Opinion poll/bench racing session

Ok who’s up for some bench racing?

Here is a hypothetical situation. Let’s say there is this fella who has a mid fifties American made coupe of undetermined origin, you can make it in your own mind whatever you want it to be. This fella is a rodder at heart but certainly not opposed to building a go fast custom. He leans towards traditional styling which is evident by the crowd he is asking for advice/opinion, but he probably is going to run a hood if you catch my drift.

He has 3 engines at his disposal all need freshening but they are basically built, that is to say they perhaps need rings and a valve grind. All make zot in the 400-450 hp range. But this fella is on the fence as far as to which engine he is going to stuff in his engine bay.

Engine # 1 is a 2x4 small block Chevy, just because almost everyone has one and we shouldn’t leave it out of the mix. This is probably the least “traditional” because of the way it is screwed together but on the outside you wouldn’t notice.

Engine #2 is a 2x4 Olds 394, just because it seems to be overlooked by most of us. It has some history and is probably the least street worthy of the 3 engines in question; pretty lumpy cam major port work etc.

Engine # 3 is a Ford FE. A factory 427 headed 390; it’s been mildly tweaked using mostly readily available factory pieces. Also chosen not because of being an oddity but because although they are common place in Galaxies they are pretty much overlooked as traditional hotrod fodder.

Ok this is where you come in; you are now consulting on said fella’s build. You no doubt have a preference and a reason why you prefer a specific option. Now please bear in mind that even though I like a little drama now and then that The Boss doesn’t so let’s not spend too much time talking about anyone’s family tree and the like; maybe the occasional helping someone not to suffocate but not to extreme OK?

Have at it fellas and remember its all in fun.

 

Let's look at the facts:

-All three engines make the same HP.
-The SBC is the lightest weight of the three options and therefore provides the highest power to weight ratio; as well as the least weight over the frontend.
-The Olds 394 is the "least street worthy".

Given these facts, and the owner's stated requirements, the SBC will provide the car with the greatest acceleration, braking and handling.

Any other choice would be based on opinions, predjudices and conjecture, not facts. BTW, I haven't even delved into the economics of each option.

 

I say Olds, because when I looked at the post ten people had voted and the result was 4-4-2.

 

The Olds. Speed equipment available? Yes. Well detailed & good looking engine and traditional? Yes. Fits in any major Auto frame and does not conflict w/the make of auto? Yes. Torque available in street form? Yep!

 

Sorry, but without knowing the car - NO VOTE!

 

couldn't beat that torque of the 390 in a leaded down custom

 

I would go with the 427/ 390 package. The Olds sounds cool to me and I would have opted for it but you mentioned the lack of street ability of it. The 350 is most likely modified quite heavily as well to get 400/450 ponies out of it. From the pure aspect of street ability I would go with the large block and rely upon inches to provide power rather than modifications, should prove best for long trips, longeavity etc.

 

2x4 Olds 394.

Just because it seems to be overlooked by most of us

 

Firstly im a bit biased towards the blue oval. That being said, if its a G.M. product the Olds sounds great albeit a bit nonstreetable.

My mind dreamed the car in question is a Ford, so for me its the 390 FE. when you see one of those babies you always have to second quess what its capeable of. They all are so potent in the wow factor catagory as well. IMO

 

has to be the Chevrolet, since otherwise the car would have to be a Olds or Ford. not that mid 50's Olds or Fords aren't cool as well, but 49-54 Chevies are my favorites.

though an axled 56 Ford Victoria with 450 HP worth of big block would be a nice car... maybe a 57 Ford "post" with the same motor.

mid 50's Olds are for cruising low and slow in my book. no need for all that HP, and I'm figuring a 394 with that HP would be less reliable than the other 2.

 

Wow the last I checked this was on page 3 I figured I had broken a record and found something that no one had an opinion on.

 

I learned to drive in an Olds and have owned several.
My first "real" job was selling new Olds.
I'm very partial to the late great car.
With that said, I voted SBC because it's lighter and there's a lot more options as to what you bolt onto the back of it for a transmission over the Olds.
Ford's just don't look right with the valves on top...

