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New to the forum and just wanted to say hello. Also I have some questions. Gathering up information for building my 1951 Chevy Deluxe. My great grandpa bought it new and now I'm wanting to help my dad build the car into a hot rod street cruisin car. Looking into putting in a 383 and was wanting to know some steps to start with. I've also looked into putting in a mustang II front end. Thanks for any help.
welcome to chr. i am sure that there are alot of people here that can help you. not familiar with you car but would love to see pictures of it. it is always great to work with family.
Welcome to the club. Iam sure you will find a lot of good people here for advice. enjoy your stay.
Check out www.chassisengineering.com they will have everything you need to do this.
Welcome to CHR! The '51 is a neat old Chebbie, number of folks on here have one from the same era, but this one being Grandpa's, and building it with your Dad makes it an extra special project!!!!! I've got a great source for MII type front suspension, use them on a lot of projects around here....Let me know if I can help you out on any of the suspension issues!
Have fun with the project and keep us updated on your project with some pictures!
Welcome to CHR! I'm new here also. Lot's of knowledge on this site without the bull.
I'm building a 50 Chevy 2 door as we speak. Lets see some pictures of yours. Good luck on the build.
sweet looking car bouncer
Don't want to steal this thread but thank you jyardgirl.Quote:
Originally Posted by jyardgirl
Welcome. From what I have seen, putting a later suspension in one of these, like the MMII type, is the way to go. The early Chevy front suspension can be rebuilt and updated somewhat, but they still have those kingpins to deal with that require periodic greasing and attention, plus you are still riding around on 60 year old technology. Modern suspension and some radials will make this car handle and ride so much better. Probably will make slipping in a V8 a lot easier too as the crossmembers tend to be more compact on the MMII types.
Keep us posted and put up lots of pictures. It will help anyone else who might be thinking about doing a similar swap in the future.:) BTW, don't toss out the old spindles and brakes. Put them on EBAY, individually, and you will get some good money for them. 49-54 spindles are hard to come by as are the brake setups, and lots of straight axle guys use an axle with the Chevy ends on them.
Don
Welcome.............will be a fun build being that it will be with your dad. Projects are fun and frustrating but with family things seem to work out better.
Pics will be required as it gets done...lol........
Try Fatman as well for a front end or even google 51 chevy chassis and I'm sure you will find more places to look.
Welcome to the forum. We love photos, so keep our curiosity in check by posting updates. '49-'52 Chevys are cool!!
Rebuild the stock front end with dropped uprights, and disc brake conversion. Leave the econobox crap under the Pinto's!
Have you seen the article in Street Rodder Magazine?? They have been running a multi-issue article, "Project '51 for $15,000". The January 2011 issue is "Front End Fun", Part 3 Chassis Engineering Frontend Upgrade. Sounds like something you might want to peruse in your leisure time....;)
I don't believe anyone suggested bolting on Pinto parts!!! They belong in the junkyard, however DOM tubing for A-Arms and forged spindles are hardly econobox crap!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by R Pope
Thanks for all the replies and info fellas. Once I get the garage cleaned up and tart working on her I will start posting some pics. One other question is it adviseable to do the engine and chassis work before paint and body or is it the other way around. Thanks again.
Call it whatever you want, it was still designed to carry a little fourbanger in a 2000 pound econobox back in the '60's. Might be okay to roll on and off a trailer. It won't stand up under a 3500 pound car with a V8, if you are actually going to drive it in the real world. The original front end works well, and did so under Corvettes up until '63. Sure, if you chuck enough cash at aftermarket parts it can be made to work, but the stock Chevy stuff is already there and working.
By the way, did you ever drive a MII? Worst piece of crap on the American road!
I've sold and installed front suspension systems for better then 25 years now--none of them had stamped steel arms and floppy rubber joints like the OEM parts... The only thing that is MII is some of the geometry, and little of that! The quality units have little if any bump steer issues, anti-dive angle that keeps the front up under braking, and excellent adjustability on camber and caster static settings and gain settings. The MII nomenclature is nothing more then a name...kind of like everyone calling filler "bondo". The only thing MII on the quality units these days is the spindle, and the quality one's are forged spindles vs. the cast OEM units...Quote:
Originally Posted by R Pope
I've owned numerous Mustangs in the '79 to '05 range. None of them were world class handling when stock, but with some tweaking and parts changes they'll do an admirable job.... and yes, it talkes money to do this.... I work hard for my money and spend the majority of it on cars...I just like quality, I guess.
A '79 Mustang is a whole 'nother animal compared to a '78.
Sure, the quasi-MII stuff is pretty good, but why spend a truckload of money to end up no better off than you were? If you were starting with, say, a knuckle-joint '39 Chevy with no useable parts, the MII might be the way to go.
I have a few old Chev's, a '52 and a '54, and there is nothing wrong with the way they work. I have also had to drag some Mustang II's off the road after they tripped over their own front wheels for no apparent reason. One went end over end on a straight road when a cross wind unloaded one front wheel. No thank you!
I do all the engine and chassis work first. If your rebuilding stock you can paint as you go along. If your fabricating everything I like to mock it all up first then take it back apart for paint.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hotrodin51
Well I just figured get the engine bay and other drivetrain ducks in a row and then paint to prevent scratchin the paint while working. Planning on leaving the body and everything the same well except for the factory paint, then just give it some more power and handling improvements.
One more question. How dumb would it be to put a 454 bolted to a Turbo 400 into the car or is it even possible. Have a buddy who bought a truck for the axles and it came with 454 and a turbo 400 which he is gonna sell. Any info appreciated.
do it.the 454 would be cool.
Think the 454 would be cool also but I dont think it would fit or at least not with out a lot of modification considering it would have to have a turbo 400 and probably a 12 bolt rear. My favored plans are a 383 with a built 200r4 and a 10 bolt 8.5.
my chevy has had some 454 s now 548 with a blower. stock front with the bell crank center arm is juck . could you get the 454 in there with that old front end maybe but fender well headers would be a must . i clip my car many years ago so the BBC is a drop in. with the stock front the a bbc would be a hand full to turn the car at a dead stop my car with the stock front and SBC was not that much fun with the clip and power steer thing fun to drive