plymouth hot rod

[hopkins18419]

I’m 16 years old and am building a 1947 plymouth coupe hot rod with my father. We had a 350 with a 5 speed and threw it in. I know most of you want mopar in mopar but it was a lot cheaper to rebuild the 318 or the hemi we have. If recently run into a problem. I want to keep the stock steering but my exhaust is having problems clearing. I would rather use headers instead of an exhaust manifold. If any of you veteran hot rodders want to help out a kid building a car I would appreciate it.

Thank you

David

[Normspeed]

One cure is to move your engine mountings so the engine sits an inch or two over to the right side.

[CUHEMIDA]

if you look into what mopar did with there steering exhaust problem in the last reply the guy said to move the motor over about 2 inches well that is just what mopar did to make things fit so believe him move it over

oh by the way im building a 1948 dodge coupe

[hopkins18419]

we've moved it over but the headers and exhaust manifold still hit the steering box. our main problem is finding a header or exhaust manifold that would fit. if anyone knows of one to use or an idea of one.

thank you very much

david

[1947PLEVY]

David:

Have you tried the ram horn (older model stock) or maybe some off a 87 or so camaro? I know the one on the camaro discharges to the rear..on the driverside. My son in law has a 87 with tuned port and it discharges in the back...

Another choice would be to modify the headers..

Keep us posted..Good Luck and God Bless US All..John

[1lowdown]

Could he go to a rack and pinion set up out of a Cavilier and just eliminate the steering box? You could go to the HAMB site and do a search, I think it is a common issue with a 350 conversion....

[Plymouthy Adams]

its a common issue with about any engine modification...if you going to custom the car why skimp on steering and other front end related issue...once into a job of this nature..its close to a snowball efect...plan ahead..execute safely..I personally feel if you gotta ask how in this department..you may be in over your head...

[hopkins18419]

I have to go with the rack and pinion in my car. we spent all day trying to find headers to fit that car and nothing was achieved. on monday we're ordering mounts to put in the rack and pinion.

[martybose]

I've always thought that it is relatively easy to mount the Cavalier rack and connect it to the spindles; what I want to know is how you connect it to the stock steering column and keep the horn wire!

Marty

[tinlizzy]

The older model chevy engines, I'm refering to the mid 50's had exhaust manifolds that came off the front and opposite sides came off the rear. Might check for one of the ones that I believe where on the driver's side and exhausted off the front to give you enuff room to bend a pipe.

Added bonsus was generator mount on the exhaust.

[Plymouthy Adams]

good question and there is a number of answers but you will either involve a hacksaw or a diffterent column...further at the time the instructions were written for the Fatman/Plydo install of the TRW rack...the actual mounts are designed for the D24 install and not the smaller framed Plymouth..though they will install..it is with a bit of modification to the modification. The strict adherrence to instruction is paramount to an useful and effective set up in order to have proper turn radius, no bind or rub of the tie rod ends and elimination of bumpsteer. This is the exact thing I mentioned that the smallest of modifications involve more than one first considers..

[Andydodge]

Marty/Tim, if you cut the column to use uni joints etc to couple up to a different steering setup then you run into a problem in using the original horn setup. The original horn ring/button is an earth switch, it maybe possible to reroute the horn wire from the horn relay instead of up thru the hollow steering shaft which can't be done if a uni joint is there by running the wire thru the firewall, dash and upthe coloumn to see if its possible to somehow connect it thru /under/inside the steering wheel to the T shaped earth plate.........I don't think its going to be easy or even possible, but would like to hear it its been done as I am going to eventually install an Oz version of the Cavalier rack and will want to keep the original steering wheel( a later P15 version instead of the original P11) and horn ring.........andyd

[Plymouthy Adams]

again..it is not without modifications/sacrafices..unless you were to come with a slip ring the use of the original horn ring is probably going to be ruled out..that is what I said earlier about upgrades and one problem when corrected will lead yet to another..there is a possible another way I have given some thought to but other projects are way ahead of any on the P15 bz cp at this time

Edited November 22, 2009 by Tim Adams

[Don Coatney]

This is a Mopar engine but you may be able to reverse mount a shiverlay manifold and make it work.

[Plymouthy Adams]

ah the memories..Ford 292 made this production standard...many later model tranverse V6's have similar cross over exhaust systems..it does appear the posted picture is a truck body or early car with straight axle..but truck seems more in line per the firewall appearance.

[Don Coatney]

ah the memories..Ford 292 made this production standard...many later model tranverse V6's have similar cross over exhaust systems..it does appear the posted picture is a truck body or early car with straight axle..but truck seems more in line per the firewall appearance.

The furd 292 (and I believe 272) used a crossover pipe that went on the top side of the engine and connected to the opposite manifold on the front side.

[Plymouthy Adams]

yes..the idea of the front cross over is what I was referring to mainly...not the high low...not an original idea today..has been done time and again..