 

Gary has a good point, power to weight, that's what hot rodding and going fast it all about , no?

 

Go with the Ford, Chevy's are like belly ****ons every one has one. Olds would be my second choice.

 

Ditto! Not enough info. Is it a Ford?

 

no vote X3....

 

Now that's damn funny, I don't care who you are!

 

Knowing the body really is a big deal here. All else being equal...you know you could've invited all us over for new years dinner and we could have hashed this out! It looked way better than what i ate!
Olds, and they are easy to detune if'n you're worried about that.

 

Gigantor (and the rest of ya),
I purposely left the make and model out to do away with the brand loyalty put a what-ever in a what-ever aspect out of the equation. I chose middle '50s cars because they were all pretty close to the same size and all these engines will go into one pretty easily. I did choose coupe to limit it to all the cars being pretty similiar in size and weight.

The final decision as to make and model is ultimately going to be what you can build in your mind. Its all about you baby.

 

Well, I'm still not gonna vote! If it's a Ford I'll put the Ford in it, why make a lot more work for myself to run a foreign object in there? If it's a Chevy I'd probably do the SBC - makes the most sense. If it's some other GM thing, it would be a toss up but the SBC would probably win out if it were to be a HOT ROD as vs a Custom.
If it's a Mopar, well, I wouldn't build a mid 50's Mopar, so no idea

 

All right, just to get the ball rolling, I'll vote pretending this was me. I got a soft spot for B.O.P. engines.

 

Do all 3, 390 in the trunk/ Think of the torque I am thinking a Checker limo so the olds and SBC will fit up front.

 

You said traditional custom so I don"t vote for either one.Reality is the Chevy setup with that kind of hp won"t be much of a street car.The Olds with that setup no way and the Ford not much of a street setup either.

 

If you screw the olds and the SBC together you are going to need the 390 in the trunk to get it to hook. Maybe if I had borrowed one to go in the bed of the Pusher I could have got it into the 12s.

Gotta love a man with imagination, that's hot rodding.

 

What can I say McMullens twin engine Austin wrecked me at a young age

Serious vote would be Olds if you saw it, SBC if it was hidden under a hood.

 

I joined this club in 1964. There was a model A sedan with a SBC, a 33 Chevy coach with a 394, a 34 Chevy 2dr with a 394 and a 50 Olds 2 dr with a 394. It was an Olds Mecca. I never caught the virus but I have a fondness for them because of the club.

I only remember 1 34 coupe with a 390 in it. They were in the 50s type bodies but not the hotrods. (I'm putting an FE in my 56 Ford.)

If it's a 30s car, I'd go with a 394. If it's a 50s Ford I'd go with the 390.

 

Love them Oldsmobubbles, I have a 1969 455 Hurst Olds in my 33 Chevy 5 window and nothing sounds like it, and it really turns heads.
BigSkyBob

 

I voted for the Olds too. The "not streetable" gig, well if you're going in anyways to freshen up, tone down the cam a bit. Besides, in an orphan 50s custom the Olds is probably the best fit. It is an orphan, right?

I'm glad you left out the make. There's not too many things that raise my dander like the "Ford in a Ford" mindset. I think of that type as those misfit sheep in the Serta commercials.

 

Damn it find something we can disagree on.

Actually not streetable is probably a relative term, the Ol" Man put some street tires and a radiator on the Altered and drove it home from the shop once when I was a kid.

I guess I should have said that the Olds would be the more radical build of the 3? But its too late and too much fun to change it now.

 

When it comes to a HOT ROD, where you are doing everything from scratch, I agree - run the motor that blows your dress up.
But a 50's car done in custom style, especially with Power Steering, A/C etc, I just don't want to reinvent the wheel. Keep the original type motor and make your life a hell of a lot easier. No need to figure out brackets, pump and steering box that don't like each other, hoses, pans etc. When you take into account that in a custom the motor just needs to get that sled down the road and look pretty doing it, I will stick with the one who brung ya.