Evilbay posting for you?
James, If you think the expense for building a supercharged y-block is too much,try building a dual quad supercharged Lincoln y-block, then you will know my pain.L.O.L. Tom
I know, I know...My main holdup on just spending into oblivion is that all 8 of my kids are still at home, and three of them are teens..their toys cost much more. Plus, my two oldest are having birthdays this coming week, and another turns 4 day after tomorrow...ouch. Oh yeah, 18th anniversary is next weekend, followed very closely by valentines day...Holy smokes, February is a busy month at the Potter household, lol....
This is another "big picture" look: when my 312 is built and back in the `57, the plan is to rebuild the 351C with high compression, and put it into an altered roadster chassis. I've always wanted one of those, and I plan to get one and use it as an Auto Mechanics teaching tool for my kids, since we homeschool. I have to get some curriculum and start going over basic stuff so my kids can get a grade in it, then, get the fun stuff and start doing classtime at the track. Will I be the coolest teacher or what?