Just picked up a 53 Vicky ... BUT and there is always a but .. It has a SBC installed ,I do have a complete carb'd 302 with a 5 speed that i could drop in . Now the dilemma .Should i pull the SBC drop in the SBF or leave as is and sell the 302 combo to save up for a nice flathead. The key word being SAVE because it will be a while..
Flathead would be alot cooler to look at when the hood is open but won't be able to perform like the 302/5 speed combo. If you plan on driving the car alot then I'd go with the 302. Occasional driving, then the flathead. The chev would already be out if it was mine.
Reliability is a must , i will be driving it as much as possible. It's a running but not road worthy , leaning to getting road worthy and driving as is for a while .
SBC's gotta go, that's for sure. Drop the 302 in there, sell the SBC (you could say its a corvette motor, aren't they all?).
A driving Ford with a SBC is better than a garage project with a SBF in my opinion. How about some pictures?
Will get some pictures up this weekend.. I have to agree with you a running car is better than a hunk of steel in the garage..
If the SBC is in and running, drive it! I've got two 56 Fords, one with a SBC and one with a SBF and they are both great.
I went SBC in my '59, over 400 HP and light with all the aluminum parts. Ideally I wanted a 351C and had a line on a BOSS 351 that turned out to be junk. The FE series and 385 series puts too much weight up front. I probably shaved 150 lbs off my car with the SBC and aluminum Muncie M20. I don't beat on it, no hole shots but I don't baby it either. I was out last night with it... cold and about 23*. Shifting it at 5000 RPMs.
Since you brought it up the FE doesn't have to be that heavy but compare the torque and horsepower with those extra cubes big difference,interesting discussion: http://forums.vintage-mustang.com/v...ess-do-aluminum-heads-weigh-than-iron-fe.html
I am a Ford guy, I really and truely am but if the SBC runs well I think I would drive it like it is. I guess at this stage in my life I want to enjoy things more than fix something that isn't broke. Pictures would be Nice....
All Blue Oval here as well , but the idea of just a couple of minor fixes and being able to drive her is mighty appealing..
I would rather have a hunk in the garage then drive a Ford with a Chevy motor in it. Some people just have no pride. Go buy a ****aro if you want a bowtie....
A 351 or 429/460 would have set me back quite a bit in time and $$. I had the 350 from my last stock car and it was complete down to the pulleys and brackets. I was hoping a quick freshen up would do it, but this was not the case. It was actually easier to install than a Ford engine. I have a full machine shop at my place and a welder. I made up the mounts up from also what I had around, 1/2" x 4" steel car, used black pipe to slide the bolts through. Same piece of material I used to adapt the trans crossmember. None of the existing mounts on the car were butchered, I worked around them. I do have to pull a motor mount bolt on the p***enger side to lift the engine to get the starter out, which I call minor. But it is FAST with the 2.56 1st gear and 3.89 posi. The weight is probably less than a '66 vintage Chevelle. My next addition is Caltrac or traction bars, have a mean wheel hop on the 1st to 2nd shift.
i don't see any dilemma.....i see a very cool ol ford...just drive it and leave the bonnet closed (sorry...hood)
I'm too much of a Ford "blue-blood" to ever want another brand engine in another brand body. Ford in a Ford, Chevy in a Chevy, MOPAR in a junkyard. . ooops.... . I just don't care for mix-matches but I'm not writing the checks so whatever spins your wheels - go for it.
He does... but he's happy with how I'm doing. I told him I had done some street racing in my recovery... he had no clue what that was.
I pop my hood all the time and I have it painted CHEVY ORANGE. I have my eyes open now for a 351C or 429/460, but hard to find complete engines with the pulleys, brackets, etc.
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