OT - 409 in a '49 Chevy?
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 4,101
Likes: 10
From: NorCal
OT - 409 in a '49 Chevy?
I have a chance to pick up a '49 2 door Chevy rolling chassis. I know nothing about these and I'm curious if the engine bay would accomadate a 409 with stock cast iron exhaust manifolds.
I'm going to the bay area to check it out this weekend and that's sort of the way I'm looking to go. Any thoughts?
Mods, move this if it's in the wrong place...
Hans
I'm going to the bay area to check it out this weekend and that's sort of the way I'm looking to go. Any thoughts?
Mods, move this if it's in the wrong place...
Hans
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
V8 swaps of all sorts are common in those years. There is plenty of room, but you might have to get a different steering column and box. The steering column and box were one unit and those days, and the clearances were worked out for the old "stovebolt" straight six.
Sounds like a cool car.
Sounds like a cool car.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,944
Likes: 22
From: Yooperville MI
The '49-'54 cars don't get enough respect. Their is a place called Walden or Walton Fabrications that makes V8 engine mounts and trans cross members for the pre-'55 cars. There mounts bolt and weld to the side of the frame rails and the cross member bolts in place instead of rivets like the original. You'll need to cut or remove the 2 vertical supports on the firewall to squeeze the the engine between them.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 5,403
Likes: 95
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
A hot-rodded GMC or full-pressure ('54-later) Chevy inline six would be incredibly cool in that car, too. Check out some of the rides at www.inliners.org. 
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,993
Likes: 7
From: LaPine Oregon
Room for exhaust manifolds and steering.....?
Back in the late sixties I did two early chevy V8 swaps, '49 Torpedo w/ 283/PG and open drive line and a '50 Buisness Coupe with a 327/PG also open drive line.
The engine bay has room but the frame rails get narrow for steering and headers.
The cars were lowered for cruising. Wish I had them both back now
The engine bay has room but the frame rails get narrow for steering and headers.
The cars were lowered for cruising. Wish I had them both back now
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 5,403
Likes: 95
Back in the late sixties I did two early chevy V8 swaps, '49 Torpedo w/ 283/PG and open drive line and a '50 Buisness Coupe with a 327/PG also open drive line.
The engine bay has room but the frame rails get narrow for steering and headers.
The cars were lowered for cruising. Wish I had them both back now
The engine bay has room but the frame rails get narrow for steering and headers.
The cars were lowered for cruising. Wish I had them both back now
looked good on all the cars of that time Ford, Chevy, Plymouth.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 4,101
Likes: 10
From: NorCal
I checked out the car on Saturday. Not a bad body overall, but it had substantial rust in the trunk floor area and it was missing some trim. Thanks to you guys, I also measured my 409 width with the exhaust manifolds mounted. I could have made it work, but the frame and steering all would have required a bit of massaging! I passed on it, much to the relief of the guy waiting for me to decide. He paid 3 large for it. It would have cost me considerably less, as the seller was a colleague of mine. Still, I'll eventually find a suitable home for my dinosaur.. Thanks for the input.
Hans
Hans