Why ya runnin' the motor you're runnin'???

Okay...just for fun and giggles...is there a particular reason (or reasons) that you decided to run the engine you're running in your current project(s)???

We always hear the "small block Chevys are cheap/reliable/easy to find/etc" arguments...but is THAT why you're running whatever you're running?

Just curious to see how other rodders decide what to power their **** with!

Me?

I'm running the goofy 60 degree V6 because they are physically small, making them easy to fit into a new application, they're a 'modern' design, light in weight, cheap, and easy to get parts for. In addition, they're hard to kill! (All the cl***ic small block Chevy arguments!).

So...why did ya drop a SBC, y-block, flattie, Caddy, Nailhead, ****** 1.9 or whatever mill into YOUR current rod or kustom project vehicle???

 

Cause I was a dumb**** and gave away the car that the engine on my garage floor was sposta go into...

I couldn't just throw it away, ya know, so I thought, "what the hell..."

Jay

 

I have a "53" Merc motor in my 36 pu truck. It was already in the truck,a fresh rebuild and running when I bought the truck. I don't hate myself bad enough to make changes. If it ain't broke,why fix it.
Chuck Fish

 

235 Chevy with a 4 spd.Saginaw...because it was "free" and NOT an sbc...like every other rod in San Antonio runs.

 

I put a 390 F E in my F-1, cause I couldn't afford a 427, and they dinn't make 460s back then. Put a 460 in the Merc cause they did...........OLDBEET

 

"Why ya runnin' the motor you're runnin'???"

'Cause it came in the car!!
250 buzzin' half dozen.

 

the 292 going in my 49 coupe was a freebie (running) and I was tired of the flathead...

 

The Nailhead was designed to replace a straight eight..dimensionally, so they fit in the older cars really well.
That...and they are Torque monsters. Take a serious amount of abuse and come back for more.

 

Because it's a big block MOPAR! DUH!

 

When I asked my dad if I could have one of his motors, he gave me the Ardun....gets ****PY gas mileage....I think maybe I'll switch to a 2.8 chevy...I hear they are HOT!!!!

 

Because Smallblock Chevys RULE the WORLD!

 

based the decision on apearance and apearance only-Chev W motor......may not be any good....like its looks even if not!

 

'Cause I was always a Mopar guy and in '71 I got a whole 66 Dodge with 383/T'flite and 8 3/4 rear for $80 - big money for me at the time. 289,000 miles later the mounts have their fourth motor, third trans and third rear. Now it's a 400 Mopar that takes the 6900 pounds down the road all day at 80.

 

im running a 11 to 1 roller cam 410 ci small chevy cause my friend and engine builder gave it to me and said this will make it go fast

 

Got the motor free
350 SBC.

Oh and in case you move on to transmissions the powerglide was $50.

 

455 Olds and 455 Buick. They were less than $200 ea. w/the 400 turbo tran's. Both went into 'later' ride's. '77 & 69 Chev short-boxe's. It still bother's alot Chevy boy's. Cheap, torque monster's. Blow's mind's when you pop the hood. "What is that?" 'Why"? Took that dare to be different at***ude and never look back. Still need to do a 455 Poncho and a 500 Cad. Each in an older truck. A GMC for sure, and a much older, wild cab and not much more look. A friend from TX just scored a 401 Nailhead last week. Why? 'Cause their cool.

 

based mine on appearance(have always liked nailheads)wanted a solid motor with a good torque base, and although I'd really like a big ol hemi, I cant afford one. Plus I thought I was being kind of original in choosing a nailhead, have only seen 1 other around town but after comng to the hamb I guess I was just following someone elses lead (hope they know where they're goin)

 

I gotta spare 200 metric if you need it hack.

 

In my 26T Lakes Mod project I'm using a 2300 Ford Turbo/T5 combo because:
1:A complete ,running 45K 83 T/cpe T/Bird was free
2:I'm trying to stay around 1600#'s ,and this engine weighs less than a sbc & is around 145HP stock.
3:With a few basic tweaks, it's easy to get 250-275 HP
4: It came w/ T5 trans,7.5"t/lok rr.,wiring,EFI,etc
5: and best of all..there's something about a 4-banger in a Track-T that just looks right!!

 

I gotth motor & ****** for a duece, it was in a running car that i test drove!!
JimV

 

SBC, Because it's simple and parts are available everywhere...

I plan on driving it.

the flathead? that has no explaintion.

 

8ba flattie- Why? because it's cool and anyone can run a 350!
Almost done!

 

HHHMMMMM......... seems the theme here is cost ... and/or convienance (came with the car/truck)

well I will add my 2 cents......
my '65 Olds., came with a 350 chevy and the stock Olds powerglide when I bought it
the 64 Riviera came with the 425 nailhead
the 71 Ranchero came originally with the 429 ram-air cobra jet
the 60 F100 (which I am trying to sell) came with a 350/350 combo
and my shop truck 73 chevy longbed came with the straight 6

I had contemplated installing a 290 Desoto hemi (which I had, but have since traded off) in my 65 Olds, but thought I got a louvered hood (so I don't display it open at get togethers) and no one would see it often enough and it works now so the hell with it....
but I would like to do a similiar oddball engine in a not the same brand vehicle.... I did put a set of chevy valcovers that have the Ford script on them on my Olds just to make people wonder though.....

-SAM

 

364 nailhead.

the price was right, seems to run damn good. never had a nailhead, hear they have gobs-o-power. and i wanted the dodge to be cool. dont think it helped the dodge any, haha.

trey

 

I'm running a aussie 265 hemi in my lobudget 22 dodge,one reason,it was free

 

Silly sentimental reasons...
I built the 283 for my 51 chevy, first really old car, first engine build.
Sold 51 to help finance my A coupe, first hot rod build.
Now Ican say I still have the first engine I ever built and the first hot rod I ever built. Besides Ive grown a fondness for the small journal chevies, this coming from a ******** B/RB Mopar guy.

 

Ok, I'll bite. I'm currently running the stock flathead six banger in my 41 pontiac coupe this summer so I can attend the HAMB drags with the car. If I tore the damn car down now for it's new 389, 4 speed, it wouldn't be operational before the drags and driving a daily driver to the HAMB drags is a real drag. Current power..........

 

New power to be installed this winter.......

 

Why ?








Because I couldn't find a Vega motor.

 

I was raised on small block chevy's, and chevy's in general.. Pop's ran a lot of them back in the day.
So i have alway's liked them, way before i ever knew they were 'too common' in the rodding world.
I still love 'em..i prefer the smaller 283 and 327's.
But most are more than worthy of using.
My all time favorite motor is the 348-409 "W" motors though..
To me they just look great!!

The current project has the original 235, and will alway's stay a '6'..

I have a '32 5 window body waiting to be saved and that will run a 409 i picked up a while ago.

Here's a pic of the 283 in my '32 3 window..maybe too common, but i dig it
(this was the first motor i ever built, had it for 16 years, and 3 builds since..kinda has a different value now )


Rat..