Ideas for engine swap for Westchester

Is it a double 's' Fergusson? Most of my family is from North Carolina and Chicago (Scotland before that).

Hi Scott, Do you have relation in Ont. Canada?
CORDially Mike

Fortunately me for Bill bought the car after it was wrecked! The other thing that's becoming more and more evident to me is how critical this club is - without Bill, the club, and Pat Leahy, my car would be the same or worse than it was after the accident.

Take a look at Scott Fergusson's Custom Beverly. That came very close to being a Donor Car for my Cabriolet.

Fortunately Scott took that option away from me.

Bill, I think your car is pretty cool just the way it is. As far as putting it all the way back to original, if you had a junked westchester to start with it would not be overwhelming but it would be financially unwise. Of course, ALL full restorations are financially unwise so you really in the same boat with everyone else .

A.J.

I am not positive which front end it has. I was told Cadillac, but it could be Chevy or Olds.

There is no Cord frame in front other than the stubs that the previous owner used to weld the frame to.

Of course, I prefer correct cars, but I am not the one to ressurect this one. I don't think I am doing any more permanent damage, that has already been done.

I think cleaning up the engine compartment and putting in a correct interior will help this car immensely.

I always keep my eyes open for correct cars. That's what nice about this Club! We're always surrounded by an incredible collection of cars.

Thanks for the info Bill. It looks like the support in the middle of your car is lined up to act as a transmission mount. Is that correct? Did they use the hole front clip out of a Cadillac? Or does it have any stock frame in front of the fire wall? Unfortunately I have one of those sedans that have been stripped of all its parts. I have a shell of a body and a front frame. So I am thinking either a front clip like yours or putting an IFS in front welded to the stock frame, small block and rear end. If anybody with a Frankenmobile wants to chime in that would be great. I know it is not the ideal thing to do too these great automobiles, but when you start with a basket case like mine you just want to get it going down the road for as little $ as possible. Chris

When I bought the car, it was setup as follows:

Rear drive using a GM Turbo Hydra-Matic 400 transmission. Ford 9" 12-bolt differential. Drum brakes.
Replacement gas tank, Holds about 12 gallons.
It has a tube support running from side to side to strengthen the body.
Has an Olds 455 engine sitting in a Cadillac(?) sub frame that was welded onto my Cabriolet body.
Steering column is from the 70's with a Grant banjo steering wheel.
Interior is early "Denny's Diner" with a single bench seat covered in black vinyl.

The car looks nice but definately has a long way to go to either become correct or become a top notch retro rod.

After 7 years of thinking about it, and getting ideas from other Club members, I have finally come to the conclusion that this particular Cabriolet is too far gone to go back to being correct.

I am going to try to make this one a nice retro-rod. There won't be anything visible to tip off the casual observer that this Cord is anything but original.

It is absolutely futile to fool this crowd, but 99% of the people out there won't know there is anything modern on it.

Here is a camera photo of the tubular cross-beam I mentioned earlier. The drive-train and rear axle have been removed. I am cutting down the rear axle so the rear wheels have a 61" centerline. I may change the gear ratio to one that will give better highway performance. New leaf springs are being ordered. New disc brakes are being ordered. A new stainless steel gas tank and sender are on the way.

I am actually glad Bill got into the conversation. I noticed when you where looking for a gas tank that you said the differential was in the way. Is your car sitting on a frame or does it have a different set up. I feel like if I use an entire frame set up that I would have to channel the car just to get it to sit at the correct height. What do you use for a front end if you have rear wheel drive?

The Olds 455 is SO wide that you cannot get a real Cord steering column to fit. I would not be doing him a favor by offering him this engine.

Th 455 has lots of power but it needs to be put back into a muscle car.

Hi Bill, why are you not offering your Olds 455 set up to petlodge for a fair price ? That would solve the problems for both of you. <!-- s:wink: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_wink.gif" alt="" title="Wink" /><!-- s:wink: -->

I have a 810 Cabriolet that is not fixable.

Currently I have an Olds 455 in it. It is so big that I cannot install my Cord steering column and steering wheel.

I am getting ready to yank the engine and install a crate Chevy 350 which is a lot smaller.

I think that the original problem here is the cost, plain and simple. What's known is some of the costs to putting the drivetrain back to stock ($$) - what's unknown are all the problems you'll have converting to something else ($$$$). Either way it's expensive, but it's definitely more straightforward (and therefore probably less expensive) to make it like it was.

Where I'm at is the last 10-15% of making it *really* like it was. The reunion this year showed me the extent that folks will go to make it correct - but that's a whole different thread.

If the car has not already modified for a rear drive setup, the work involved in installing a different engine/transmission will be much more than finding and using an original CORD setup. A few cars have been setup with Toronado/Cadillac Seville drive train (front drive) and many more with rear drive systems (modern as well as vintage). The other consideration is the end value. A non-original drive train swap will almost always detract from resale value. My experience says that unless you are very skilled mechanic and do your own work, it will cost as much for parts and labor for a swap vs. installing original. I would suggest advertising your needs for an original drive train online and in our newsletter (members only). There are still many engines and transmissions out there as spares.

Just spit balling here, but possibly a flatead caddy?

The one with the corvair engine was a 8/10 Cord by Glenn Prey made in the 60s. From a financial perspective, you are better off with a cord engine then putting in something else.

In the 1950s there were many engine swaps done. Caddy, Olds, even some big straight eights were put in (minus the radiators) for drag racing.

I am looking for any ideas from owners of cords that have engine swaps in them. I am open for anything at this point. I would be to expensive to take mine back to stock. I know their are swaps out there both front and rear wheel drives. Pictures would be cool. Any help you could give me would be great. My dad saw one last weekend that had a Corvair engine in the front. I have also heard of the Eldorado and Tornado swaps but don't know how they are done. Thanks again Chris