Hey all, thanks for having me on your site. I am currently building a 57 Wagon gasser. A lot of the work was done buy the guy I purchased the car from and I'm finishing with the engine, trans, interior among other things. I hope to finished by the Meltdown drags this July 2016.
Oh and much to the displeasure of the Ford and Chevy purest's I am installing a 406ci SBC and a race ready turbo 350.
(http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL1605/8561663/24201298/410482076.jpg)
(http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL1605/8561663/24201298/410836281.jpg)
(http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL1605/8561663/24201298/410850551.jpg)
(http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL1605/8561663/24201298/411260300.jpg)
(http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL1605/8561663/24201298/412050698.jpg)
Welcome from Ontario.
And welcome from Texas too. Body looks great on that. I think only a willys makes a better looking gasser. Great choice.
Welcome!
Welcome from the Great Northwest . . .
Thanks all, Ill keep you informed on the build. The engine is waiting at the dyco as I speak.Hoping for good numbers!
Its a shame that chevy never made a body worth putting there motors in.
A lot of the parts on my 406 came from this car that I still have!
(http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL1605/8561663/24201298/406897622.jpg)
(http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL1605/8561663/24201298/407195492.jpg)
Welcome!
I pulled a Chevy 350/350 combo out of this one and installed a mild 302 to get the steering/suspension geometry corrected, front sump oil pan, and to get a Ford back in a Ford. It has a couple extra doors...no burnouts nor wheelstands from this grocery-getter...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vj-5odSvX7E
Enjoy!
Rob
With all the things you have to change to put a sbc in a 57 Ford I'm wondering
why? 1953 and older Fords used a rear sump pan so a GM V-8 is easy, 57's will need
most everything changed to accommodate a sbc transplant. (oil pan, steering linkage,
radiator outlets,exhaust, mounts, ect.)
While most any front sump Ford V-8 will bolt right in.
Should be a cool ride whatever you put in it.
Goodluck,
Ron.
chevy in a ford.........not for me.
Its pretty much a given to open the hood of a thirty's or forty's ford and see a chevy sitting there, but in a 57 ?
Welcome aboard!!! Having messed with both Chevy and Ford V8's I have to say a Chevy will cost less to rebuild than a Ford, BUT having a distributor with easy-to-access points is worth the extra money in my book. Trying to set the points on my old 60 Impala using a dentists mirror, a torch and a bucket load of patience wasn't fun.......
Quote from: pepfalcon on 2016-01-15 12:45
chevy in a ford.........not for me.
X2 for me too Mr. Potter!
Well, Johnny actually made it a few days before it started, lol. That amazed me.
Johnny: as I said earlier, welcome to the forum. We have guys here into Customs, restorations, restomods, racing, into just about everything. Most everybody has their preferences of course, but almost all go along with the idea of "it's your car, do what you want". Except.....
Not saying your not welcome here by any means, just saying you're not going to find a whole lot of support for a Chevy in a Ford here. It's just like me not finding a whole lot of support for a dohc modular in my car on the Hamb, but I still spend lots of time there.!
Rich.
Nice looking car. But I have to agree with everyone else. What made you chose that setup?
Bowtie in disguise.
When the car was originally built as a gasser it had a blown 750 HP BBC set up in the car with a Jerico trans. I dont have a ton of cash but I did already have most of the parts to put together a killer engine and that just happened to be a 400 SBC. Im a car guy meaning I dig just about any car and for that matter any combo of car and drive train, if it looks good and drive just as good if not better im into it!
I have been given grief about this engine/brand combo on other sites and FB groups and the best way for me to handle this sitch is to say thanks for the op to show off my car but I think Ill stick to the gasser sites and groups that look at my car as something very cool no matter what it is and what powers it.
Thanks for having me 57 Ford International even if it was just for a short while. Maybe we will meet at the Nostalgia events this summer.
Thanks for havin me, Later and have a nice day!
Johnnyboy
Oh well, I guess Ford blood runs thick around here.
