55 Bel Air 4dr sedan 348W/700R4 project

[Robert Wiehl]

I know what you are thinking. Why a 4dr? Well it was all I could afford and it is in great shape for what I paid for it. I had the 348 for over 12 years just sitting on an engine stand waiting for a reason to rebuild it. It is a low hp single 4bbl version according to the casting #'s, but my father in law gave me the complete motor and cast iron power glide setup as it was pulled from the car it came from, for free. I like free! Anyways, I am not sure what it came out of. He got it from a member of his car club, and it was out of the car then too. Well now the 348 is rebuilt with eddelbrock RPM intake, billet distributor, double roller chain and comp cams street grind thumper cam and lifter kit, and Summit Racing 750cfm electric choke carb, all detailed and ready to drop in, along with the 700R4. I attempted to drop it in last night and ran into several clearance issues. Pass side cylinder head hit the firewall. Drivers stock manifold is hitting the manual steering box, and the oil pan is hitting the center link. I dropped the idler arm down off the frame and will attempt to drop it in again this afternoon and see if that helped with the other issues. I think some grinding and hammering will have to be done. One way or another I will get it to fit right. I emailed east coast Chevy about their 2 inch drop center link that I read they offer. Still waiting on a reply. Worst case, I will modify the one I got. One thing is for sure, it is going too look so good sitting under the hood when its all said and done. I'll see if I can post pics

 

[Randy]

Robert.......What you described here are the same issues that we all have when you do this type of modification. For me I put in a 409 in my 56 . The driver side manifold is so close, I do not think it's a 1/32 of a inch, to the steering box, and I haven't found any solution to that. The oil pan was modified to clear the linkage. Contact Steffs about an oil pan that they modify for this application. Headers , if you want them will be $$$$ since no one makes them, they all have to be custom made.
That dropped linkage is a good idea to clear the oil pan but also look at the Steffs oil pan.
Good luck on you project.

 

[BSL409]

Welcome aboard, some photos please

 

[oldskydog]

Are you using the original front mounts or aftermarket side mounts? I would think the side mounts made to mount the engine 3/4? " forward would help.

 

[Robert Wiehl]

I looked at the oil pan from Steffs. The drop centerlink will save me a few hundred bucks if they still have it available. I used the side mounts 3/4" forward and they work great. I finally got the motor and trans in the car this afternoon!!!!! It looks sooooooo good. I had to grind one bolt hole down on the ds exh manifold to allow the head of the bolt to clear. I have about 1/8" clearance there now. Also had to grind the curved ridge extending between the two center outlets flush with the rest of the outside casting. Other than that the heads have a 1/8-1/4" clearance at the firewall with no hammering required. Trans crossmember was a straight forward install. had to drill 4 5/16" holes. Bolted in perfect. I was suprised how easy it all went. It only took 4 hrs start to finish including the trans crossmember. I have some great detailed pics but Cant seem to get them to load. I will keep trying.

 

[Robert Wiehl]

Ok. Got pics to work!

 

[Robert Wiehl]

More pics.

 

[Randy]

Great pic's Robert.....

 

[Robert Wiehl]

More pics.

 

[Robert Wiehl]

More.

 

[Robert Wiehl]

Here is the car.

 

[oldskydog]

Nice.

 

[k9hotrodder409]

Robert , welcome to the site. Great group here and lots of info on the "W" engine.Enjoy the ride.

About your swap. I had the exact same issues with my 348 install. I documented my install with pictures. Go to the Builds & projects section and look at K9hotrodder 409 " Joint Venture " build. I notched the oil pan and installed a Hurst 3" dropped drag link from Summit. I also used a Hurst front cradle mount for 348-409s. Mine has a TH 350 trans.I am using the 6 cylinder front mount location on the frame. It's still too close for my taste so I am going with a "Unisteer " rack & pinion. MY engine sits forward enough that my fingers can fit between the firewall and the heads
I used the "Raingear " electric wiper kit and I have no wiper motor clearances either.

If I can answer any questions for you don't hesitate to ask. Just about any body on this site will be happy to help.

 

[Robert Wiehl]

I called Summit and the tech support guys said they have no access to a drop center link for the tri-5. I also called Speedway Motors and they don't have one either.

 

[Robert Wiehl]

I located a 2 inch and 3 inch center link at East Coast Chevy. My big question is which one do I need? I don't know if the 2 inch will hit the pan as it rises during steering. Any advice? They said that I can exchange the 2 inch for the 3 inch if I needed to but that is more time and more shipping cost. On the other hand I don't want to have the center link hang unnecessarily low with the 3 inch. I would like to get some opinions.

 

[jim_ss409]

Nice car!
I don't have any advice (my car has a straight axle) but it sounds like you'll find a way to make it fit one way or another.
As you said, if you can't find a dropped center link you can always modify the stock one. If you do it properly, it'll be just as strong as new.

 

[Last 60]

You can call me screwed up, but after seeing that clutch pedal hanging in there I would have had to put the 3-speed back in operation. For me there is just something about a stick shift car. As I said, "screwed up". Great looking project. Have fun and ENJOY!!!!

Lonnie

 

[Robert Wiehl]

I'm not a big fan of column shift manual trans setups. Besides the exhaust is in the way of the original linkage so it will never be a manual trans again. I might have to go with a floor shifter if an automatic column will not clear the exhaust. I will deal with that when I get to that point.

 

[blkblk63ss]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=TXLGxlFyzx4 Hey if you don't want a 4 door!!

 

[Last 60]

I'm not a big fan of column shift manual trans setups. Besides the exhaust is in the way of the original linkage so it will never be a manual trans again. I might have to go with a floor shifter if an automatic column will not clear the exhaust. I will deal with that when I get to that point.

I completely understand your situation. You gotta do what you gotta do. As I said, have fun and ENJOY!!!

Lonnie