[roysaric]

Hey guys I squeezed a ford 427 sohc "Cammer" into a 1932 ford 3 window coupe and now Im worried about the front suspension. I had to remove the crossmember and weld it in 11" ahead of the original position . Will the Ibeam suspension be ok to use ? The engine alone is 700 lbs. And What shocks should I use ? Coil overs or just regular shocks? and what top mounts are best? Thanks in advance . Roy

[Centerline]

Can't imagine why you would need to move the front crossmember forward 11" to fit that engine in that frame. I moved mine 2" forward on advise to fit my early hemi in my 3 window and then had to put a 3" spacer on the fan to get it close enough to the radiator to be effective.

To answer your question, my hemi goes right around 700 lbs. and I'm using a Superbell "I" beam with a Posie's chrome front spring, hairpins and standard shocks.

Some pictures of your engine installation would be helpful in letting us understand what problems you're facing.

Centerline
HotRodsAndHemis.com

“If money is what makes cars fast, mine otta be going 400 miles an hour!". - Felix Sabates

[roysaric]

the engine is 32 inches from the bellhousing to the crank pully, plus my steering rack is seven inches towards the oil pan from the crossmember. this engine is huge compared to ANY other fe block. I set the bellhousing forward from the fire wall to exclude any cutting into the body. hope this explains more. I will post pictures to explain more

[roysaric]

sorry my mistake on the measurements. its eight inches forward

[Irelands child]

Please don't take this without us seeing photos, but it sounds like you have a recipe for disaster with that R&P steering along with a cross member mounted out on the tips of the frame horns. Either cut the firewall or buy an aftermarket an "save" the OEM for another project.

As far as 32" length(BH to WP), the 396-454 BB Chevy is 32" and the 348/409 is 34.5 and the SOHC engine you describe is supposed to be 34. Heck, a flathead is 30" so why the problem. The width would concern me more as it IS 3" wider then Centerline's hemi. Weight wise - it's only 30 pounds more then a comparable FE

[balder]

Hi Roy,
I agree with "Irelands child". Please dont learn da hard way!
The stock frame twists too much with so much HP and torque, and moving da crossmember 11" foreward makes it worse - an aftermarket frame built for da 427 with Mc Pherson struts, and big discs on da front and leafs with a 9" ford limited slip rear end and drums, and a ´78 ford fairlane master cylinder with booster would be a safe build. Gabreal stryders- gas/hydrulic- 100 lb PSI on da gas side - shocks and struts are real stabile and a decent ride.

The old frame is good for a pure cruiser, a stock 221 to 302 V8 ford small block with a C4 ford automatic is max for living till da next sunrise.

Now for a good word - its refreshing to see ya put a Ford in a Ford! Nothing against other brands - but other well known motors in Fords are just as common as Hookers in Hamburg (editor--not an insult - their legal here)

Balder

[roysaric]

thanks for all the helpful info guys.My big problem is with the steering r/p and the ford reverse oil pan "the sump in the front of the engine. Im affraid that if I gave her the gas and the front came down too far they will hit. Im really not scared that the frame would hold up Im going to have some huge braces under the cab. and some inthe frame rail itself. Im really not trying to buy another frame. I have alot of money in this project already and its not even half way done. I know Its not going to be cheap but this frame is here to stay. If I cut off the frame horns and welded new channel with a inside gusset I think it will be strong enough.Does anyone have any pics of a sohc in a 32? I cant seem to find any

[balder]

Hi Roy,
its not a matter of holding up -- it`s the twisting of the frame when giving it lots a gas- or having to hit the binders, -- to say nothing about how it affects the cornering. With a straight axel the steering geometry changes radically with big HP and Torque when giving it gas or letting up real fast. it will act like it has a mind of its own. at least hunt up a used front end frame -with a rack and pinion steering and its whole assembly--and weld it to da 32-- anything except a straight axel! with da worm and a Big block! The more crossmembers ya add on da better. I hope ya dont expect the stock rear end to hold up---??
If ya must keep the modified stock frame -- at least adjust da carb linkage to half throttle on the carb- that might keep ya outa da ER.
Ive build rods since the late 50s and im a EMT IV- you dont want to see what ive seen due to what road your on.
Im sorry to be so blunt - but reality is survival.
Rethink - Research - Hunt - Then Build.

Balder

[Irelands child]

Somewhere I have one of a '32 as well as a couple other years - but not easily found. This is of a '35 Ford. Not a heluva lot more room but is representative anyhow. That's NOT an engine to take lightly:

[Deuce]

Originally Posted by Irelands child

Somewhere I have one of a '32 as well as a couple other years - but not easily found. This is of a '35 Ford. Not a heluva lot more room but is representative anyhow. That's NOT an engine to take lightly:

The engine in your photo is NOT a SOHC 427 ...

This is a 427 SOHC Ford.

[Irelands child]

Originally Posted by Deuce

The engine in your photo is NOT a SOHC 427 ...

This is a 427 SOHC Ford.

Right - it's Boss 429. Grabbed the wrong one to put in Photobucet

'Bout the same physical size

[Ford Junkie]

Originally Posted by Deuce

The engine in your photo is NOT a SOHC 427 ...

This is a 427 SOHC Ford.

LOL yep. but it sure is a sweet BOSS 429 tucked in that thing

If it's not the street tuned version that would be a screaming ride.

[Deuce]

Originally Posted by roysaric

Im affraid that if I gave her the gas and the front came down too far they will hit. Im really not scared that the frame would hold up

Does anyone have any pics of a sohc in a 32? I cant seem to find any

As a LONG time 32 Ford owner, I believe you do not have to worry about lifting the front tires. With that big, heavy engine up front ... and the less than drag slicks on the rear ... your tires will just spin, smoke and carry on but not lift the front end.

A properly boxed chassis will handle the power and the weight. A straight axle front will work great also.





____________________________________________

This is a photo of my 32 Ford roadster taken in 1973. It was equipped then with a 427/435 Horsepower 67 Corvette engine.
In 1973 it HAD a 400 Turbo and a 9 inch Ford rear end.



With that heavy of a engine ... the front end weighed 65 per cent of the roadsters weight. You engine is heavier.

_____________________________________________

The reason almost no one uses a Ford engine now in a 32 Ford is the oil pan. and the fact that the Ford is longer than the ever popular SBC Chevrolet engine.

[Deuce]

We need to see your frame.
Is it a newer built and fabricated tubing frame or is it a frame built from a set of original or reproduction frame rails ???

If you have a set of original style rails ... and added 8 inches ... you have a MESS.

IMHO ... the best way to build a 32 Ford chassis is with the frame in the JIG ... you mount the radiator and then set the engine in the location you want/need it.



Then mount the firewall and modify the firewall so the engine fits.





With a little work, you lose very little room.






One of the 75th Anniversary 1932 Fords honored was Mike Martin's yellow 32 Ford 3W coupe with a 427 SOHC ... It is a Highboy coupe and very nice. I have seen it in person ( Pomona CA 2007 ) and there are photos of it on the internet ...

.

[Centerline]

Originally Posted by Irelands child

.....The width would concern me more as it IS 3" wider then Centerline's hemi......

Actually the SOHC 427 is 32" wide and the 331-392 hemis were 32 1/8". A 331 hemi also outweighs his Ford by 20 lbs. They didn't call it a whale for nothin.

Here's a 32 Roadster PU with a SOHC 427.





Now, compare that with my hemi.



Centerline
HotRodsAndHemis.com

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