I'm probably gonna test fit my 454 in my 55 this summer. I got an aftermarket front frame section with a straight axle so it should fit pretty easy except for possible firewall issues.
Funny, my first car was a 55 chev two-door post that came... I was told, w/ a 348cu. torquing truck engine, but had been bored out to a 409cu. In it's trunk I found two intake manifolds, one for a 4-barrel and the other for a three deuce carb setup. I paid $250 for it back in 68 w/ monthly payments of $40 at 8.25% interest. It took a while to pay it off making $ 2.50 an hour as a box boy at Piggly Wiggly, hahaha. I ran it out at the Puyallup, Wa. drags or 1/4mi. strip once used as an air strip runway. Back in it's day, it was part of the race car circuit and met greats as Don Garlett w/ his B.F.D. (Big Fueled Dragster), Big Daddy Roth and "Mad Magazine" w/ Alfred E. Newman. My best time was 13:83 recorded on the clock. Not much today, but then... I felt like the baddest cat in town, lol. That was w/ a Isky 3/4 racing cam, Baby Moons up front and Cheater Slicks mounted on deep dish chromes in the rear. With dual exhaust headers, I was about to install a blower, but good ol Uncle Sam's "draft for Nam" was taking guys out like flies, so I enlisted in the Navy before they could get me. Much better than sleeping on the ground. Sorry, I don't get out much. Now retired and bored to death! Have fun, I envy you and good luck!
I built a couple 409 into Tri 5's. The last one I did was a 57 Belair 2dr sedan. The whole job can be done using all stock Chevy parts. You need a 6 cyl. rad support an idler arm and pit man arm for stock power steering. C-60 truck front motor mounts, you have to drill and thread the block bosses for the front mounts, and a 283 bell housing and rear mounts. You have to drill out the top bell housing bolt and enlarge the dowel pin holes. The steering box needs to be moved to the left by sectioning the chassis 3/4 of an inch. You also should add a rear trans mount and cross member. You can add power steering with an after market steering box that directly replaces a manual box. When using the stock suspension, I recommend HD front coils. You have to use an electric fuel pump which I mount in the trunk behind the spare tire. It's a real easy swap, good looking and great performance. Doing the swap this way is the least expensive and easy.
I'm one of those guys that had a 55 Chevy with a 409 not stock it had a big cam and two fours a 4 speed vett trans but I didn't build it I bought it that way but you could not go down the road an turn into a driveway without backing up at least once the steering was not right but I loved that car. Great Job Rick
Going to be coming back to this video. Currently have a 348 at the machine shop getting rebuilt and stroked to 427ci. It's going into my son's 56 Chevy. Already bought the Sanderson block hugger headers.
I to love 409's,now a days people put chevys in everything.There has always been kinda do's and don'ts when it comes to motor swaps.they'll never guess that one. I love your vids,great detail and the work appears to be first class.I think you guys would have fun doing my 52 ford victoria with a new pontiac 389 thats still in crate that i've had for 50 years that i can't seem to finish.
Ha Ha back in the 60's we used the good ol BMFH on those firewall jobs worked real slick just did'nt want anybody to see it . got my T-shirt an stickers yesterday look good can't wait fer warm weather to wear the fuckin thing .Keep up the good work camera girl does a good job .
Great Video as always. Back in the early 70s I would put Big Block Mopars in Barracudas. A few modifications and on the Oil Pan we would install a 2in piece of exhaust tubing thru it for the Drag link. Not really to hard of a job, could be done with a Stick Welder also. I really Enjoy your Chanel.
+Garry Fuller Sr that would certainly work and I think I remember seeing that done a couple of times now that you mention it. Thanks for the idea Garry.
. . . Nice. Where was your team when I owned a 1980 ford ranger ..full size pick up? Blew the three o 2 motor A great "Chevy" mechanic had a real nice three o 2 from a 79 ford truck Well wonder of wonders... Ford's redesign between 79 and 80 Required oil pan sump to change from front to back or vice versa . (Many years ago) Tried and tried and never did find a pan to clear that 79 three 0 2 over or around my 8o's cross member. Sold to a guy working with son on an old mustang And so it goes.... . . .
+Finn Green There's always an issue when you swap stuff out no matter what it is. I'm glad you wrote in to tell people that - people think these cars just build themselves because of all this "Reality TV" shit.
