The short shaft 350 is the best bet mounts using the original crossmember. Linkage is available from Ecklers. You need a driveshaft the same length as a 4 speed or overdrive. Hard to find an original so probably will need to shorten your shaft the original transmission lines and vacuum lines...
This subject seems to come up every few months. There is factory lit that states that the SS option was available on all Impalas in 61. Not wagon as it was a Nomad. To this day I am not aware of any documented SS cars other than 2 door hardtop or convert. If there is a 2 door sedan or a 4 door...
I would recommend a TH350 over the years I went from an iron glide to an aluminum glide to a TH350 The low end performance is much better with the lower first gear in the TH350 A short shaft 350 is the same length as a 4 speed or 3 speed overdrive so you might get lucky and find a factory drive...
I had the pleasure of making a trip to Australia in 2002 They had an American car show in Melbourne and I got to see all sorts of RHD Aussie versions of US cars. I think I know the gentleman who owns the RHD 62. It was under restoration then. Got to ride in a propane powered rhd 1980 Cadillac...
Several years ago I ordered a 300hp 327 exhaust system for a 62 Impala through Ecklers. The right exhaust pipe did not fit, like it was about 2" short. They contacted Schafers while was on the phone and after some discussion they sent out a new one, same problem. Had a NORS 348 hipo exhaust...
I put 15 x 7 235R60-15 front and 15 X 8 255R60-15 rear on my 61 with no clearance problems. Don't remember the back spacing. I think the wheels were Vintiques.
I just love the simple lines of the Bel Air. Had one I was going to restore 25 years ago but a 409 car came up so something had to go. Not a bad trade off. This comes from a guy that has owned a 61 Impala bubbletop for 32 years
Back in 1972 while stationed at NAS Miramar north of San Diego I raced my 63 Nova 2 door post at a strip near Carlsbad. Started out driving the car but as time went on the more mods I did to the car the less streetable it became. Bought a 55 Chevy pickup, 6cyl hydromatic to be the tow vehicle...
The car is just screaming for the white painted insert. Not so sure about the redlines. These are easily changed and are a matter of personal preference.