Hot Rods Rocket or Flathead?

Either one is a good choice for a traditional rod, but i would do two things before doing any kind of swap:
#1 - Find out what kind of shape the olds is in if you can. It would be a costly rebuild as well if needed. And additional cost to convert to standard shift unless you go with existing auto trans.
#2 - And most important A.D.D. or not I think, decide which era or period you want it to look like and let that dictate the engine choice.
You build will go much smoother if you can visualize the end product.

 

REALY REALY TRY TO KEEP BOTH !! Heres my 49 rocket and my project 29 chrysler flat head project. Gary

 

My original plan was 50's style build,but now this trade has come up and im having trouble deciding 50's or 60's style..I'am at the point right now where it could go either way.

 

Hydramatic, great trans, very heavy. Olds V8, great engine, very heavy. Both together weigh 1000 pounds.

Your Model T chassis may not be man enough. I would build a T bucket style frame of rectangular steel tubing and use Ford front axle from the later V8 period, and a more modern rear axle.

Your Model T body will be fine.

The Olds 303 should go in a fifties style car. Pretty obsolete by the sixties, though Roth used one in the Beatnik Bandit.

 

Oh.Right on.Well i was planning on using the tt frame.It's pretty heavy duty.

 

With early 20ies body and a TT frame, i would go for a 4banger.........

The 303 came out in 49 or50 ,so you still have a 50s theme with it...

 

It would be the Olds for me without hesitation, Tony is the man for the parts too and he's a real nice guy too.

 

Yeah they're cool lookin engines for sure.

I'll let you know in a couple days if the deal goes through.I'm pretty sure it will though.The guy is really cool and is pretty dedicated to building cars.Hes like "c'mon bro,lets hot rod it..lets slap you're car together this weekend"

 

Olds Rocket would be my pick...

 

Go with the Olds. back in 59 my 303 in the 37 Ford could burn rubber starting out in third gear.

 

what years are the two engines?

how complete are the two packages?

do they at least pass a very close visual inspection for cracks or bent, broken or missing parts?

what transmission and rearend are you planning on using?

I would lean towards the better condition engine
flatheads are cool, sound great and would get you around just fine
unless you want to go fast
then you might want to go with the Olds
but which Olds would make a big difference to me

 

I don't know the years of either.I'll get some pics up later hopefully.I'm guna drop by dudes house in a lil bit.
The olds is complete minus the headers.
The flaty is complete minus the distributor
The flatty passed a visual inspection 3 times
I don't have a rear end yet,so ill get whatever is suitable for the engine i decide to go with.
why would the year of olds make a difference?

 

The 49-53 is 303, and 54-56 is 324, 57-8 is 371.



Look for a casted-on raised number right above the center exhaust port on the head. Earliest 303 is blank, but later 303 and newer, have a number you can ID here on hamb.

Block stamped number is on a small shelf of the cylinder head deck, that sticks out on the driver side. The early ones have that shelf between the 3rd and 4th spark plug area, later ones are between 1st and 2nd plugs. Try to get all the letters and numbers that are hand stamped; that will tell what the block is.

Once you ID the motor, then you can find out whick intakes, exhaust manifolds, and transmissions will fit.

 

I would say Olds also. But I am a bit biased.

 

The flathead would look sweet. They have got to be the coolest engines ever made. But being a some what specialty engine, I'd vote the Olds. Parts and performance over looks, I guess.

 

for cost, performance and era specific looks,
if the main thing is to build an early '50s style car then you need to keep the engine's year within that limit
if the main thing is performance then the later the engine the more stock horsepower it will have to begin with
if the main thing is doing it within a tight budget good used stuff like stick flywheels and multi carb intakes may be easier to find and for less money than will for the later stuff.

 

Rocket!

 

Like big Ike said its a rocket 88 so I wont be late.

 

Currently have a 324 Rocket in the roadster and a flatty in the 51 merc.
No contest, do the rocket motor

 

Yes i was planning for an early 50's car on a tight budget.The flathead has a brand new offy 2 carb intake.

 

That's true,flatheads do look sweet..and sound so cool.I'm not really into racing or going fast...now i dont know what to do..

(plus its not a for sure thing.i went to dudes house today,but he wasn't there..probably at work)

 

Patrick,

When you go the Olds route, Tony IS a valuable resource, I have bought his Olds to Muncie 4sp adapter and it is a very nice setup. I have also bought valve train parts, fast shipping and just a cool dude to do business with...When you getting a rocket ?

 

that's what we are here for

 

Id run the rocket. I have nothing against the flat heads they are cool. But I would go for the rocket!!!!!!!!

 

Were the parts affordable?

we'll see in a few days i guess

 

Lol

 

affordable is a relative term subject to ones budget

but everything I have purchased from him has been of exceptional value.

quality and service are top notch.

 

Fast and affordable have never been allowed in the same sentence.
As for Tony's parts, Paul nailed it.

You are ready, might as well get a blower too!

 

ok.well I guess stuff couldnt cost much more then flathead stuff.


blower lol..i wish.

 

If you're n this for affordability, might I suggest a go cart?