Johnny. That is your prerogative to stay or leave. Like I said, it's a nice car. I understand the money woes. Everyone here is more than willing to help you out with the car I am sure. Just don't ask for engine technical support
Quote from: Johnnyboy on 2016-01-16 17:39
I have been given grief about this engine/brand combo on other sites and FB groups and the best way for me to handle this sitch is to say thanks for the op to show off my car but I think Ill stick to the gasser sites and groups that look at my car as something very cool no matter what it is and what powers it.
Johnnyboy
Hey no one here hit you with a "smite"! You are welcome and all we (and you) can hope for is to convince you to come back from the dark side.......don't run, we like the 57s, just no need to run around in the other side....
Agreed.....There's still alot of '57 Ford stuff you're going to need info on. Hang around! Besides, as Bill said, No one hit you with a smite, so you've got to get 8 to just catch me! The guys were just letting you know you'd have alot less anguish here if you didn't get too heavy into the Chevy part.
I really don't care if a chevy motor is cheaper to build or parts are more plentiful , I've always believed a Ford in a Ford.
Quote from: 57chero on 2016-01-17 00:19
I really don't care if a chevy motor is cheaper to build or parts are more plentiful , I've always believed a Ford in a Ford.
i'm with you, 57chero. i have always tried to keep pure ford parts in my builds. just because a brand x part fits, you can always find a ford part from some other year or model that will work, and still have fomoco stamped on it. just my two cents.
Back in the day, when Gasser's were popular, way before the era of Funny Cars, engine conversions were very common. The transplanted engines were seldom the same make as the vehicle. Think back to how many '40 Willy's coupes had Cadillac's, Olds, Chrysler's put into them for the A/G and AA/GS classes. I was looking at one on the Hamb the other night that raced out of Georgia, that had a Ford SOHC 427 in it. I have seen maybe five early Anglia's in the past fifty years, that still had their original engines installed.
Many factory Hot Rods also had transplanted engines. The Allard's, De Tomasso (Pantera's), AC's (Cobra's). Heck, Putting a SBF in a Cobra was not Carrol's first choice for a engine! After the hood is closed, and the ignition is turned on, who cares if it has a Mod Motor, a transplanted 500 inch BBF, a Y Block, or any other design. I think we all like the idea of a Ford in a Ford, because it's NOT "the easy, or the cheapest way" to go.
I'd be more interested in hearing how quick it runs, and what kind of 60 foot times he gets out of his package. The car in question, has been advertised for sale for several years with a BBC in it. It's a race car, that just happens to look like a '57 Ford. It was advertised as a Del Rio, wonder what happened to all of the original stainless trim parts?
Whilst I am a Ford guy through and through, I am a little disappointed in the reception that Johnyboy got. It seems to be perfectly acceptable to recommend to others on here to fit Chevy wiper motors to replace vacuum motors, and other brand components are ok to fit for various reasons but when someone fits a Chevy motor it becomes unacceptable (to some). I didn't know that the forum had changed to "57 Fords International So Long As It Doesn't Have A Chevy In It".
Having said that, no-one flamed Johnyboy too much, only stated their preference, so I think he threw his toys out without a lot of provocation.
Agreed there also, but for me it has become a problem because of the quantity of hot rods/street rods/whatevers that have the (350 usually) Chevy engines. Hell yeah, they're obviously popular for many reasons, it just has become so common place it seems like there's no effort to be different...just go with the flow. That's not why we drive classics of any make imho. I would love to have many GM cars, but I wouldn't put a Chrysler or Ford in them either. Unfortunatly Johnny hit the nerve of almost all of us here, and not that subtly right from the start. I'll also say, for some strange reason even I don't understand, I have no issues with a pre-50's Ford having different makes. Like what was said, we grew up expecting to see Caddys and olds and hemis in 40ish and older Fords. As I said, I think it's the quantity of the ones we're seeing nowadays.
