1955-1960

Daran Summerton · 10-27-2010, 12:51 PM

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.

Jeff Lee · 10-27-2010, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daran Summerton

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.

World Products just came out with a new W block

treessavoy · 10-27-2010, 02:33 PM

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

JimR

Dave Toce · 10-27-2010, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Lee

World Products just came out with a new W block

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.

Billy Nees · 10-27-2010, 06:40 PM

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.

Greg Reimer 7376 · 10-27-2010, 10:36 PM

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.

Alan Nyhus · 10-28-2010, 06:09 PM

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.

Jack Matyas · 10-27-2010, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daran Summerton

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.

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

10-27-2010, 12:51 PM	#1
Daran Summerton Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Las Vegas nv Posts: 600 Likes: 18 Liked 66 Times in 37 Posts	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. __________________ 72 cutlass

10-27-2010, 02:33 PM	#3
treessavoy VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Dunnellon,FL Posts: 1,103 Likes: 0 Liked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Re: 1955-1960 Mary Ann Foss killed everybody with her '58 Pontiac, 370ci, tri-power in D/SA. Mid 14's in '58. JimR __________________ Jim Rountree

10-27-2010, 06:40 PM	#5
Billy Nees VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: On a hilltop in Pa. Posts: 4,485 Likes: 3,587 Liked 7,682 Times in 1,730 Posts	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. __________________ Billy Nees 1188 STK, SS I'm not spending 100K to win 2K

10-27-2010, 10:36 PM	#6
Greg Reimer 7376 VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Glendora,Calif. Posts: 1,135 Likes: 172 Liked 704 Times in 218 Posts	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.

10-28-2010, 06:09 PM	#7
Alan Nyhus VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Lower Dakota territory Posts: 1,180 Likes: 1,074 Liked 799 Times in 236 Posts	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.