47 Plymouth

[Abel]

Hi need help just asking if anyone has done a frame swap on a 47 Plymouth or any ideas to get more horsepower but on a budget 

[Los_Control]

I got a 1991 chebby I would trade you straight across .... you will get more horse power.

 

Beautiful solid car, I'm all for swapping in a big block chebby with a blower and 6 carburetors ..... That car is frigging beautiful.

I'm betting it would not take too much to get it running & driving as is. Fix any rust issues you might have on the floor or other places and drive it a little bit.

Then decide what has to be changed.

You can do drive train swaps including rear ends & upgrading to disk brakes using the factory frame.

 

I do not know about your specific car. I will use a 1957 chebby convertible as a example.

Removing the top removes a lot of body structure and strength. So the convertibles have a totally different frame with a heavy X cross member to strengthen the car up.

I only assume your car has a heavily beefed up frame because it is a convertible.  ..... I could be wrong .... that does limit your frame choices though.

 

You could drop in a 318/360 engine, 727 transmission .... Ford explorer rear end. Update the front brakes to disk .... We are talking a lot of work & $$.

When if you got it running and driving as is, you might enjoy it. There are several speed parts available for these engines .... Your car your choice.

[andyd]

Thats a real nice car, a frame swap is really not necessary, the side valve engine can be hopped up via a milled stock head or finned alloy head, twin carbs, upgraded dissy or HEI dissy, headers, a mild cam, balanced & then go hunt some fathead Frods........disc brakes, upgraded shocks & sway bar and you will have a car that holds or increses in value rather than one that will not be worth as much if frame swapped..........heres a pic of a 230 ex airport tug engine I was building........they can look good...........welcome aboard from Oztralia.............Andy Douglas 

[Sniper]

37 minutes ago, andyd said:

the side valve engine can be hopped up via a milled stock head or finned alloy head, twin carbs, upgraded dissy or HEI dissy, headers, a mild cam, balanced

 

2 hours ago, Abel said:

any ideas to get more horsepower but on a budget 

 

Not seeing the compatibility here, lol.

 

Be cheaper to drop in a more modern v8 and trans, keeping the original frame.  In the download section is an article about swapping a 318 into one of these era cars.

[Plymouthy Adams]

its just a convertible, cut that sucker along the jugular.....prevent the slow death....lol

[Bob Ritter]

Abel, I have a 1948 Plymouth convertible that I have the body off frame and have replace the floor and some of the rockers. Have rebuild suspension and powder coated the frame. Right now I'm looking for a left door. If you go into the search and look under wiring you see my car.

(rritter2@ca.rr.com)

[andyd]

If you are feeling that you can do a frame swap then just doing a late 318/trans swap, newer rear axle 7 disc brakes will be a piece of cake and a lot less involved than a frame swap, but your car so your choice.......just its rare that a frame swap ends up being a great choice.....possible but from what I've seen & to be fair, I've really only seen pics of the botched ones it appears that a botched one is more common than not............andyd

[Abel]

Ok thanks 

[Bob Ritter]

Abel why change the frame, they never fit right and you have to do a lot of altering. I would suggest using the stock frame because it is a great frame and being it's a convertible it has a reenforced center section. You box the front frame rails and use a Fat Man or a Heidie front suspension kit and add what ever engine, trans and rear you want. Anyway you have a great car to start with, best of luck...

[Plymouthy Adams]

go with the TRW rack and pinion, disc brakes kit you just saved 2 grand or better....If you wanted power why did you opt for this slug?  And even if the slug has curb appeal, a little research prior could have gone a long way.  I am of the thought if you gotta ask how, the water is too deep.  

[Bob Ritter]

Hey I think it's cool to build the car the way you want it, most of the beautiful cars at car show have different engines. Make it something you will be proud of... 

 

[Plymouthy Adams]

nothing at all wrong with the build, roll your own, go with the tried and true....but answering the man in the manner he pointed out...BUDGET   seems majority on the forums regardless view this as lowest amount of effort and money....same money with effort..save effort with money....define this first....

[Sniper]

In order to save money with effort one has to have the skill set to do that.  That right there kills more projects than anything else.  Someone tears into a project, then realizes they are in over their head and the project dies, sold off or stuffed into storage to "get around to it" one day.

[Abel]

True true thanks 

3 hours ago, Sniper said:

In order to save money with effort one has to have the skill set to do that.  That right there kills more projects than anything else.  Someone tears into a project, then realizes they are in over their head and the project dies, sold off or stuffed into storage to "get around to it" one day.