I'm putting a 400 in my 48 f1 w/stock suspension, minus a couple leaves, and going the Toyota ps route. The engine has to be moved over to the P-side, and Sanderson headers are supposed to clear. I haven't put it in yet, but I've been researching too long to turn back now, lol.

 

Looks good man keep on going

 

Check out my gallery "steering details"

I mounted a Caddy 500ci in my 49. Dimensionally the engine isn't huge but it does take up some room. After I got the engine mounted I chose to use the Toyoto steering box. I decided that my exhaust was a bit too close to the steering box so I mounted the steering box ahead of the axle. No biggie

Bobby

 

The question I still have is, will the inner fenders allow header clearance for the 400?

 

I don't know why it wouldn't since the inner fenders are outside the frame rails.

 

I got the motor back out. It looks like if I slide the motor front just 1 1/2 inches I will have enough room for the manifold. I think that it should be slid forward anyway, as I was really tight to the firewall. Someone posted a few pics for me to check out, and I should have more than enough room to get a radiator in.

Since my truck is channeled 6 inches I am going to have to butcher the inner fenders anyway. I can't imagine having room for headers in there yet. I don't have a pair in hand to try though either. As far as shifting the motor toward the PS, that manifold is only about 1/2 from the frame rail. Moving the motor forward a bit will help with the clearnace between the oil pan and front axle. Right now it looks like it would have to "clearance itself" at the first big bump I hit.

CHAZ

 

You could always do away with the inner fenders and find or fabricate some fenderwell headers. Even if you can't find fenderwell headers you might still be able to route the exhuast out over the frame

Bobby

 

What is the frame width on the '48-'52 Fords?

 

2" less than the '53-56' ones if I recall. Bobby, that was my "plan-B". I have a set of fenderwell headers sitting around, and was gonna see how it would look/fit.

Chaz, how far forward are you of the firewall? Do you have a front-sump oil pan?

 

Come on Guys, a Guy here in town squeezed a 400 in a Fox Body Mustang, with a Turbo.
Have you considered making headers instead of store bought? Those are usually made for a specific application and messaged into other applications.

 

Branden, all I know is that its a bit narrower than the 53-56. Havi says 2". I can measure it if someone needs it.

Years ago when I made a 4x4 from a 1960 F-100 by combining it with components from a 75 F-150 I ended up routing the exhaust over the frame rail from the factory exhaust manifolds so that I could have room for the front driveshaft. I didn't have to hack up the inner fenders too bad on that truck.

On the 48-52 trucks the inner fenders are fairly simple, they bolt along the top of the fender, they have one bolt at the cab. They do get a bit more complicated at the radiator support as they bolt to the support and the fenders bolt to them but still its not a huge thing if you wanted to do away with them or modify them. They don't touch the frame at all (well, the 48-50 trucks did have one bolt back at the cab that did but its a bit useless in the long run)

Bobby

 

Well, if it is only 2" narrower than a '53-'56, I don't see why it wouldn't fit. I started off making my own headers, and it was a headache. I ended up buying a set of Sanderson headers. They offer 3 different styles for the 351C (these will fit the 400, you just need the "adapter plate"). The ones I have are basically a block hugger style. They are expensive, however. I don't see any reason to go with fender well headers unless you want those. I think trying to fit those would cause bigger problems, but what do I know?

 

Thanks, Bobby. I was just wondering, because the pictures I have seen those frames look the same as the '53-'56. I was just curious, as I'm not real familiar with the '48-'52 Fords.

 

The 48-52 rails are 32" from the front of cab forward, to the rear 34"

 

I'd sure like to see that, cuz I'm tryng to fit one in my 88 tbird....but my kmember setup is different. Anywho, I'm sure w/Sandersons, they would fit. In talking with Danlee about his 434 fitting in a '53, he said I'd probably have more trouble with clearance due to mine being a '48, didn't say where or how. He uses Sandersons. The catch is the taller deck height, which pushes the headers outward a couple inches. I'm hoping that they'll clear. I'm sticking with plan A as long as possible, lol. I'd like to set the block in, but since the PO removed everything, I don't have a datum line to start with as to where the original motor and tranny mated. I think knowing the starting point would make the guesswork a little more tolerable, but I'm picky, lol.

Edit: After looking at Hoof's first post and pic, It look like headers could be made to fit, and with a Toy ps box, a couple custom bends may be all that's needed. Inner fenders could be "stepped" if needed.

With that No-Limit tranny crossmember w/2" offset, was that for a TH350 tranny? Was it specific to a 2" offset, or is there just 2" more clearance?