Hot Rods 1932 DRIVE TRAIN OPINIONS Chevy, or Ford ???

Hey guys,

I am starting to build my 1932 Roadster. I have the body, frame is in the works, and would like to get everyone's honest opinion on what drive train to use. I know the 350 chevy setup is obviously the most popular, but why to people tend to steer away from a ford 302 or 351 option. I know they are a little more expensive and the parts are not as readily available, but what are some other reasons? I feel like the car would be more valuable with a ford drive train, but what do you guys think?

Thank you
Trevor

 

you should paint it brown Just put your favorite engine in there. I hear flatheads are popular, or you could go the next steps in popular swaps for more power as they came out from Detroit, Nailhead, Caddy, SBFord (fits anywhere), 351 (easy to stuff in a bigger crank), SBC-easy/cheap to hop up/repair, Hemi, yeah HEMI....

In all seriousness, if you really arent an "engine guy" and just want the car itself, the Small block chevy is one of the more reliable, affordable engines out there for a credit card build. having a 302/351 isn't going to make it worth more due to the Ford engine-A flattie, maybe but i dont think a SBF will increase the worth over a SBC. Are you building it to make it worth alot, or to enjoy? --rick

 

I want to build a reliable driver with a good resale value.

 

Are you going to let us decide what engine to put in?

 

then flattie, SBC, Nailhead, or Hemi. If you dont want to do any actual "tinkering" and just want a "set it and forget it" then SBC, maybe even EFI if you dont care about being traditional- but this site isn't huge on EFI.
Personally, i think your 2 goals are at odds with each other. If you want that car and want it reliable, then who cares of it's resale value? If you want to just build it and sell it off quick then that's ok too, (i guess) so id still say that 302/351 aren't going to score you many resale points over the other choices. -rick

 

FWIW My next '32 will have early Caddy ('49-62) power.

If you want good resale, put in a crate 350 SBC. Remember who your target audience will be. They guy buying a done rod will likely feel all warm and tingly with a crate engine. The guy who doesn't care will likely build his own car.

 

Don't want to burst your bubble but, resale value and hot rods generally are not known as being good bed partners.
I'm sure krylon32 can expound on this subject further as he has built and sold many 32's.

 

Well, I was thinking if I keep the build under 20K, I should make out alright when I do sell it. Should be plenty to get it on the road and have some fun.

 

The 302 & 351 Ford engines are longer than the SBC is one of the primary reasons the SBC gets the nod.

I have never built a car thinking resale value...HRP

 

Your not ever going to make all of us happy, and you shouldn't try. Any of the above mentioned engines will obviously "work" but will not get a 100% agreement from everyone. Your abilities, tools, finances etc will all play a part in it. We can give advice and even influence you but ultimately, you need to be a piece with your choices. I'm curious about the body. Seems we saw one like it for sale on here not long ago. Doesn't strike me as being a gennie Ford body. I hope you stay with it, would love to see you pull it off!! Lots of work ahead, keep us posted. Tim

 

Sir,
what do you mean by gennie ford body?

 

I'd want to see if that body can be fixed first. I know some comments were made on this body last week or so. Poorly formed beads, especially on the door and cowl, some on the quarter, too. Nothing seems to fit, but maybe it's not connected to the subrails yet.


If you want finished paint, and can't do skilled metal forming repairs yourself, your checkbook will be hurting on this body.

 

They're ugly? LOL

There are several reasons that people use an SBC, they are easy is one, easy is good, they have one in the garage is another, they are relatively inexpensive or can be is another, or if they are like me they just like 'em.

There are only two reasons out of the above that are legitimate, one is that you already have one and the other is that you like 'em. Actually the first of these two is not a good reason unless it is your only option unless you also lean toward the second.

Nothing wrong with the small block ford and actually there was a time that the Ford would have been less expensive than the SBC, at least where I lived at one time.

There is no good answer to the question as far as what one should choose for a mill, it really is a matter of personal likes or dislikes more then anything else.

 

As a builder who's done 100's of ch***is I say the Chevy is the most popular because of size. I've been doing more Ford motors lately with C4, AOD, and 5 speed trans. If they are set in the ch***is right and have the right short front there is nothing wrong with a Ford. Many say they run cooler than a Chevy? Go to Roy Brizio's site and study current and past builds, there are plenty of pictures of Fords in deuces with relieved stock style firewalls. I do usually stretch the hood at least an inch in most of my highboy builds. Helps more than you think.

 

I'm in Krylon32. Stretched hood and all on a non-traditional build right now, but a 33 with a Windsor in it. Big cooling module too with A/C on top of that. They really are long engines by comparison to a SBC. Easy and engineered for decades, and aside from all the usual "...why..." comments, it's impossible to go wrong with a SBC. You want it traditional? No problem. High tech, just as easy. Big cubic inches? Yes as well. Am I fan? Fuggin eh...

 

20K? Tell us how to do it, if you can! We'd all like to do it.

 

well, find a body off of craigslist for $4,000 and you should be set

 

20K? Tell us how to do it, if you can! We'd all like to do it.
Click to expand...
well, find a body off of craigslist for $4,000 and you should be set

Keep us posted...

 

Briggs & Stratton

 

Not trying to piss on your parade, but you need to take a long step back and price some '32 parts.

 

stupid thread #37...film at 11:00

 

I don't know! Some of the ones I've seen ain't cheep! lol
http://performancevtwins.com/about.html

 

SBF long but light. SBC shorter but heavy. $20K dream on. 100 pounds less for SBF.

 

Is it a production built '32 body from Ford or is it a handformed body made by someone recently. It doesn't appear to have hinge pockets in the door, or a flange around the top opening. Just curious. Tim

 

Whatever you budget for the build, in your case 20K...double it, and you'll be in the ballpark...

 

Parts are not readily available for small block Fords?
They only made them for 40 years.

 

Unicorns and rainbows.

 

Well, this is what I figure. I attached some pictures of the Model A Roadster that I built for $11,000, and I paid 3500 for the body (I paid 4K for my 32 body). So, now I am at $11.5K. The 32 frame set up is will cost me and additional $2800, now we are at $14,300. Then, on top of the $14.3K...add $400 for 32 hood, $750 for radiator, $400 for grille shell, $650 for gas tank and you have a completed 1932 Ford Roadster. That leaves me at $16,500...The only difference in cost between the Model a set up and 32 set up is initial body investment, frame investment, hood, radiator, and grill. Some of these posts have stated that I will spend $40K....I don't think so. You save big time by doing all the work yourself

 

I wholeheartedly agree with what you say...IF the build is to satisfy yourself and not potential buyers.
Thats a whole different ball game...especially with 32's and their clones.

 

It seems as though these days people are more interested in the traditional look: Spoke wheels, nostalgic interiors vs. the high dollar rich looking builds with $10,000 paint jobs and leather wrapped interior. What do you think