55 wagon engine swap question
 

Hello looking for a little information, that someone with more experience may have.
I want to install a 72 Pontiac 350 TH350 combination, that is complete and running. I am looking at fabbing up something similar to the Old Hurst mounts.

Now the question, to help with the clearance issue between the L/H exhaust manifold and steering box, I was thinking about the RARE ram air manifolds for the firebird. they look fairly thin at the center exhaust ports, and appear to hug the block well. I am going to contact them to ask for a measurement. and compare to my original 287 manifold.

I also assume maybe incorrect assumption, that I could move slightly to the right side and then attach mounts. Thanks Andy

why not use the 55 manifolds?Tom

Tough to move to the side with the 55's X frame. Little room for the tranny. Would need to fab a tranny mount whether you moved to the right or not.

Thanks, yes a trans mount also, but that seems to be fairly easy addition. Thanks for the insight. Andy

It is my understanding that the ports are extremely small on the 287 manifolds, and that you will really be choking the exhaust. thanks Andy

Here's a 56 compared to a 57, I don't know if a 350 would even run half throttle with the 55-56 manifolds manifolds.....LOL

Talk about trying to breathe through a straw..........:eek:

https://i.ibb.co/dPZPGK9/Exhaust56-57.jpg

57 is a 347 CI, so if you'd want something that would fit the chassis and still have decent size ports, I would be looking for a 57 manifold at bare minimum.

I used factory 1960s-1970s cast iron manifolds to install a 1976 400 with a T400 trans in a 1957 Chieftain. I used Indian Adventures motor mounts which are no longer available. They mounted to the sides of the block and moved the mounting location forward and used a simple round rubber mount like a street rod. I kept raising the block height a little at a time until the exhaust manifold cleared.

im doing the same with a 57 chieftain keep us posted this will be useful .

55-57 chassis close to the same?I had a 55 but so long ago I don’t remember crap about it!Tom

55-57 basically same, ladder style frame, large structural X in the center that the driveshaft goes through, 58-60 X frame, 61 began swept hip perimeter frame.

57-58 share the same rear end except for leaf and coil springs?55-56 same rear end and 59-64 same?Tom

57-64 same third member, of course housings changed due to wide track, and leaf, coil spring changeovers, 55-56 isn't the same third member.

Maybe a little known fact, 58 (pre wide track) will bolt into A bodies on the lower control arm mounts, but you have to fab the upper control arm mounts. Other than that it will fit. The early funny cars (64) sometimes used that swap.

only issue is 57-58 used 29 spline axles besides being shorter and 59-64 used 31.Tom

Sanderson makes a block hugging header that may help. D port or O port.

https://www.sandersonheaders.com/san...eader-set.html

thanks for all the supplied information so far, I am looking into all possibilities.

Just some info for people who want to use either an old center section in a newer car or the other way around. You can do either by just changing the side gears in the differential to the correct spline to match the axles you are going to use. Common practice in the "old" days.

Do you happen to have any Pics of the Indian adventure engine mounts? Thanks

i was just going to ask about that. thank you for the info.

The problem is that parts for the 9.3 third member are pretty scarce at this point in time, finding side gears may be a challenge.

Olds used the same third member also, but finding parts for either isn't simple any longer.

The scarcity on early olds and Pontiac parts is the reason most racers choose to use 9 inch ford rear axles under their cars. It's so much easier/cheaper to locate parts for those.

If you need side gears check with J&S gear.I believe Brad reproduced them and sold the 9.3 stuff to John at J&S.Brad might actually still have some.I think the pinion gears are the same as Dana 44.Tom