History School me: What engines did they drop in hot rods from 1948-1953

Just looking to see what engines were used in hot rods between 1948-1953.

 

Old ones.

Ford Flatheads, Olds Rockets, Overhead Cadillacs- then a bunch of others were used in small numbers.

 

some of the lesser used engines.

Mopar flathead 6
Pontiac 6
Chev 4
Chev 6
GMC 6
Flathead Cad V8
Ford bangers
Buick I8
Cad V12

 

Let's not forget the Straight 6 that Chevy and GMC had put out.

I would definitely say that Flatheads were Boss Hoss but there were exceptions as stated above. The Double Rocker 331 (aka Hemi) came out in '51 and was used in many applications within that year. Most of them being more High profile cars but they were out there.

 

I gonna say the flathead V-8's were the small block chevys of the era.
Larry T

 

Hudson 308 with the Twin-H was popular, too, both in racing and engine swaps.

 

Wow thanks for the responses. Anyone have some pictures of some early hot rods with the lesser used engines?

 

I always thought it would be cool to go back to 53 or so with a nice modern day 383 stroker motor in a 53 sedan. take it out to the drags one day and beat the pants off everybody with a new 4 door chevy sedan.

 

flatheads and Oldsmobiles!!!

 

My Dad was in high school in the mid-50's (Grad. '55) and he's told me about "Jimmy 6's" being popular too, besides the flat head Ford V8's.

 

Don't forget the Ardun conversion was used then to.

 

How about the Caddy Flathead?

 

I shudder to think what that thing weighs! (the Caddy flattie) Any ideas?

 

That flathead Cad only weighs about 1000 pound

 

I've just finished reading a book called 'Hot Rod" that was printed in 1951. It was full of pics, and 90% of them were roadsters. Interestingly, about 98% of them were flathead Ford V8s..... the remainder were B bangers and Chev 6's. Not a Hudson, Mopar, Oldsmobile in sight. Of course, it could be that the author had a thing for flathead roadsters, who knows?

 

Don Montgomery's books are a wealth of information as well. Yes, mostly Ford flatheads. Bangers early - including with various OH conversions - and V8's later.

 

Once the Olds and Cad OHVs came out some of the flathead guys were worryin. Then came the SBC in 55. By 57 it was a dominating force. Yet not all SBCs were up to the Olds and Cad power. The really active car guys around here sought wrecks and totals just for the engines.

 

In my neighborhood between 1948-1953.
Flathead
Caddy overhead
Olds Rocket
Early Hemi
Chevy 6 or GMC, but mostly in Chevy's

Jimmy B, to my knowledge there were no Chevy 4's from 48-53

 

Anything faster than what was in there look through a motors book and see what had more power, really wasn't a Tardel book telling you how to build a hot rod

I dont mean to offend vern tardel it's really a good book, just too many people copy it

 

As I recall it, most engine swaps were done with what fit somewhat easily.
Hence:
Ford flatheads in early Fords.
GMC big inch sixes in Chevies.
Olds or Caddy (Kettering) V8s bolted to any car that had a Borg/Warner Hydramatic.
If you had the money, you bought adapters to run Chissler Hemis and the afore mentioned Kettering engines.
Most of us went with the almost bolt in stuff.

Just another example of life in a simpler time. Back when I was a lil squirt, you found a wrecked doner car and used as much stuff from it as possible. That was why you see old hot rods with the steering wheel, dashboard and hubcaps, among other parts from, say, a '55 Olds. The era you're talking about far predates the Aftermarket Hot Rod Parts business.

 

I actually have about a 1970 Rod & Custom that has an article on doing just that - buy a wrecked, but still running, donor car to strip for motor, trans, etc. for your rod.

I think you'll find the flathead was the SBC of the day - cheap, plentiful, lots of guys knew how to rebuild them and lots of hop-up parts for them. As mentioned, bangers still around, and Chevy or GMC sixes. A Cad flathead or two. It took a few years for people to wreck their Oldsmobiles and Caddys for them to get cheap enough at the wreckers for guys to start using in hot rods.

 

I have to (sheepishly) admit to putting a '51 studebaker V8 in a Deuce 3 window. Backed it up with a LaSalle tranny. Shoved a GMC truck rear axle, complete with parallel leaf springs, under it. 'Cause the motor was soo heavy, I boxed the front frame horns; and, of course, broke the right rear frame at the kick up. Oh wel! Nobody like 3 windows in those days.

 

In 1950 let's say,a properly built GMC 270 6,bored to 292 inches,hot cam,Venolia pistons,a little head work,freeflow exhaust and 3 carbs would make an actual 220 hp and 320 ft lbs of torque and could be used as a street engine.Drop the 580 lbs engine in a Chevy,probably not much would be passing you.I don't think streetable Flattie fords made that power or did the just introduced Caddy and Olds OHV V-8's.

 

what about lioln y or ford y anyone even try

 

Hey! What are you doin' with a picture of my FlatCad motor?

FYI, it's the one with the dual Carters on the Edmunds intake.....

 

Wait! And last but not least remember the Lincoln V-12. Looks like the Ford flathead
V-8,only longer- and what a sight they are! The original lyrics to "Hotrod Lincoln" enflames passion with the line: "Got twelve cylinders and uses them all, with an over drive that just won't stall...". One day, would lke to drop one in my roadster. The sheer shock value of the thing would be priceless!! Here we go again, "passin cars, like thay was standin still!"

 

chevy and gmc 6, buick 8. the California Bill book on building these engines is from 1951 (2? 3?) and is amazing.

 

olds and caddies put the flaties on the shielf they were still popular as we didnt have much money u would see a GMC 270 or 302 everyonce in a while with a stude v-8 thrown in but the rocket olds and caddy kinda took things over by 55 then the sbc came out and took over by oh around 57 u started seeing them in everything and the olds and caddys stayed with the diehearts like me

 

Giovanine/Spurgin roadster was on the cover and featured in March 1949
Jan or Feb '49 Hot Rod someone was converting a 3-port to SOHC using parts from a Wills Sainte Claire.
Duane Steel ran the engine from the G&S roadster in a T roadster around '50/'51.
There was one featured in a 1953 issue of Hot Rod and another in Car Craft.

 

Im building my coupe in a late 40's, early 50's vibe. Im running a 59AB Flathead in my car. Check out my pictures in my profile. This fucker would have been done a year ago if i would have just gone with a SBC!