Paging Mike P

Is he still around?

Yes ……yes I am, (getting old I had to check).

Actually been getting the old 57 Plymouth ready for a trip back to Illinois in a few weeks. Going back to my 50th HS reunion (it was actually supposed to be last year but was cancelled).

Got your PM. Anything I can help with let me know. I’ve done brackets for both a Saginaw and Mopar (can’t remember whether it was a Federal or TRW pump).

Here’s my new toy

i like that a lot !
what does it have for a transmission ? other info ?

I like it (A LOT)……especially with the hood open.
Got to love the way you’ve got to snake the steering shaft around the old HEMIs (that’s pretty much the same routing I had to do on my 37 and I’ve seen several others that are about the same).

Early 331 ? (1954 maybe…….timing cover kind of gives it away)

More details



As far as PS pumps I’ve done a couple. On the 37 I did a mopar pump, as I said , not sure if it was a TRW of Federal. That one pivots for belt tension and the pump pressure is lower than the Saginaw (GM) pump so it seems to work well with the Mustang II rack. Something like this might work well on your Dodge.

FP 2 by M Patterson, on Flickr


MB 1 by M Patterson, on Flickr


T B by M Patterson, on Flickr


TB 2 by M Patterson, on Flickr


PS B by M Patterson, on Flickr



On the 57 I did a Saginaw pump and used a SBC bracket as a starting point. On that setup the pump is stationary and the alternator is used to tension the belt.


HP1 by M Patterson, on Flickr


HP3 by M Patterson, on Flickr


HP2 by M Patterson, on Flickr


HP4 by M Patterson, on Flickr

Might give you some Ideas.

330 Hemi, small cam, electronic ignition, headers FITEC on a Hotheads manifold. Currently has a 727 but as soon as it cools down a 518 will go in. The rear is an E body 8.75 with a 3.55SG

The SBC is the direction I’m going. As to the Saginaw pump. I’m running the Hotheads timing cover and a short SBC water pump. Problem with the 330 is there are no bosses in the block an one in the head.

Thanks, those pics give me a lot to chew on.

“…….330 Hemi, small cam, electronic ignition, headers FITEC on a Hotheads manifold. Currently has a 727 but as soon as it cools down a 518 will go in. The rear is an E body 8.75 with a 3.55SG……”

330…… a DeSoto . Sounds like a good combination. How do you like the FITEC? Been kind of thinking about one for another project.

Going to a 518 from a 727 should be relatively simple (if there is such a thing ). At least you have the trans adapter, and the shifter and kick down should be sorted out. I’m actually kicking around the idea of pulling the 4 speed out of the 57 Plymouth and putting in a 46RH after I get back from the reunion.

As far as the PS pump if you’re going with a Saginaw pump it might end up being reasonably simple (or not LOL). I would maybe start by using the same type bracket that that I used on the Saginaw pump for the 57 Plymouth. In unmodified form it’s made to pivot on the boss on the SBC water pump your truck has. You’d have to figure out a tensioning bracket……maybe from the lower boss on the timing chain cover to the back of the pump?

As far as belt alignment, you can do a little fine tuning with how far you press the pulley on the pump. There are also dual belt pulleys available for the PS pump (I had to use on the Plymouth to get the spacing right).

Anyway, just some thoughts.

Thank Mike. I’m also new to the Fitec. As far the truck I bought it from an Army buddy of mine. Been wanting it for several years. He did the truck then parked it so there was some fine tuning issues that had to be addressed. If the truck sits the Fitec has to relearn all the info from the motor. What it will do is immediately start and go to high idle. It will go back and forth several times the settle into a normal idle. When you drive it the motor will go up and down in idle for several miles then settle down. From there it’s pretty good. Now, if you want to fine tune the programmer allows that but better to have someone with one skills do that. At least for me.