Good video, I know you don't like new stuff and I'll probably get hate mail but I just want to throw this out. A few years ago I helped a friend with an old '56 Chevy drag car being converted back to a driver, he also put in a 409 4spd, since he wanted full length headers and the front rails were already modified (more like butchered) we installed a power rack and pinion steering unit which eliminates the clearance issues. I fabbed a decent crossmember for the rack and boxed the rails, it goes straight and easy to drive. I don't remember where he got the spindles from, they were two inches drop with the tie rods in front.
Looked through the comments section thinking everyone's going to bitch about no guard using the death wheel. LOL everyone of us has used a cut off disk with out a guard. Had to go out and see if I could of reversed the fire wall on the '57, like you did. No go. Engine set back was to extreme, installing '69 C body front clip on the '57. As you already know, some people notch out the oil pan, and the extreme end of things, weld a tube through the oil pan for the drag link. Great video showing people it doesn't just drop in. For a long time Dodge had front sump oil pan for trucks, and rear sump for cars.
The 409 has to be the only donk's that is strangely arousing just looking at it, nether lone lone hearing it. Shit those Yanks do some stuff right. Love the updates on this rig, made my week, thanks.
Sounds like a good excuse to not only get a new sump under there but get one with increased volume. Few more litres of good quality oil moving around = happy, longer lasting donk. I'd go that way even if more expensive but its up to your customer in this case I spose.
I put a 409 in my 55 Chevy, was scratchin my head why you cut out the firewall on the pass. side? I did have to dimple the firewall on the drivers side. Yes I modified the oil pan for clearance, yeah it was tight but didn't rub, was in the car for 28 years.
The customer supplied a power steering box. They also supplied the headers. The other option was to cut into the frame but the customer didn't want that. Rack and pinion is too new. Hope that answers your question.
Man, that's tight to say the least! Nice job on the firewall with the grinder. With the mods to that area, for clearance on the right valve cover, will the heater core still fit inside under the dash? That "W" looks damn good in that engine bay! Great video, Rick!
+Bill Stevenson yes, we did try that already. Thanks for the question and we'll address that on our next video to let everyone know that. There's always shit I forget to mention hahaha!
+P. Fernandez PhD Not sure about clearance with those either - probably some issues with those as well but either way this was the motor that Dean wanted in this car and I think it's a really nice choice.
Couldn't you use a power R&P system to avoid the steering box/manifold hassles?...I've seen R&P on a few Tri Five Chevys...I'm not sure just who makes the conversion kits, but that's the way to go here.
+OldTimeGarage yes... i hoe thick is that wall ?, was said wall reused? or was some there type metal used? is there any video of the brazing work that was dome...think it would cool to see.... i was taught another way..... from old school metal shop worker called MR. K. always good to learn something new
the wall varies in thickness due to it being a cast piece but it probably averages around 1/8" thick. We used a piece of steel to close it back up cuz we needed it to be flat. No, there's no vid of Bruce doing the brazing (he hates being on camera!)
Be warned, with that mentality, you'll never make it as a "new car engineer". Room to work on it?? Phew!!!! I once worked with one of those "old timers" who put a SBC into a Jeep wagoneer. In order to get the drivers exhaust manifold to clear the steering box, he set the manifold up in a mill and milled the face that goes against the head at a angle, essentially, creating a "block hugger" manifold. Looks like some of that could work on your 348/409. On my 57 Chevy, someone put a 327 into the chassis. The center link conflicted with the pan so they literally beat a notch into the sump with a ballpeen hammer. It was all shiny where the center was hitting it at full lock. Simply changed the pan to a 283 pan and that corrected the problem nicely.
+Pappa Bob that's the way the old timers did it and still the way I do my own stuff a lot of the time. At the end of the day though you gotta make the customer happy and the last thing Dean wants is a smashed up oil pan! hahaha
You guys kill me ! I ran many tri five chevys with 396 and 427s with stock style motor mounts, never once did i ever have to cut the firewall , , never once! The stock mounts never broke ! Never ! I used blow proof bellhousings with the stock rear mounts also . Never had exhaust , steering or oil pan problems ! You guys kill me with your side mounts and lowered suspension !
Yes,i mean anybody can do whatever they want with their own car.I can see a 409 in a 55 chevy.But a 409 in a pontiac to me is strange.Unless i'm missing something.389 421 400 would seem more appropiate .
+Bob Roe Well there were plenty of different motors put in lots of different makes...why do people put Chev motors in Fords?? Dean went with a 409 cuz it's such a pretty motor and he loves the old W's.
