1949 Business coupe update

[falconvan]

Tks; so far so good; as long as its ready for spring I'll be happy. I got the motor buttoned up today; time to bolt it to the trans and start building mounts and figuring out headers.

 

[smallfoot]

Motor looks good!!!

 

[falconvan]

I did some trial fitting today and got the motor mounts built. Luckily I was able to reuse the mounting pads I built for the SHO motor and just moved them back. Also, the cutout I had made in the firewall for the SHO was the perfect width for the new engine. The big snafu looks like the factory steering box has to go; the motor is too wide. Looks like she getting a rack-n-pinion conversion. Also had to do some trans tunnel surgery but that was pretty minor. I ordered some block hugger headers and the next step is to modify the cross member for the trans.

 

[falconvan]

I spent the morning at the boneyard and picked up a Cavalier rack and pinion and a shifter from a Jag XJ-12. I have the same rack on my 48 so it should be a relatively easy swap. The shifter is cable actuated and has a spring loaded side to side action rather than a release button so I'm going to modify the shifter lever that I had on the five speed to fit.

 

[soltz]

Very cool, i'll have to remember that [cl

 

[falconvan]

I got my cross member re-built today: I was able to reuse the one I had built for the SHO motor by moving the mounting plate and adapting a GM trans rear mount. I also notched it on both sides for exhaust clearance. I got headers trial fitted but had to do some frame notching for clearance. I'll box those sections when I pull the motor back out to finalize the mounts and rebuild the trans.

Time to start test mounting the rack and see how the steering is going to work out.

 

[Bamamav]

I'm interested in how the Cavalier rack works out for ya. I have been eyeballing those and wondering if I could make it work with my I beam axle since the rack is mounted to the frame. Since the tie rods mount near the center, I'm thinking it might have enough travel for the I beam.

 

[falconvan]

I did the same swap on a 48 Plymouth I'm building for my wife; easy swap and works well. Only difference on this one is I'm going manual instead of power steering.

 

[falconvan]

I pulled the drive train back out so I could make the rack and pinion mounts and box the frame where I notched it. When I did this swap on my 48 I bought some tie rod adapters that adapted Ford Explorer tie rods ends to the Cavalier rods; this time I figured I'd just make some. There was already an adapter that screwed into the Cavalier tie rod so I cut the end off of the Plymouth tie rod, ground the adapter down so it would fit inside, welded it, and put a tie rod clamp on it. With the Explorer tie rods you had to re-size the steering arm taper; this way I can just use stock 49 Plymouth tie rod ends. Now I need to patch the trans tunnel where I cut it, and take it all back apart to clean it up and paint it.

 

[Old Iron]

[cl[cl
[P[P[P

 

[falconvan]

Today was cleanup day; I had grinding dust and tools everywhere. I rolled the car out and gave it a quick blow off and wash and touched up the paint on the frame along with starting the tear down on the 727. It sat in a shed for many years so I figured I rebuild it. Now the shop is clean; I can trash it again.

 

[bob w]

I put a Cavalier rack in a '49 Plymouth and it worked out good. Also did the shock relocation. You should be very happy with those changes

 

[falconvan]

Once I got the trans apart I found the case was cracked where the pump bolts in so I ended up buying another trans for parts from one of the local Mopar racers. I took the best parts from both along with a rebuild kit, B&M shift kit, and a 2800 stall converter to get it all together. Now she's bolted down for good and I can start putting everything else together. It was my first trans rebuild; fingers crossed that it all works. I used a 727 service manual and several You Tube videos for guidance.

 

[bob w]

FV, nice to see the engine/trans in the hole. Lots of good How To Do It's on You Tube.

 

[falconvan]

Lots of little stuff done lately; wires, misc fittings, R&P mounted, etc. I got the floor put back together and worked on modifying the Jag shifter today. The cable is a little short so I'm going to try and use a B&M cable on it.

 

[falconvan]

I was looking at distributor options and found a place that machines this little bracket that bolts on the stock distributor allowing use of an HEI module. Super slick and only $25. I've got all the engine wires run and and am not too far away from a test fire.

 

[soltz]

[P[P

 

[bob w]

Looks great sitting between the rails. Nice find on the module bracket.

 

[falconvan]

Got back on this one today. I freshened up a Holley 780 I had but had to make a new bracket to relocate the coil since the bowls hang out further. Also made up some fuel lines for the carb. Im hoping to get all the fuel lines ran and the pump installed this weekend.

 

[soltz]

veroom veroom

Looking good. [cl you'll be driving very soon, fast i should think[S