Ford engine swap

[Kaiser Ranchero]

Would like any information regarding a small block Ford installation into a '51-'55 Kaiser and any upgrades on brakes-power assist and/or front disc.  Also any rack and pinion modifications without doing a sub-frame.

[ohmdr]

Not sure about the engine swap, but I've seen other engine swaps (Mopar, Chevy, Ford, Mitsubishi, etc.) into both Kaisers and Jeeps, so I'm certain it can be done if you take the time to engineer it correctly.

I believe that AAJ Brakes has recently (past year or so) made a front disc conversion kit for some of the Kaiser cars.
(503) 890-1469 or AAJBrakes@comcast.net - He is in Portland, OR and I've spoken with him on Chrysler based kits.

Another company to talk with is Scarebird.com
sales@scarebird.com

They are located near Seattle, Washington and I spoke with them several years ago when I was looking to convert my '49 Dodge to front discs.  Their kits are bolt-on, or near bolt-on without the need to cut up your car.  When I spoke with them, they were just getting a customers Chrysler in to figure out a kit.  I spent the next 2.5 months working on a bolt-on design myself and when I got the design right, I couldn't get anyone local to cut the brackets to mount the calipers.  When I called them back, they had just gotten their kit back and had brackets ready.  Their design and mine were almost identical, with the exception of theirs using bearing adapters and mid 70s Mopar hubs and rotors.  I bought their kit ($185) for the brackets and purchased the calipers, pads, and the rotor I had come up with from my design and put everything on my car.  It bolted on just fine and the only change I had to make to the car was to adjust my steering linkages (turn each side in 1/4") to correct the steering.  Total cost of the kit and parts from the local autoparts store was $400.

[HJ-ETEX]

Kaiser Ranchero: I have seen 1 SB Ford swap in a Kaiser. This was around 1985 so the oil pan used was a front sump which required the engine to be mounted high to clear the center idler on the steering linkage. I wasn't impressed. Since then Fords have used oil pans with a shallow sump in front and a deeper one in back. The reduction in the t part of the oil doesn't appear to be enough - there is still the distributor drive and oil pump up there.

[kndllmtt]

I agree with HJ-ETEX, The Ford motor would require a rear sump pan, just for ease-of-installation. By the way what motor did you have in mind?

[Kaiser Ranchero]

Hoping to use a 5.0 with an AOD. I set a motor and trans in. Looks like a remote oil filter is needed, but the crank shaft pully is in approximately the same place as the 226 pully. Not much clearance for the steering box or the steering center arm as it is very close to the pan but in the recess of the pan. Need to check on mounts and cross member and exhaust hook ups. Any ideas?

[kaiserfrazerlibrary]

Considering horsepower of the 226 and weight, if you have to use a Ford, what about a 3.0 V6 or are you trying to turn the car into a performance machine?   Also, have you checked out mating gearboxes to the Ford?  Unless you're going to cut a hole in the floor for a shifter, your linkage needs to be considered as well as mounting, etc.

I would suggest you run an INFORMATION WANTED ad in the Monthly Bulletin; ads are free to club members.  The forum only reaches a fraction of the total membership.

[HJ-ETEX]

Here is one thought about the exhaust. Dual exhausts don't work well on 51-55 Kaisers because of the location of the uniquely shaped gas tank. In addition, there isn't a hole in the frame x-member on the drivers side for an exhaust pipe to go through. The easiest set up is to make a crossover pipe and run a single exhaust on the passenger side.

[HJ-ETEX]

Now if you are a dedicated Ford boy, you could put in a 300 6 cylinder. There won't be any room to spare front to back*, but after looking at a Chevy 6, I think it can be done since both Ford & Chevy 6s are 33 inches long. The Ford even has an advantage over the Chevy since the distributor and oil filter are in the middle of the drivers side of the engine. It brings back memories of 7X Hudsons (NASCAR Hudsons).

*51 Kaisers have bulges in the center of the firewall so the larger, bulkier radios used in earlier cars could be installed. That could be a problem when stuffing in a modern 6.

[Kaiser Ranchero]

My project is a 52 two door made into a Ranchero. The plan is to use it as a tow vehcile for a Virginian, Carolina and Manhattan to car shows and club meets. Therefore a v-8 would be desireable to pull the long hills as encountered on the route to Texas. Cross over exhaust or turn outs before the rear wheel wells would be fine. Have several 289, 302, 5.0 and 351s left over from my Mustang days, and have a fresh 5.0 with an AOD that would not incur the cost of buying another engine and trans.

[stroker70]

early Bronco oil pans and pick up tubes are rear sump,but you likely know this already. 5.0 is a nice way to go 

[hollenway]

http://thumb7.webshots.net/t/30/30/8/65/77/2631865770029945987dprkxu_th.jpg

302 HO in a 53 Kaiser....



And another view....

http://thumb7.webshots.net/t/38/39/9/7/13/2523907130029945987HSkgEz_th.jpg

[hollenway]

[URL=http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2523907

[hollenway]

Ok ... I give up - just go to my webshots site and look at the 2006 National pics...

http://community.webshots.com/user/hollenway?start=42

[pnw_oldmags]

This is your image URL placed between [ i m g ]  and [ / i m g ]

[Kaiser Ranchero]

Thanks to everybody for all of your help with the Ford engine swap with a special thanks to Hollenway.

Hollenway, would you mind swapping email addresses or calling me at 925-684-0346 for more info on your pictures?  I found a Hollen in the Kaiser registry.  I'll try that number tomorrow.

Thanks,

Paul