I'm probably gonna test fit my 454 in my 55 this summer. I got an aftermarket front frame section with a straight axle so it should fit pretty easy except for possible firewall issues.
Funny, my first car was a 55 chev two-door post that came... I was told, w/ a 348cu. torquing truck engine, but had been bored out to a 409cu. In it's trunk I found two intake manifolds, one for a 4-barrel and the other for a three deuce carb setup. I paid $250 for it back in 68 w/ monthly payments of $40 at 8.25% interest. It took a while to pay it off making $ 2.50 an hour as a box boy at Piggly Wiggly, hahaha. I ran it out at the Puyallup, Wa. drags or 1/4mi. strip once used as an air strip runway. Back in it's day, it was part of the race car circuit and met greats as Don Garlett w/ his B.F.D. (Big Fueled Dragster), Big Daddy Roth and "Mad Magazine" w/ Alfred E. Newman. My best time was 13:83 recorded on the clock. Not much today, but then... I felt like the baddest cat in town, lol. That was w/ a Isky 3/4 racing cam, Baby Moons up front and Cheater Slicks mounted on deep dish chromes in the rear. With dual exhaust headers, I was about to install a blower, but good ol Uncle Sam's "draft for Nam" was taking guys out like flies, so I enlisted in the Navy before they could get me. Much better than sleeping on the ground. Sorry, I don't get out much. Now retired and bored to death! Have fun, I envy you and good luck!
Puyallup you say? Wouldnt happen to know anyone with the last name Betschart in the Roy area would you?
@@spoolinsvt6489 No, close enough to remember; that is. I've seen the name. Though I had five acres in Yelm.
I built a couple 409 into Tri 5's. The last one I did was a 57 Belair 2dr sedan. The whole job can be done using all stock Chevy parts. You need a 6 cyl. rad support an idler arm and pit man arm for stock power steering. C-60 truck front motor mounts, you have to drill and thread the block bosses for the front mounts, and a 283 bell housing and rear mounts. You have to drill out the top bell housing bolt and enlarge the dowel pin holes. The steering box needs to be moved to the left by sectioning the chassis 3/4 of an inch. You also should add a rear trans mount and cross member. You can add power steering with an after market steering box that directly replaces a manual box. When using the stock suspension, I recommend HD front coils. You have to use an electric fuel pump which I mount in the trunk behind the spare tire. It's a real easy swap, good looking and great performance. Doing the swap this way is the least expensive and easy.
I did a 409 in a 55 pontiac convertible years ago . They look right at home in there
Thank you. I now have a 348 in my 56 210. Trying to figure out a proper alternator bracket right now.
I'm one of those guys that had a 55 Chevy with a 409 not stock it had a big cam and two fours a 4 speed vett trans but I didn't build it I bought it that way but you could not go down the road an turn into a driveway without backing up at least once the steering was not right but I loved that car. Great Job Rick
+mrbhpj45 that's the way it goes in hot rodding sometimes! glad you wrote in to tell guys that not everything is perfect in these cars!
Going to be coming back to this video. Currently have a 348 at the machine shop getting rebuilt and stroked to 427ci. It's going into my son's 56 Chevy. Already bought the Sanderson block hugger headers.
I to love 409's,now a days people put chevys in everything.There has always been kinda do's and don'ts when it comes to motor swaps.they'll never guess that one. I love your vids,great detail and the work appears to be first class.I think you guys would have fun doing my 52 ford victoria with a new pontiac 389 thats still in crate that i've had for 50 years that i can't seem to finish.
nice motor mounts. I made mine .now I know why I have a small block and it was tight on the steering box. great job Rick great video.
+Indy chuck thanks Chuck.
Ha Ha back in the 60's we used the good ol BMFH on those firewall jobs worked real slick just did'nt want anybody to see it . got my T-shirt an stickers yesterday look good can't wait fer warm weather to wear the fuckin thing .Keep up the good work camera girl does a good job .
+Charles Dyer thanks Charles and stop all that fuckin swearing will ya? hahaha just fuckin' kiddin'
Great Video as always. Back in the early 70s I would put Big Block Mopars in Barracudas. A few modifications and on the Oil Pan we would install a 2in piece of exhaust tubing thru it for the Drag link. Not really to hard of a job, could be done with a Stick Welder also. I really Enjoy your Chanel.
+Garry Fuller Sr that would certainly work and I think I remember seeing that done a couple of times now that you mention it. Thanks for the idea Garry.
