FED question

Going to look at a FED for sale locally. It is setup for a small block Chevy. Just curious what would be needed to convert to a bb Mopar? Is it a simple motor plate swap? Or will the mounts needed to be moved as well as other issues? Thanks in advance.

you will have to change both the mid plate and the front plate as well as move the front mount on the chassis. You will also need to make sure that the frame rails are wide enough for a BBM. The car I am driving right now I am not sure how well a BBM would fit in it. I am assuming you will stay with a glide in the car yes? Honestly I would really consider just keeping it set up for a SBC. I know its not what anyone here likes to hear but by the time you change everything and get it set up you could have built an engine just about. The blower motor car I am driving has run 5.84 @ 104 when I let off @ about 580' because the oil pressure gauge went to 0. It isn't very hard to get one of those cars to go fast with a small block. Just my I would actually like to build a SBM with enderle injection on it in one of those. If I come across a deal like Dennis did on the one I am driving now I would be all over it.

Ok, thanks. I guess I'll keep looking for one setup for a BB Mopar. Thanks again

Two biggest issues are starter and oil pump clearance if the car was originally built for a SBC. The starter, at the 9:00 position is right in the middle of the motorplate upright, unless the chassis was built extra wide to start with. Usually the upright at front motor mount will be an issue, most chassis builders will place a diagonal on either side of the pump to form a pocket for the pump to extend through the chassis. Normally FED's use pretty much same motor angle as F/C's and altereds which means a 3x5 funny car pan, about 8 quarts unless you overfill it, an accumulator is nice to have for insurance. You can go with the Chevy position starter on the right side under the pan, bolting directly to the motorplate, although ground clearance will be tight. Best thing you can do is take as many measurements off of the car as you can, and make friends with a good tig welder, just in case you have to move some bars around. Definitely is not just a drop in project, and BJS may have had the best idea, but if your heart is really set on it, it can be done.

Been there, done that. Did it in my altered, You will need a new midplate, use the saddle mounts front plate, Depending on how wide the chassis is, you might need to massage the Ultrabell to fit, you will have to use an indexable starter to fit in the space alloted, and you may have to massage the oil pump assembly. Just take a lot of measurements and pictures. You do have a dragster pan on your BB, if not, you will need one.

Quote:

---

Depending on how wide the chassis is, you might need to massage the Ultrabell to fit, you will have to use an indexable starter to fit in the space alloted, and you may have to massage the oil pump assembly. Just take a lot of measurements and pictures. You do have a dragster pan on your BB, if not, you will need one.

---

Hey Larry, just to clarify, the PG UltraBell(which has to be used with an adapter) will usually fit, the Mopar U-Bell will have to have quite a bit of the starter flange/pocket milled down. I can take some pics tonight, also dragster pans are usually meant for RED's and can be at least 6"X6" deep, 12+ quarts. The FED's almost always need a shallow F/C style pan.