I have a ‘64 327 SBC in my Deuce Sedan and want to give it a ‘60s hot rod look, what was the hot set up back then and does anyone have photos of cars from that era they could post for some inspiration? Many thanks Dave
Last time I was trying to date a small block I was looking for 1958 but that’s not to far out. Most of them seemed to be running chromed script covers or finned vette covers. Ram horn exhaust manifolds and a 4 barrel intake. Still running a generator. I came to this general consensus by looking at hot rod magazines from 1957-59 in my small collection. - just re read that your title says 60’s but your specific date says 64’ so my suggestions may be off more. That’s far enough into the 60’s and muscle cars starting to have a different look. I would go digging for 1964 hot rod magazines to get ideas.
Thanks Tim, that’s very helpful, it’s more what did they do to the engines back in the 60’s to dress them up for hot rods. I like the idea of the Corvette rocker covers
What I did on my 350. Ignore the alternator lol. Short water pump, chrome pulleys, chrome road draft tube, finned aluminum valve covers, repop spellings and hellings air filter assembly, and 55 Chevy exhaust manifolds. And if using a modern intake like I did paint it to match engine. Doesn't pass close scrutiny but looks the part
If you're interested in doing the research yourself to see what was in the magazines at the time you're interested in, Motor Trend has a digital archive that includes every Hot Rod magazine ever made. I saw a lot of finned valve covers, but I only looked at a couple issues. It's free and no sign-up required. https://www.motortrend.com/magazines/
Lots of Corvette valve covers, as well as finned aluminum Edelbrock/Offenhauser/Weiand/Cal Custom covers. Dual quad setups, both aftermarket and factory. Early Hedman tri-Y headers, but lots of '57 and newer straight down ram's horns as well. Mallory dual point distributors with the waterproof cap, and Corvette dual points. Pricewise, it was the opposite of today; factory speed equipment could be bought cheaper than aftermarket parts, so lots of cars got Corvette dual point distributors and Duntov cams.
Kind of depends on what end of the 60's. The early 60's were quite a bit different than the later 60's as far as intakes, carbs, cams, etc.. Also, it depends on whether your building more of a "street engine" or a "race style" engine and how wild you're trying to go? Example: Early 60's - you'd see a lot more 3x2 manifolds, chrome generators, etc. By the mid 60's a lot of the factory cars were available with Holley carbs, aluminum manifolds, higher performance distributors, etc.. Nobody was running a generator for most of the 60's. The same goes with heads - the big-valve performance heads were very different toward the end of the 60's - versus what was available from the factory at the start of the 60's. So it comes down to what part of the 60's you're going after, is this a "dress up" project or a full rebuild (engine), etc.. Also, like anything else - how much money are you putting into it? Higher-End Example: By the end of the 60's Edelbrock was making dual Holley tunnel rams . . . that is surely more on the "radical" side of the era.
I wasn't there (too young), but from what I've seen it was as varied as you would expect. You would see an engine that looked like a stock late model with hot hod parts bolted on like McMullin's 32 shown on that April 1963 cover, or completely different colors applied to match or contrast the rest of the car. You can't have later model things as part of the display if you are really trying to evoke the time frame. This includes any aftermarket parts and the basic engine. There have been a few threads on this, so between the info here, the other threads and the archives @05snopro440 mentioned, you should get a good idea of what makes you happy and what you are able to achieve over there in the UK.
Motor Trend like mentioned above, For Research , But will only Be about 20% of the Culture!! Most are ""Mis lead & confused"" on the error of Kustom H-R Double Duty H-R Drag / Track Only ! So there are many parts add on /accessories Option used Not to many K, H-Rs using Hemi, O H Flat head , & Most all that where in Mags nice Vehicles ,witch was maybe 20% after Market Bolt on & HP parts & Engine's ,Nice completed painted & Kandy Paint , The Other 80% where Junk Yard Builds No bling !!! No Matter witch 60 era build / bolt ons Used like seen in Mag ,, "" TRUE VINTAGE PARTS """" Are most Time $$$$
Agree that you really need a date you’re aiming for for your research. While the 40’s have a split at the war, and the fifties really have an early and late period I really think once you’re past 1962 it gets radically different. ie a 1942 hot rod and a 1948 hot are possibly headlights and a dropped axle different a 1960 hot rod and a 1969 how rod are two entirely different beasts. I’d go hunting for magazines or call your buddy up with the library. If you don’t have one of those guys it’s time to find one lol
I was in my teens then, into rods/cars over my head. First, we had no money-the average guy. That meant no fancy chrome, accessories, etc. "Spinner" or Olds hubcaps were the hot setup if you had them. Second--no surf city for us, we were in a junkyard looking for anything that might/might not fit our car and maybe make it faster. Third--looks: primer was king, red oxide the hot setup. Pull the bumpers (speed secret!), no hubcaps-paint the wheels red, interior: if it had a seat it was fancy. Oh, had to have gauges, lots. S/W the preference. Engine: damm, he's runnin' a 4 bbl! No air cleaner, glasspak mufflers/loud. Its got 'vette valve covers so he's done something inside! Hell, he even has "recap" big tires on the rear! Bet that thing really runs.
The first aluminum single four barrel intake manifold came along in '62 on the 340 HP 327, with the Edelbrock C4B coming out a couple of years later.
That 1960 block and 1957 stagger bolt heads wear their grime like a badge of honor! This 294” has been run in’ hard for quite a few decades.
My block is date coded Nov. '65 so from a '66 car or truck. I got a good deal on the 291 heads so that's what I'm using. Gary
Apr. '63 is my favorite issue of Hot Rod Magazine. Page 39...a "coke-bottle-bottom" bespeckled, 11 year old Hotrodjack at the Winternationals Car Show.
The Jalopy Journal