Hi Rick, thanks for that interesting Video. It's really good to get an small how too install a bigger Engine.
Welcome
.
.
.
Nice.
Where was your team when I owned a 1980 ford ranger ..full size pick up?
Blew the three o 2 motor
A great "Chevy" mechanic had a real nice three o 2 from a 79 ford truck
Well wonder of wonders...
Ford's redesign between 79 and 80
Required oil pan sump to change from front to back or vice versa .
(Many years ago)
Tried and tried and never did
find a pan to clear that 79 three 0 2 over or around my 8o's cross member.
Sold to a guy working with son on an old mustang
And so it goes....
.
.
.
+Finn Green There's always an issue when you swap stuff out no matter what it is. I'm glad you wrote in to tell people that - people think these cars just build themselves because of all this "Reality TV" shit.
Nice job Rick great info.
Thanks
Nice car I thought it was a truck😜
I'm a 6 degree guy..Any guy that wants to mod a car with no knowledge should do a good bit of research and this is a great addition Rick.
+ZIGgassedUP thanks Zig. there's not much out there on the web right now on this kind of stuff so...
Good video, I know you don't like new stuff and I'll probably get hate mail but I just want to throw this out. A few years ago I helped a friend with an old '56 Chevy drag car being converted back to a driver, he also put in a 409 4spd, since he wanted full length headers and the front rails were already modified (more like butchered) we installed a power rack and pinion steering unit which eliminates the clearance issues. I fabbed a decent crossmember for the rack and boxed the rails, it goes straight and easy to drive. I don't remember where he got the spindles from, they were two inches drop with the tie rods in front.
No hate mail coming your way....I don't have an issue really if someone wants to use modern stuff, it's just not what I love, but to each his own.
Good job on the mods and getting that power plant in there.
+Glenn Miller Thanks Glenn
Nice job on the fire wall Rick things are looking good
+huck01955 thanks much Huck
Looked through the comments section thinking everyone's going to bitch about no guard using the death wheel. LOL everyone of us has used a cut off disk with out a guard. Had to go out and see if I could of reversed the fire wall on the '57, like you did. No go. Engine set back was to extreme, installing '69 C body front clip on the '57. As you already know, some people notch out the oil pan, and the extreme end of things, weld a tube through the oil pan for the drag link. Great video showing people it doesn't just drop in. For a long time Dodge had front sump oil pan for trucks, and rear sump for cars.
Yeah it's a bitch and sucks when you don't cut enough out the first time too!
Thanks for the tips. Stock manifold on the W-Block is the rite choice. Headers are not much help making power on that engine.
I'm glad it helped
The 409 has to be the only donk's that is strangely arousing just looking at it, nether lone lone hearing it. Shit those Yanks do some stuff right. Love the updates on this rig, made my week, thanks.
+Fitzy Holden Yep, she sure is a pretty motor indeed, Lisa even drooled over it when they dropped it off hahaha!
Dave has left the building, lol, nice tips
+malone6t6 thank god! He's here today though...
Nice to see someone that has better than half of a idea about building cars with class and style ehhh
wow thanks Leonard I appreciate that
Sounds like a good excuse to not only get a new sump under there but get one with increased volume. Few more litres of good quality oil moving around = happy, longer lasting donk. I'd go that way even if more expensive but its up to your customer in this case I spose.
+Fitzy Holden Yeah I'm waiting on Dean to make the call
Nice modifications
+ceedell thanks Ceedell
I put a 409 in my 55 Chevy, was scratchin my head why you cut out the firewall on the pass. side? I did have to dimple the firewall on the drivers side. Yes I modified the oil pan for clearance, yeah it was tight but didn't rub, was in the car for 28 years.
The pontiac heater was in way
1955 canadian pontiac 348 4 speed east van in the eighties no prob
On checking for angle of motor, due you check on carburetor base or valve cover? Thanks for all the good tips Rick!
+Romanm1957 You'd check on the intake under the carb if possible. You need a fairly level surface.
I noticed the masking tape with "no oil" printed on it, is that because Dr. Dave is testing his louvered oil pan prototype?
+Don Nevin hahaha, yes!
The customer supplied a power steering box. They also supplied the headers. The other option was to cut into the frame but the customer didn't want that. Rack and pinion is too new. Hope that answers your question.