Weird isn't it? Folks (me included) can't understand why anyone would fit a different make engine into a classic American car, but when someone builds a hot-rod (or street rod) very few comment when there's a Chevy engine in a 32 Ford. At the end of the day this is a FORD site and for me, the discussions should be about FORDS. If someone's building a gasser (or any other style) that doesn't run a Ford motor, fine, but talk about the Ford aspects, not the non-Ford aspects.
I do enjoy reading (and discussing) about other car makes, but I wouldn't do it on a Ford site other than maybe a passing comment in a General Discussion section.
If that makes sense?
I'd be very surprised if you got a warm reception with your 57 Chevy wagon sporting a 351 Cleveland on a tri- five forum.
Quote from: rmk57 on 2016-01-17 16:52
I'd be very surprised if you got a warm reception with your 57 Chevy wagon sporting a 351 Cleveland on a tri- five forum.
LOL, I'm sure your correct.
Then they will turn right around and install a Currie 9" rear end in their tri five Chevy, that started it's life in a 1957 Ford. I guess we all have double standards. But since we are all old car guy's, we already paid our dues in the hobby and can choose whatever makes us happy.
Quote from: Limey57 on 2016-01-17 14:58
Weird isn't it? Folks (me included) can't understand why anyone would fit a different make engine into a classic American car, but when someone builds a hot-rod (or street rod) very few comment when there's a Chevy engine in a 32 Ford. At the end of the day this is a FORD site and for me, the discussions should be about FORDS. If someone's building a gasser (or any other style) that doesn't run a Ford motor, fine, but talk about the Ford aspects, not the non-Ford aspects.
I do enjoy reading (and discussing) about other car makes, but I wouldn't do it on a Ford site other than maybe a passing comment in a General Discussion section.
If that makes sense?
It makes perfect sense to me. It was one of the reasons I sold my 1932 Highboy Roadster after it was done (and bought my Ranch Wagon). The Roadster had a SBC in it, and when you went to a car show, Roadsters with SBC's were like belly buttons, everyone had one.
I think if someone is truly a racer, or a car hobby guy, they can appreciate all the different forms of the hobby, and still have their individual favorites.
One of the main reasons you see C***s in Fords was in 54 Ford changed the oil pans to
front sump which would hit either the front crossmember or the straight axle in pre 1954
Fords which back in the day was a big problem. Hemis and c***s fit much easier than any Ford
motor did.
You don't see too many C***s in 54 up Fords because it's much harder and expensive to do
than flop in a Y-Block, FE, or any Ford V-8 which is cheap and easy.
Duntov also had c*** give engines to all the aftermarket co's and magazines in 1955 to get them to
feature it.
As RMK57 said 57 c**** guys would be rough too........
Ron.
When I bought my 57, I toyed with the idea of putting one of my early Hemis in the car.(gasser ,race car vibe)Look at the Strange Bird Falcon with a blown Nailhead)I even had a killer 401 Nailhead that was a possibility.But I made my mind up to go FE.I Love the FE engine,.... love Y-Blocks too... just not a practical application for my needs today.
I get strange flak about have early hemis in both my 32's.People telling me I should have a Flathead instead.A Flathead?????.Pretty engines..... but so is my lawn mower! hahahaha
I get what your doing and it's YOUR CAR.
I think your 57 is neat.
Anyhow.....welcome aboard!
Quote from: Jeff Norwell on 2016-01-18 05:22
People telling me I should have a Flathead instead.A Flathead?????.Pretty engines..... but so is my lawn mower! hahahaha
Brilliant! I'll save that quote, it will come in useful for some of the "period-perfect" hot-rodders I know. I swear some of them would put genuine 1940's air in their tyres if they could get it..................
