Thread: 51 Moredoor

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I did some trial fitting today and got the motor mounts built. Luckily I was able to reuse the mounting pads I built for the SHO motor and just moved them back. Also, the cutout I had made in the firewall for the SHO was the perfect width for the new engine. The big snafu looks like the factory steering box has to go; the motor is too wide. Looks like she getting a rack-n-pinion conversion. Also had to do some trans tunnel surgery but that was pretty minor. I ordered some block hugger headers and the next step is to modify the cross member for the trans.

Some good progress there, and the motor mounts worked out sweet! Firewall too!

Looks right at home in there!!!


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That looks really nice in there!

Thanks! I spent the morning at the boneyard and picked up a Cavalier rack and pinion and a shifter from a Jag XJ-12. I have the same rack on my 48 so it should be a relatively easy swap. The shifter is cable actuated and has a spring loaded side to side action rather than a release button so I'm going to modify the shifter lever that I had on the five speed to fit.

Just read the entire thread and am very impressed, You do an excellent job at body and paint. I'm doing an engine swap as well in a '62 Merc unibody. I haven't decided on which way to go yet but I know there's no sbc or bbc going into it, I have a 2000 Dakota that may give up it's 3.9L drivetrain for my beast. although I'm not stuck on using the slushbox in it. Any ideas on an adaptor to use the original tranny from the M100?

There's a lot of videos on You Tube of people building various motor to transmission adapters; you might try watching a few of those. The AX-15 5 speed that was used in the Dakotas is a pretty good trans and bolts right up to your V6. Lots of Jeep guys use them and I had one behind a 318 in my 51 Plymouth.

I got my cross member re-built today: I was able to reuse the one I had built for the SHO motor by moving the mounting plate and adapting a GM trans rear mount. I also notched it on both sides for exhaust clearance. I got headers trial fitted but had to do some frame notching for clearance. I'll box those sections when I pull the motor back out to finalize the mounts and rebuild the trans.

Time to start test mounting the rack and see how the steering is going to work out.

Lookin' good!!

Nice work! Your headers look to be a nice fit too!

I pulled the drive train back out so I could make the rack and pinion mounts and box the frame where I notched it. When I did this swap on my 48 I bought some tie rod adapters that adapted Ford Explorer tie rods ends to the Cavalier rods; this time I figured I'd just make some. There was already an adapter that screwed into the Cavalier tie rod so I cut the end off of the Plymouth tie rod, ground the adapter down so it would fit inside, welded it, and put a tie rod clamp on it. With the Explorer tie rods you had to re-size the steering arm taper; this way I can just use stock 49 Plymouth tie rod ends. Now I need to patch the trans tunnel where I cut it, and take it all back apart to clean it up and paint it.

More great work!

Times 2! You're moving right along now..

Thanks, guys; much appreciated.

Yes x3 Progress Progress Progress, throw some of that my way