1955-1960
 

What would be a decent combo and what rating do you think?

I have heard 58 348 was a fast car back then??? This is chevy but I'm guessing their are other brands as well.

Re: 1955-1960
 

World Products just came out with a new W block

Re: 1955-1960
 

Mary Ann Foss killed everybody with her '58 Pontiac, 370ci, tri-power in D/SA. Mid 14's in '58.

JimR

Re: 1955-1960
 

Daran -- forget the 348 -- 57 283/245 or 283 /250 hp is the way to go and they fit all bodystyles

Re: 1955-1960
 

It's not cast iron it is aluminum:
Read Here: http://www.worldcastings.com/product...nch-block.html

Probably not an acceptable substitution for a factory W block.

Re: 1955-1960
 

Daran, I've been trying to get someone to do a 1961 Bubbletop, 348/250 for years. Check out the specs on that one! At 250 HP it looks pretty good when it is stacked up against the 350s.

Re: 1955-1960
 

The heads on the 59 348 are the worst in the W motor family with tiny ports. That head is exclusive to the 348 block of that year due to water cooling passages-in other words, the 348 block in 58 can only be used with the 58 head. Later heads will result in a massive coolant leak by the spark plugs. A later 348 block topped with 58 heads would do the same thing. The World block is not only aluminum, but the bore size is way bigger than any maximum legal 348 overbore. The idea of the 61 Impala or Bel Air bubbletop with a 348/250 might work, and I think the hi-po 348 aluminum intake would be a legal replacement, since it was OEM. The '61 409/360 intake wouldn't be a bad choice, and some of the 4 jet carb guys are pretty good.Thirty years ago, a friend of mine in New Jersey had a 61 Impala 348/250 horse 4 speed combo that ran O/stock, went 13.00 at 103 back then. Broke a lot of rear ends.

Re: 1955-1960
 

From a motor/transmission aspect, the '61 348-250 with an automatic would be a good setup. These came with both PG's and TurboGlide transmissions...so running a TH350 would be the way to go. The high perf 348-305/340 h.p. alum intake probably wouldn't fly, as they used a Carter AFB (much bigger area under the carb) versus the 4GC on the 348-250. The 305's were hydraulic cams and the 340's were solid lifter cams.

A Biscayne or Bel Air sedan, a one piece driveshaft, and a 12 bolt in place of the original housing assy. would make for a pretty slick stocker. These motors are still available and pretty inexspensive.

Re: 1955-1960
 

With all due respect fellas,,,the thread is about 1955-1960 automobiles,,the '61 combos you're discussing could've been built anytime in the last 49 years, as I'm sure they have been.
Also all '61 Chevy 2-dr. hardtops,,Bel-Air, Impala and Super Sport are "bubbletops" so no need to be redundant. The term was properly used to differentiate between the '62 models when the new roofline came out for the Impalas and Super Sports, whereas the Bel-Airs retained the previous roofline,,but then you guys knew that didn't you?
Danny Durham

Re: 1955-1960
 

It's worth noting that not all '61 Impala 2 drs. were hardtops. They were also available with the 'flat top' roofline..like the Biscayne and Bel Aire sedans...complete with post. I owned a '61 Impala 2 dr. sedan (not hardtop) in the early '90's.

But you knew that, right?

But since were not supposed to talk about '61's......