I knew his 57 had a Chevy engine in it when I approved his registration. I had seen it on HAMB a lot, when the other guy built it originally. Personally, I feel like he came here with a chip on his shoulder, wanting to stir crap. I warned him ahead of time that most of the members are purist, so have a thick skin. He came in first and foremost, with a "if you dont like it, screw you" attitude. So, I didnt get involved and let everyone eat him alive. Personally, think the car looks cool, but I would much mch rather see it with an FE or 385 series BBF in it. There is a blue Courier out of Canada with a 557 in it that rips, set up exactly the same way as this wagon. I enjoy the gassers, but despise crossbreeding. The main reason I approved his registration, is that i hoped he would bring more 57 gassers on board. Way more 57 Fords that ran as gassers had FE Fords than ever had a scrub engine in it. Why someone would cheap out on a gasser build with a SBC is beyond me, there are so many more cool engines to build than a 400 scrub. Heck, a 368 Lincoln motor would probably run as well as the scrub and be more period correct, in my opinion.
Did he leave?
The Blue Courier is my pal Terry Denomme...... he wanted a car pretty much like his dad had running at the drags...Terry is a great guy.
I agree car looks cool. I just cant get past that scrub. It's sacrilege! But to each his own. If I saw it at a car show, I would call it a bowtie in disguise again and walk away in shame. To bad. I see running 390's on craigslist here for 500-800 all the time here. Wouldnt be a bad choice. And easy fix for his problem.
Jeff, I do believe he left. He said he would just hang out at the gasser sites where they liked stuff because it was cool, not by what powered it. Folks come here know coming in, it is a site for 1 year of 1 make of car. They should assume, that we are Ford purists here. I really dont care if has a lawn mower engine in it, as long as he doesn't come here trying to stir up mess. He acts like he has some sense, I will defend him to a point. He comes on acting a fool, I stand back and let the dogs tear him up. Simple as that. Like Rob, when he came here, he had bought his wagon with a scrub in it. He didnt make a big deal out of it. After a short time, he decided that it would make more sense to put the correct make of engine in it, instead of continuing to cobble up front steering parts and still have a steaming pile at the end of the day. Now, he has not only a great looking wagon, but it is reliable and fit to look at as well with the right make of engine in it. I'm just not a fan of crossbreeding of anything. Fords go in Fords, Dodges in Dodges, and GM in the landfill. And yes, there are a TON of us who don't like sbc in 32 Fords or any other Ford street rod. It costs no more to build a decent SBF than a scrub, and if you are a fabricator and not just a hack, it is no more difficult to put the Ford in a street rod than a scrub, especially with that 5 gallon pail of a distributor at the back of the engine, causing you to need to butcher the firewall. Now Jeff, as for your hemi powered 32, I generally overlook the crossbreeding factor there, because it is a hemi, and not a dime for three dozen 350 chev. That hemi wont cause me to bypass it at a show, like a sbc swap will. The early hemi have historical significance in the drag racing world. LS swaps into anything make me nauseous. I stand by my statement, that Fords will go into early Fords as readily as anything else. And won't cause you to get eaten alive when you try to join an all Ford site. Just my .02.
Quote from: JPotter57 on 2016-01-18 19:35
Like Rob, when he came here, he had bought his wagon with a scrub in it. He didnt make a big deal out of it. After a short time, he decided that it would make more sense to put the correct make of engine in it, instead of continuing to cobble up front steering parts and still have a steaming pile at the end of the day. Now, he has not only a great looking wagon, but it is reliable and fit to look at as well with the right make of engine in it.
Hey James...thanks for the nod! (and nobody snickers at cruise nights much anymore...although some wonder out loud "he could fit a big block in there")
Rob
...back to the discussion...
Watch out guys, my dad built a Studillac in 1955. I am a product of "cross breeding"!!!! :002: SBC's are too common to be intresting for my taste in any car!
Yeah but, the Caddy fit as well as the Stude V-8.
A friend of mine put a 392 Hemi in a 53 Stude back in the mid 60's, fit
like a glove, ran like a scalded dog especially with the Studes 4.56 rear!
He called it Vitamin C.
Ron.
Wel.first..I did not mean to insult anyone who loves the venerable Flathead.Very Pretty engines and have a very big history.... I just can't justify the hi cost on 150 or so Horsepower.....ha ha ha.
