53 bel-air

[freshstart]

i just bought a 53 bel-air for 500 bucks to use as my guinnie pig as my first project car with my son it has origional motor should i keep this in it or what kind of motor would fit in this car if i bought a crate motor the car is in very good shape and any tips at all even if not about motor will be greatly appreciated

[bobss396]

I think that was the first year of the 235 6-cylinder, so any later 235 is an easy bolt in. Any later 235 parts also bolt on, the last year for it was in 1962. The later engines had improved oiling and better bearings.

As far as dropping in a crate (V8?) motor, the condition of the car will be the best indication on how far you want to go and will it be worthwhile. If you do that, you may as well do a newer transmission, which snowballs into a different rearend ultimately.

The cheapest way might be just getting the existing motor to run nicely with a total tune up and carb rebuild, go over the drum brakes and replace the wheel cylinders, all the hardware, turn the drums and probably would be wise to install a new master cylinder. If the interior is all there, seat covers are relatively inexpensive. A bad interior will be expensive to fix up.

Of course any rust in the floors, trunk, chassis should be fixed, which could run into big bucks unless you're handy. The good thing is that lots of patch panels are available, so are body mounts.

Bob

[bobss396]

Oh yeah, could you post a few pictures of the car? The '50-54 Chevys are real nice cars, easy to work on too. It should be a fun project.

Bob

[maxwedge]

To swap a small block in there the torque tube driveline has to go, also the 53 was the last " splash" lube 235.

[Blue Bowtie]

My '50 had a babbit bearing six, 235 inches, so they were available at least by then. The torque tube axle (full of gear oil all the way to the front) was the first item to go on the way to the conversion from stock, in favor of an 8½" ten bolt from a Nova. The master cylinder under the floor was the next item to go away.

If you have a good body and frame, consider keeping it original, since the value will be higher.

[monanath]

If you ever want to refer to literature -- brochures, books, manuals, dealer lit on Chevrolet (your 53 bel-air...) for help in restoration or to add to your collection, you will find LOADS of it (original and quite rare) at McLellan's Automotive History.