Thread: Brain Picking! Please help!

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It's been awhile since I have made any posts. I am still working on my 1951 Chevy 4 door fleetline. I decided to clip the front end in order to put a 350 sb with a T350 or 700 trans. I need help in deciding what clip would be better a camero or nova? Also would I have to modify the fender wells on the fleetline. I am still working on the body and have completly shaved the door handles and taken all the chrome off. I am hoping to make this a sick 4 door led sled. Any help and knowledge is appreciated!

I've never subed a 51 chevy car but I have done many 50 51 chevy & GMC trucks and all were done with camaro subs. I realy don't think you would have to modify your fender wells. you can adjust your foot print with the back spacing on your wheels.
Charlie

they are the same camaro or nova . there is front steer and rear steer this is where the steering box is on the frame i have a front steer on my 50 chevy the one thing i can tell you is that the front end is a bit bigger than the old chevy so if you want to go low and wide on the front tires it will not happen with out working on the upper and lower A arms by shorting them up or buy the shorter a arms from fat man

you may have to do some trimming on the fenderwells, and of course modify the radiator support to accomodate the new front end. If you want to spend the additional time and expense you could also build a fixture and narrow the front sub to the desired track width. If you choose to narrow the crossmember, then header fit is an issue and the motor mounts would have to be relocated. As Pat said, the narrower A-Arms are a better alternative.

ya don't need to put a clip in it to put a 350 in it, just get the SBC bolt in mounts, relocate your e brake and make room for the steering box by pushing it aside or moving the engine over, a simpler way to do it, if that's the only reason you are clipping it.

oh, if u shaved the chrome off, do you still have all of it? if u have deluxe fender spears, I'd like to buy them, my driver side was reattached with 1 sheet metal screw at the back. also, I also need the driver side front door chrome, that was screwed in place as well. PM me if your willing to sell them.

well my chevy had a 327 in it with all stock front end it was a not that geat at all the gm bell crank steering is bad with bigger tires at a dead stop it was very hard to turn to park and it did not stop the best thing was the clip and that was over 20 years a go the car handles geat and stops and i can turn with one hand so with the clip you are fixing the brakes steering and handling and up dating to parts you can get any where

Originally Posted by pat mccarthy

well my chevy had a 327 in it with all stock front end it was a not that geat at all the gm bell crank steering is bad with bigger tires at a dead stop it was very hard to turn to park and it did not stop the best thing was the clip and that was over 20 years a go the car handles geat and stops and i can turn with one hand so with the clip you are fixing the brakes steering and handling and up dating to parts you can get any where

that's true. I was just giving a cheaper option, but if u do assess the strong arm steering these cars have at a dead stop, and the brakes and handeling aspect, than a clip is the option to go for. there are modifications to the steering that can loosen up the steering, other than proper ajustment, 1 is to get power steering, ither a '53-4 box, pump and resivore or, a '85-90 2wd astrovan power steering box can be reversed and bolted in place and work with the stock stuff, and use a standard saganaw pump, brakes can be converted to discs using GM metric stuff and machining spindals a little. only thing that this might not cover is the 2 lane turns because they have partly to do with the turning radius and where the load of the springs is on. I researched on upgrades for mine but for now, it stops and handles ok for me.

yes you can do all that but you still have a king pin front end . when all done i still think for a v8 it is a nother away to go and would be cheaper in the long run . as for the turn radius i can make mine chase it tail with the sub clip on it the turn radius is supper tight

Originally Posted by pat mccarthy

yes you can do all that but you still have a king pin front end . when all done i still think for a v8 it is a nother away to go and would be cheaper in the long run . as for the turn radius i can make mine chase it tail with the sub clip on it the turn radius is supper tight

that's true.

Pat you said you used a clip years back? What did you use? And what mods did you have to do?