I agree on the scrub deal.... I did not realize if this individual was here out of Love,Spite or gaining knowledge.I have seen honest folks seeking advice on a build and get beaten like dog(Not here,.."other" places). I have also seen people come onto a message board seeking just to start a fire......then leave.(Not here,..."other places")
Maybe that's human nature.
Anyhow,.....I always love this site for the information,Knowledge and respect.I love all 57's from stocker 4 doors to wild drag cars.Been in love with the 57 Ford since i was a kid.I would very much disdain ANYONE coming to to cause S**t.
...wow.... Rob... your car had a taxi cab engine? Did not know that.
Alrighty then.....that seams to be settled....but I am a cross breeder. My 36 Chevy is all Ford drive train. Just drives some of those from the dark side nuts!
When I quit racing (too expensive even though I didn't wreck or break) I decided a street rod would be the thing. Found a butt load of Ford sheet metal but it was way out of my price range (E-6 in the Navy in 74 = $450/mo) so along comes this old 36 2dr sdn for $100 and the rest is as they say history.
Short story about this combo. Good friend here is a die hard Chevy guy. Busted my chops from day one, all in fun but a steady stream none the less. Well one day coming back from a rod run I'm tooling along and all of the sudden here's Burney sitting along side his 35 SBC powered Chevy under an over pass. I pull in, back up and get out. As I walk up to see if he needs help he goes "Bill I'll give you a $100 to get back in your car and never say you saw me here". We have had many good times retelling that story.
ha ha ha ..that's funny Bill.
Quote from: Jeff Norwell on 2016-01-19 06:12
...wow.... Rob... your car had a taxi cab engine? Did not know that.
Yep...here is the episode of Project 302 where we get Bobby Walden (Walden's Speed Shop, Pomona, CA) to commit to the swap and an explanation of The Why...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7f9gVl_jTjY
...with the 350 pulled out to look at the mess, the rack and pinion unit un-crated, and some video of Walden Speed Shop...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvjLiPKdTMo
There is plenty more silly video that play back-to-back on the YouTubes if you are interested!
Cheers!
Rob
...all of you guys were terrific thru this project!
James, you said it perfectly
Ch**vy, bailed out by the Gov. Government candidates funded by the Saudi's, Ergo, Ch**vy's = Mooslems. LOL. I love you old 57 guys :). FORD rules!
Ch**vy's can go as fast as you want.
Lol
Hey all, thanks for the reply on the steering box. Im going to take your advice and get a 58 box so as not to have to change everything on the front end. I have a line on one and will get it soon. I didnt leave the site just busy with life. It was cool reading the responses to my "new member" post and fully understand everyone's views on the Ford / Chevy thing. Thanks for havin me regardless!!! I do have a 1957 Ford wagon so I will need the info and views on any other parts of the car and I believe this sight is as good as any if not better to get that!
Took a brake from the gasser build and got back into my Small engine obsession....antique/vintage Briggs and strattons and an addition to to my sickness turn of the century hit and miss engines (no Fords or Chevys in there) Thanks again and if you see the "Talks Cheap" gasser at the Hunnert car heads up or the Melt down drags at Byron Dragway come on over and give me some trouble Ill be glad to take it!
If its cool to post, a small portion of my collection.
(http://pic100.picturetrail.com:80/VOL421/8552763/15883068/412940867.jpg)
An old Jager that is not mine but would really like to have.
(http://pic100.picturetrail.com:80/VOL421/8552763/15883068/412940866.jpg)
Some of my old briggs, Clintons.
(http://pic100.picturetrail.com:80/VOL421/8552763/15883068/412853704.jpg)
(http://pic100.picturetrail.com:80/VOL421/8552763/15883068/412853707.jpg)
(http://pic100.picturetrail.com:80/VOL421/8552763/15883068/412853708.jpg)
(http://pic100.picturetrail.com:80/VOL421/8552763/15883068/412853709.jpg)
All older the 1957!
cool