Love 'em both, but I gotta tell ya, my 348 Tri-Power runs like a 50 year old top & gets better gas mileage than the 6.0 in my truck. Either way, I dig the fact that you're building a Pontiac. Good luck with the build & keep us updated.
YES .... You will be Banned for an Automatic behind a DeSoto, Unless you have no Left Leg !! 4spd is the Only way to go !!!!!!!! People need to refrane from HOT HEADS when a Hemi Post comes up, They have very Little you can't get Somewhere else ... Cheaper & Better Quality. Sorry, But I am NOT impressed wit Anything Hot Heads Offers ... Including there advise & Knowledge.
For a 32 Pontiac... on a budget.... with automatic, go for the 348. Any Chev ****** will bolt up to the 348, nothing will bolt up to the hemi. I would have said this in the first place if you told us what you were up to. Incidentally, a Chev 350 would be better and cheaper but ...
Had me sold on the hemi until you brought up the ease attaching the 700R4 to the 348. I am going to check the numbers to make sure its not an early block. Pics of the pontiac project to come.
lowelife, thanx for the side by side comparison. Coincidentally, im on a silver kick right now, so the pics sold me on the W motor
have a 348 and two 331 hemis,,,ended up putting a sbc in my car,$-power ratio is what made up my mind,,,
The silver one is mine and blue is my dads. I like both of them but you don't see the "W" as often. But you better get used to "is it a 348 or 409?" because you will hear it alot!
If you are on a budget it's a no brainer to use the 348. As others have stated the 348 is so much easier and cheaper to adapt any transmission you choose. Also the stock 250 hp 348 has a lot more guts then the stock 276 hemi.
Chevy in a Chevy and what better than a 348...They are not all truck engines! I have a 409 in a 55 Chevy convertible and always gets plenty of converstion. Parts for a 348 aren't all that hard to get either. Good luck.
Dude, do you seriously believe that? This 348 made 650hp at 6,900RPM: http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/engine/hrdp_0911_chevy_w_series_engine_build/viewall.html
I personally don't think the W motors look that well. Don't get me wrong, I get excited when I see one, but I wouldn't use one in an open engine application. The baby hemi is one of the best looking engines IMO and the small size is ideal for an 30s car. Can't really speak to the costs or ease of adapting to a transmission.
And Chrysler hemis made 2000 HP in top fuel drag form. Believe it or not, when they were introduced, a 58 Chev 348 in stock form would not beat a 58 Chev with a 283. The 348 and 409 always struggled to match the Dodge 413 and 426 Max Wedge or Pontiac 421. That is why they brought out the big block 396 and 427.
Guys, I'm going to look at the 348 tomorrow. History is alleged to be, original motor in q 58-49 impala, runs and idles, has aftermarket 6x2 intake setup, comes with powerglide ******, and the price is right. My only worry is whether the early 348 # limits my crossover options from later 348s and 409s, but hard to beat under 3k.
I`m running a 59` 348 in my modelA coupe and I can tell you it`s a torque *******. As far as I know it`s the heads that`s a little different between early and late 58. the early ones have long sparkpluggs and the later have short but I belive outer parts are interchangeble no matter if it`s early or late.When it`s come to chose between the 348 or the hemi it`s a tough choise .
I was Hemi all the way, until you said chopped, hoodless Poncho coupe! Esepcially if you need to watch your cash, the Chevy-into-Pontiac combo is a nice-looking fit, especially if you go auto. Just MO.
Thanks Jim and Ken. When he said 6x2, it was a done deal. The hemi is on craigslist and nobody is buying, so might end up with it at a later date. For now the chopped/channeled 5 window Pontiac with open hood sides and a 6x2 348 has got to be a decent look. I'll post once I get it to the shop.
As far as looks , it's a toss up , both cool looking engines , as far as practibillity(sp) I would have to give the chevy the edge , I like to drive my cars , and drive them hard , and sometimes , you can over do it while out on a trip , so , this being a fact , I would also have to give the chevy the edge , although both will be hard to get parts for at the local auto rob shop , it's a known fact that you can more easily get chevy parts than mopar parts in any given auto parts store , if your hauling your car(ugh) go with the mopar , it is a great looking motor....are you more confused than when you started this thread now?....
I have the same problem, but I also have both engines. The 348 is a good choice for the pontiac. a good complete rebuild kit will cost about a grand, then add your machine work. Might as well punch it out and add a 454 crank while your at it and harden the valves and seats. I am having a problem figuring out which engine I am going to use in what project. I have a 59 Biscayne(avatar) I am pulling the six and installing a 350/350 combo for a reliable cruiser...or do I go with the '64 283pp/powerglide, or do I go with the '58 hp348/powerglide ? I think I have way to many options because I also have a 41 Chev PU that I am leaning towards putting the '59 235/3spd in...or the 283...or the 348....you see my problem. Now, I also have a complete from carb to pan, generator to ******, 1955 Super Red Ram/auto. So do I put it in my 47 Dodge sedan, the 41 Chev pu, or the 59 Biscayne. ...or see what else I can find?
Don't mean to side-track the thread, but you guys really are in similar situations. NoClue, is the Biscayne a hardtop??? If so a period BB seems ideal, to me. If it's a sedan, I'd just go with the 350-to-350 drivetrain for a fun cruiser. Whatever you do with the GM material, I'd stick the '55 RedRam Hemi in the '47 Dodge sedan. Match made in Heaven!!!
Bad weather here today, so didnt get to the 348. Did talk to the guy, and found out its not a 6x3, but rather the more common 3x2. I beleive that means the intake is the stock steel intake? Not a problem for me. Also, this motor runs and idles, so doesn't need a rebuild, just going to change out the camshaft, paint it and stick it in. Means it will be riding by march. Gotta weld up my lake style headers, and the engine is done. Good luck Clue, wish I had your selection. Got nuthin but BBC chevys here, and don't really want to twist up a 70 year old ch***is with big block power.
What is a pre-historic rat? Sorry just curious. I have never been a big fan of the 348 but I would think that speed parts for one would be easier to come by than for the baby hemi. Cost to go fast is a mute point here it always costs more than you think you can afford.
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