Posted By: aquamist60
1960 Plymouth frame - 08/31/11 08:47 PM
I've decided to go with a front V-8 subframe for my 1960 Ply. Savoy, (if I can find a good one) instead of fabricating motor mounts to put a 440 in it. Anybody have ideas where I should look? I've been all over the net, but not sure who to trust and really haven't found one yet. Thanks, Larry.
I know I've brought this up and wrote about it back in May that I broke my femur. I can't walk on it yet and Friday the Dr says we're doing another operation in 2-3 weeks and possibly another after that. I can't get out to the garage to look at it, let alone work on it. I've got a few projects, but this is the biggest one on my bucket list.
Before my dad died we talked about the car, as I got it from his dad just before he died. Many things happened through the years and it got pushed to the bottom of the list. I'd really like to get it done now and finally have some fun with it. I could put the /6 back in it, but the 440 I've got sitting in the corner is what we really want to put in it. Any help at all, you can't begin to imagine what it would mean, as well as helping get me out of this depression funk I've been in for way too long. Well, thanks for listening anyway. If you can help point me in the right direction, I'm already grateful.
Posted By: rbstroker
Re: 1960 Plymouth frame - 08/31/11 11:35 PM
In 1960, Plymouths were offered with B block engines. Why would you go through the agravation of doing a front clip on a full frame car? Just get the correct factory parts or use "elephant ears". I would assume that the factory mounts are the same from '58-'61. Kits are available to upgrade the factory brakes to disk also. Simple usually works better for me.
Posted By: Pentastar440
Re: 1960 Plymouth frame - 09/01/11 12:22 AM
You might want to consider a K-member from a mid 80s 5th Avenue/Diplomat. That would give you the cradle mounts, transverse torsion bars, and disc brakes all in one unit. It could be bolted in or welded to your front subframe. The width should be close but could be fine tuned with the offset of your front wheels.
Posted By: ralphie361
Re: 1960 Plymouth frame - 09/01/11 12:25 AM
I'm not very familiar with how the older slants mounted but you might want to check with Shumacher to see if any of their conversion mounts might work. I would lean toward using your factory subframe because short of having someone fab one, I dont think there is an easy bolt in subframe. The conversion mounts may be at least a good starting point, and you could modify them from there.
Posted By: Mike P
Re: 1960 Plymouth frame - 09/01/11 12:57 AM
I tend to agree you are going to be going thru a lot of work with a clip swap and that you would save a bunch of time and labor (and possibly $ by modifying what you have.
I think some of the issues with changing out the front suspension you’re likely to run into include:
Torsion bar location/design. I’m not sure they went to front adjusters, but the early torsion bar cars had rear adjusters and somewhere along the line MOPAR went to front adjusters.
Your mounting points for the sub frame itself, core support, bumper, etc are all going to be different.
Due to the long cover over the steering shaft your steering column in the 60 may be a challenge to hook up.
None of these things are insurmountable, but it will take a good deal of fabrication and re-invention of the wheel, not to mention the time involved.
My own opinion would be to use what you have and upgrade as necessary. The simple way would be to find a 60 donor frame for the V8 frame mounts or simply fabricate new mounts after you cut out the 6 Cyl mounts out.
Besides the mounts you will probably also need the early style BB oil pan which has a bit shorter front sump (it will keep from cramming the engine back into the firewall and creating clearance issues with the linkage heater box etc.
AAJ makes a nice disc brake conversion kit to give you discs up front and if not equipped with PS or a sway bar these can also be retro fitted. Without knowing what transmission you’re going to use (there are no off the shelf automatic OD transmissions for the BB Chryslers) but as I recall the Imperial Club also used to sell a conversion that would allow the original push buttons to operate a 518 (the OD and LU are electrically controlled so that’s the easy part).
While the initial investment for finding and buying the correct conversion parts, from personal experience, buy the time you buy and rebuild the a JY front suspension you’re not going to save any money over the 60 conversion parts and you are still looking at all the conversion work.
Just my 2 cents.
Posted By: rbstroker
Re: 1960 Plymouth frame - 09/01/11 12:46 PM
Maybe this link will help. Seems that there is someone in the Music City Mopar Club familiar with '60 Plymouths.
http://1960plymouth.com/
Posted By: Mike P
Re: 1960 Plymouth frame - 09/03/11 12:59 AM
Sorry I misunderstood, I thought you were looking for a later front stub to interchange. Best bet would be John Fowley at Big M Automotive. He’s in California, so shipping might be a deal killer, but he’s a good guy to deal with.
http://www.bigmauto.com/
Posted By: aquamist60
Re: 1960 Plymouth frame - 09/03/11 10:24 PM
Hey guys, thanks for the responses and tips, Larry,