409 in a '55 Chevy

[HotRod28AR]

We'd like to put a 409 in a '55 BelAir (let me know if anyone out there has a good 409 for sale) but what problems will we run into in doing this? What has to be modified to fit the engine in the car, and will there be over-heating problems? Also, are there any photos or diagrams out there on how to correctly cut the inner fender panels for use of fenderwell headers? Thanks.
-Dean

[gearhead409]

you will have fire wall valve cover clearance problems,oil pan tie rod clearance problems,clearance problems trying to get a good exhaust system around the tie rods, you need to put the radiator in front of the core support like the six cyl. car. if you are using a std. shift trans, use a 55-57 v8 bell hsg. and make up motor mounts for the front of the engine. if you are using a late model automatic trans,there are kits aval. for engine/trans mounts.this is alot of work but still worth doing. w motors really look good in the tri-fives! cooling? there are alot of good aftermarket radiators aval. for this setup.

[JimKwiatkowski]

Dean Welcome,I've had a 409 in my 57 for 23 years now.Everything that gearhead409 is true :doh but if you have the will and the way,it can be done with alot of hard work :dunno I would start with a motor and trans kit from Classic Chevy International ( www.classicchevy.com ).Next you have to modify the oil pan to clear the steering linkage.I first used the 6cly mounts for the radiator and low preformance exhaust manifolds for the exhaust. About 15 years ago I designed and fabricated a Pinto manual Rack & Pinion mounted in front of crossmember,this solved my oil pan and header fitting problems.Theres photos of my 57 in the members photo album,it might give some ideas.

[348NUT]

Hey Dean, Very good Idea! I put a 348 in my 55 a couple years ago. Here's what I ran into and what I did. I first tried 3/4" forward side mounts and the accesory mounting bosses on the heads just touched the firewall on both sides, The left low performance exhaust manifold hit the steering box and the fuel pump inlet hit the cross member. Of course the oilpan wouldn't fit at all and the 6 cyl. radiator had to be used. A couple dents in the firewall would have cured the head clearance but not wanting to do that I cut the engine mounts and shifted them forward another 1/2". Then I added a 1/4" plate behind the drivers side to shift the engine away from the steering box. This should leave the engine about 1" forward and 1/4" to the pass. side from stock. I put in a 700r4 and used a rear crossmember for that. When the mounts were tacked in and everything settled in place, the exhaust was still too close, so I smoothed out the box casting and put a couple flat washers under the lower steering box mount to tilt the box away from the engine. I rotated the lower section of the stock fuel pump so the inlet and outlet point back to cure that problem. I also had to cut a section out of the front of the oil pan sump to clear the drag link. All said and done there is about 1/4" clearance on both sides and back of the engine. This is about as brief of a discription of the installation as I can get. Feel free to ask any other questions. I have a stock recored radiator and a 250hp 348 with no cooling problems. Good luck, NUT :)
p.s. I tried to attach some photos but it wasn't working right so maybe later :dunno I do have some in the members photo area.