I need some of your opinions on an engine for my 38 Plymouth. Is a 440 too much engine considering limited tire size in rear ? Also, extra weight, more cooling capacity needed, tighter fit for headers, etc. Would I be better off to consider using a small block, maybe a 360 or 408 ? I want this car to be very driveable and able to go on long trips. I also want to have enough engine that it is fun to drive. I am planning on using an '85 5th Avenue front clip.

408. The 440 packaging problems and extra weight are against it. The smallblock also has the ability to bolt on an overdrive automatic with no adapter s necessary.

Looking at it from a build-it-yourself point of view the smallblock wins hands down.

I'd start out with the 5th Avenue's 318.
I have found that I build the engine and don't finish the rest of the car! So now I say build the hot engine last after you have the teething problems all worked out of a new rod.

R.

PS: I believe the transverse torsion bar front end is fundamentally flawed and would suggest you bite the bullet and run the MustangII in whichever configuration you want (buy a copy of Street Rodder magazine), or else go original suspension with updates from fatman fabrications.

From my memory, I believe that the 5th avenue track width is too wide and would not look correct not to mention problems with tire rubbing, etc.

I did a 35 Dodge sedan with a 5th Ave clip. The torsion bars sit in front of the front wheels, I had to modify my grill shell and the bottom front of the fenders to clear the torsion bar mounts. I also needed to make the front fenders sit out 2" more per side to have the wheels look right in the wheel openings. Since I added 4" to the width of the front fenders, I also added 4" (2" per side) to the rear fenders. That let 275 x 60 x 15" on 8" aluminuim slots clear on the back. I also ended up adding extra width to the running boards. To mount the 5th Ave clip, you either severly modify the original frame, or cut it off and build it back with 2" x 4" tubing, the 5th Ave clip is just not compatable with the original front crossmembers.

It drove nicely, but was a bit mushy if you got into some heavy duty cornering. Think I got almost 60,000 miles out of the first pair of tires on the front, we put almost 70K on the car before we sold it.

I personally would not do another 5th Ave clip on another hot rod. I have done 3, and still have a clip laying here, but these days there are better options. I started putting a Dakota clip on a 39 Plymouth 4 door sedan, but my son traded the car off before we were done, it looked like it was going to be a sweet setup, but the 39 had the independent factory suspension and the larger more modern frame. Seems a 38 could be either frame, the older leaf spring or the newer independent coil spring unit.

Think I may have a picture of my 35. Gene

If you want to stay Mopar, I'd say use the Dakota frontend. Or Go Mustang II if "all-Mopar" isn't the be-all end-all for you. While I think the F/M/J front clip is a fine idea in certain scenarios, it seems that for your vintage there are better options. The F/M/J units are really popular among Ford truck guys!