In my mind, if you have to cut up the exhaust manifold anyways... just go with headers.
it was customers choice but I know what you're saying for sure
Yeah I figured as much. Cheers
Man, that's tight to say the least! Nice job on the firewall with the grinder. With the mods to that area, for clearance on the right valve cover, will the heater core still fit inside under the dash? That "W" looks damn good in that engine bay! Great video, Rick!
+Bill Stevenson yes, we did try that already. Thanks for the question and we'll address that on our next video to let everyone know that. There's always shit I forget to mention hahaha!
Would it have been easier to drop in a Pontiac 400 or 455?
+P. Fernandez PhD Not sure about clearance with those either - probably some issues with those as well but either way this was the motor that Dean wanted in this car and I think it's a really nice choice.
Heck, I just realized this was in 2016, what's it look like today or how about an update?
lol
Couldn't you use a power R&P system to avoid the steering box/manifold hassles?...I've seen R&P on a few Tri Five Chevys...I'm not sure just who makes the conversion kits, but that's the way to go here.
All that money it would have had headers,to much bullshit to get the manifold off.
is that 1/4 inch thinner or thicker from the out side in ? will it restrict the flow of the gasses slightly ...
just asking thats good to know thanks
+anthony marasco are you asking about the exhaust manifold?
+OldTimeGarage yes... i hoe thick is that wall ?, was said wall reused? or was some there type metal used? is there any video of the brazing work that was dome...think it would cool to see.... i was taught another way..... from old school metal shop worker called MR. K. always good to learn something new
the wall varies in thickness due to it being a cast piece but it probably averages around 1/8" thick. We used a piece of steel to close it back up cuz we needed it to be flat. No, there's no vid of Bruce doing the brazing (he hates being on camera!)
1955
Help me understand putting a "409" in a pontiac,389 421 even a 400.409 in 55 yes.
+Bob Roe Sorry Bob, it's probably just me but I don't understand your comment...are you questioning the logic of putting a 409 in the Pontiac?
some torque chains on order?
+macel mahrudel no but there's always a chance we will later!
Be warned, with that mentality, you'll never make it as a "new car engineer". Room to work on it?? Phew!!!!
I once worked with one of those "old timers" who put a SBC into a Jeep wagoneer. In order to get the drivers exhaust manifold to clear the steering box, he set the manifold up in a mill and milled the face that goes against the head at a angle, essentially, creating a "block hugger" manifold. Looks like some of that could work on your 348/409.
On my 57 Chevy, someone put a 327 into the chassis. The center link conflicted with the pan so they literally beat a notch into the sump with a ballpeen hammer. It was all shiny where the center was hitting it at full lock. Simply changed the pan to a 283 pan and that corrected the problem nicely.
+Pappa Bob that's the way the old timers did it and still the way I do my own stuff a lot of the time. At the end of the day though you gotta make the customer happy and the last thing Dean wants is a smashed up oil pan! hahaha
+OldTimeGarage Nope, I wouldn't/didn't want the beat up pan either. But I would like the angled, cast iron, "block hugger" manifold.
I know nitrile gloves are a little on the pricey side....
You guys kill me ! I ran many tri five chevys with 396 and 427s with stock style motor mounts, never once did i ever have to cut the firewall , , never once! The stock mounts never broke ! Never ! I used blow proof bellhousings with the stock rear mounts also . Never had exhaust , steering or oil pan problems ! You guys kill me with your side mounts and lowered suspension !
Well so you are aware am the guy building for the customer and this is what they want .So to each their own !
@@OldTimeGarage you are right the man paying the bill is the boss
no face shield or gloves - safety first
Nice , is that thing stock ?
+Tom Kline haha did I repeat myself too much?
Back 40 years ago i had friend who put a 394 olds in a 60 chevy,could never see the logic in that.It took him forever.
You this is a 1955 Pontiac I don't know what it is not a 1955 Pontiac
I can assure you it is a '55 Pontiac
Canadian 55 Pontiac is based on Chevy platform but US Pontiacs are totally different.
Yes,i mean anybody can do whatever they want with their own car.I can see a 409 in a 55 chevy.But a 409 in a pontiac to me is strange.Unless i'm missing something.389 421 400 would seem more appropiate .
+Bob Roe Well there were plenty of different motors put in lots of different makes...why do people put Chev motors in Fords?? Dean went with a 409 cuz it's such a pretty motor and he loves the old W's.
Canadian Pontiacs all had Chevy motors, frames and all mechanicals from the factory. US Pontiacs are different.