to swap or not to swap

[speeder]

i have a 39 ford pickup in mint condition, and stock as a rock.flat head v-8,not even a hole in the dash for a radio,stock rear end,50-55 top speed. should i put in a 302 (i have one) and chang the rear end,or leave it stock and just drive slow (hard to do).

[olddog]

I personally hate to see a mint condition antique get distroyed forever, as ford will never build annother 39 ford pickup. People do it all the time. There are no laws against it. I guess it's a personal choice.

It wouldn't hurt to have it appraised, as is and what it would be worth after it's modified. That's one way to look at it.

I had a 48 ford truck about 26 years ago. At the time there were still a lot of hot rod parts available for the flat head 8's. Race cams, high compression heads, dual two barrel intakes, things like that. I would view this route as less distruction to the value as an original. These engines look and sound great - again my oppinion.

If your 39 wasn't built better than my 48, it isn't safe to drive faster than 50 MPH anyway. Stearing and brakes left a lot to be desired! Personally, if I wanted to go fast, I would buy something designed to go fast.

[carsandcycles]

With a survivor, I'm sure there is a collector or enthusiast that would drool for the chance to get your truck in stock condition. Since it doesn't sound like you have a place of admiration towards it, it might be wise to sell this truck and get something that would be more to your liking. Like they say on "American Muscle Car", don't crush it, restore it. By modifying this vehicle, the sum of the new parts won't equal the originality of the donor; in effect crushing it. JMHO

[speeder]

the general consencess is to keep it stock. if i want to go some place i should have left yesterday. i am currently working on a 72 torino go fast

[KA9MOT]

Ahhhhh.......72 Gran Torino......my first car. Mine was a Sport with fake hoodscoop, 351C and a 4 speed. We swapped in a 429 out of a 70 Grand Marquis (The one with the headlight doors, I think it was a Grand Marquis). That thing was fast when we could get it to hook up. In the 70's we jacked the rear suspension up and put large tires in the back. That put all the wieght on the nose of the car naturaly and the dang thing would not hook up!

[rj57]

A lot of people say if you have a survivor and want something different (modified, custom, retro) sell the survivor and buy the vehicle you wish you had.

Destroying a survivor is something that can not be replaced. So much for the Chips, Troys, and any other custom car builder.

I still like the jacked up in the rear 1960 - 70s look on a lot of cars.

A lot better then the cookie cutter lowered/torq thrust wheeled/FI crate engine/after market dash & interior vehicles running around today.

What happened to building a unique vehicle?

So many run those Torq Thrust II wheels today I'm sick of seeing them. Give me a set of Cragar SS wheels any day.