GM v8

[TATE228]

i've never been able to get a strait awnser will a small chevy fit in a 47-55 gm pickup without going to a independaent front and altering the steering? and if so is it a good idea?

[chevythunder]

yeah, i would like to know that also??

[chevytruckfan]

Yes you can. You will need to box the frame for the motor mounts or get custom made (crossmember type) mounts. I started out this way with the original front I beam suspension then saw one that had the crossmember and suspension bolted in from a 70's truck and decided to do it that way instead.

[Fred T]

Biggest problem is the steering shaft doesn't clear the headers. You have to move the gear to the outside of the frame. Also, you probably won't be happy with the ride and handling. I'd recommend the ifs swap.

[Apache]

You can put a v8 in the 47 - 54/55 chevy & gmc. They should be somebody who sells the crossmember v8 mounts, but im not sure. If you can find somebody that makes the mounts, just drill the holes and mount them. Headers wont clear with the steering on the inside of the frame (like Fred said)...but I would think the steering would clear regular exhaust manifolds.

[chevythunder]

about how much horsepower do u guys think a stock 1953 frame could handle? or would u recomend a new fabricated frame/chassis? i was planning to put a high powered 383sb (400hp) in her. but also thought about a 427sb from motown (600hp).i was not planning to any more than 600 hp with a engine. i wanted between 400-600 hp. i'm seriously thinking in getting a fabricated chassis, which has new updated suspension, brakeing, steering systems on it already
thanks.

[Apache]

IMO I would think the frame could handle it. But I could be wrong, they seem strong tho.

[wycheguy]

I just picked up a 49 chevy 5 window that had the v-8 conversion. It looks like the motor mounts were welded onto the frame, which works, and with the stock manifolds it does clear the steering system. It does ride very rough tho. Especially when driving on the freeway and I hit a bump, the whole truck bounces from one side of the lane to the other. There is a place called Chevy Truck Shop 1-800-chevy 47 out of Orange CA, that has a small block engine conversion cross member that bolts onto the frame, pt # 47-12240 all you would have to do is get the motor mounts attach them to this cross member and your in business. Also there is a place called Heavy Chevy, www.heavychevy.com, they have an extinsive catalog as well. I havent received it yet but they tell me its in the mail.
Mikey

[solidaxel]

Is this something you are going to do by yourself or pay someone to do for you?
If you are paying someone check out a completed chassis with all but the engine mounted and check dollar for dollar COMPLETED prices. That should tell you how much you have blown your bedget !!

[solidaxel]

Is this something you are going to do by yourself or pay someone to do it for you?
If you are paying someone check out a completed chassis with all but the engine mounted and check dollar for dollar COMPLETED prices. That should tell you how much you have blown your bedget !!

[wycheguy]

Where did you get your A/C system from, or out of? I noticed that you have your lines running from your compressor through your firewall, where is your condinser located? And I am looking to do it myself. I get the double bonus of saving money and getting expierence that way. I hear its relatively simple.
Mikey

[wycheguy]

Oh and Solidaxle, do you have pictures of the other side of the front end? I would like to see how your steering system hooked in.
Thanks
Mikey

[solidaxel]

The most important part of this A/C is the brackets, and they are from Bill's Brackets do a search I don't have his address here. These are the only ones in my openion, as I have tried others and Bill has the best. The lines are run thrugh the firewall at a spot that was close to where I had to mount the evaporator(random location) The evap. is a OLD, OLD Frigiking hang on unit that the orginal owner put in in 1960 and I redid the compressor and condensor to update it to 134. The condensor is hung in front of the rad. low with a 12" electric fan from the Fan Man and releyed to the presser switch to come on when the A/C is turned on. I will be changing the Evap. to a Hot Rod air with heat and A/C that tucks under the dash and will end up cutting new holes in the just filled (61 holes) in the firewall. When you ask for the condenser tell them that you will be running 134 as there is a difference!!!
For the life of me I don't remember how I got the picture to come up in my post as I have been trying to post a pic. since last year but could not figute out how to do it, so I guess I will have to send you a PM, that must be why there is two posts !!!

[solidaxel]

I am still trying to figure out how to post photos............
wycheguy I hope you can open these, if not send me a email and I will figure out how to attach them to the email

[rebarjoe]

Solid.
go to FAQ for how to post pics. You do have to resize the images. I use either paint or HP photo imaging thru my scanner. You have to get your images to less that 100kb. The pic I'm sending is 11.7kb as an example.

[solidaxel]

I'll take two upper rear shock brackets !!!
I now have to figure how to resize, as the ones I had uploaded were just a tad bit over 100K

[rebarjoe]

Solidaxle,
They are the lower rear brackets. I changed over my 49 from single knee action shocks to the standard double action. Here is the top mount that I made. Not a great weld job but the fenders hid the art. What program are you using to resize? What year truck did you use for the front end conversion? It looks similair to the conversion at chevy freeservers.

[solidaxel]

Sorry Tate 228 didn't mean to hijack your post
Rebar I will send you a PM