Okay, I'm bummed a little bit. I kept myself busy doing a million other things on my '50 for awhile. I finally started paying attention to the old 8BA, and the compression test told me that I need to rebuild the motor (4 cylinders at 0). I'm excited (because I haven't rebuilt one yet) and disappointed (because I want a running motor) .......I'm really just wanting to get the car on the road. I have had a couple of guys tell me that during high school (late 50s), the hot thing for Shoeboxes was swapping over Caddy drivelines. How about the Fordillac? Also, I haven't seen one, but I think it would killer to put a Nailhead in the Shoebox. I'm starting to lean toward this idea... Since I need to spend some dough to rebuild the Flatty or buy something else, I'm wondering about my other options...what were some of the hot set-ups back in the day for Shoeboxes? I know the Caddy motors were popular (at least here in KC), but what were other Shoeboxes running? What about the Nailhead...good or bad idea? I just don't know what I want to do...I'm really interested in some thoughts/opinions on period correct or other interesting choices for my motor... Eric
I would second the Y-block thing. I also had a buddy that had a Cad in his with the stock 3 spd/overdrive. That thing ran really strong. I would go with whatever you can get your hands on first, with the exception of a sbc.
I had a shoebox with a 322 Buick and it ran like crazy, had to build a dropped drag link and had to build headers to clear the steering box, but boy could I eat transmissions LOL "Doc" Parsons
I was in high school (56-59) and the only shoe box in town had a 331 Chrysler in it. He couldn't keep ******'s in it to save his *** and something always broke. Ran like hell though when it didn't break. Did all of my hang outs in Springfield MO at the Fisher's High Boy at Sunshine and Glenstone. Most of the hot dogs had Caddys or Olds. Never saw one with a nail head but a nail head (in my opinon) is one of the prettiest engines ever made. I never saw one with a Y-block but they are a damn good motor. There are performance parts around for a Y-block but they are expensive for anything other than 4bbl intakes etc. If you could find a 312 it already has all of the good stuff. They did have a problem with cracked block webbing (due to torquing the mains so much) but the later ones had less torque value (like 120 vs 90). I ran a 312 back in the early 60's and it made power like crazy, wound up tight as a banjo string and I never had any problem with it until I slung a rod through the side of the block. If I was going to do a shoe box though, I'd probably do a Cadillac if I could find a good 390. Packard made a hell of a V8 back in those days too. They had a 374cu.in with 2-4bbls. They were heavy as hell though. A 352 in a Golden Hawk made 275 hp in '56. Just some thoughts from "back in the day" ...
A J2 Olds engine like in the movie "Thunder Road" would be my ideal set up. I can't buy the idea of only a Ford in a Ford. We are talking hot rods after all. A SBC will smoke any Y block.
Pull the heads on the flathead. 0 compression is probably stuck valves, loosen them up and she might surprise you. I think a Caddy would be cool, almost bought a Shoebox Fordillac once but the guy wouldnt' let me take it for a test drive so I p***ed. I agree with kustomkat, anything but another SBC!!!!
Really what ever you can get your hands on... this hot rodding remember. The easier bolt ups to that ****** would be an yblock, adapters to the cad/olds come around every now and then for that transmission, nailheads and hemis too... how about an inline ford 6? or Jimmy 6? For that matter find a Buick fireball straight 8... be different... look around follow the street rod guys and be a bottom feeder for when they s**** out their stock engines to put a SBC in it.... ha... but really.
My uncle has a 425 in a 49 with a 3 speed from a. Chevy truck since it has really low gears and then the highest gears they made in the rear. Goes like hell. It will boil tires in high gear if you step on it while driving. Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
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