OK my SBC in review and why I get irritated when it is knocked

Let.me explain why I am a SBC fan and get a little upset with the SBC is down played.

I understand there is an SBC in 90% of all rods. I don't like most of them either.

First of all - I appreciate the well put together engine that doesn't leak and is not covered with rust. Another criteria is that is has the goodies inside.

I don't pay much attention to the everyday 350s with the **** dress up items like milled valve covers, AC brackets, aluminum covers, centerbolt valve cover, HEI...etc...

It needs to be understood that there is a second and third tier of small chevy's out there.

the second being the ones that are dressed nice with the proper covers and carbs to make it look cool. These motor run and go anywhere. cool thing.

the third being the ones that haul ***. there was a post on here earlier and the guy spent alot of time on his engine and couldn't peel out. Well - you're average small block with some weight on the tire - won't peel out. There was also a great post by Scotch that had 500 some HP. Racefab (i think it was racefab - i can't do research right now) also posted some vey impressive 1/4 mile times with the HAMB 350 motor.

if you take you're time and research -your SBC will scare ya on the cheap

It isn't all about "yank a small block from an Impala and drop it in your rod and it will haul ***."

Ryan has a serious SBC - period - I respect that

Flambedabone has a serious Poncho - I respect that. I love looking at other motors don't get me wrong.

Hell I really respect any motor that is detailed meaning it doesn't leak anything and it sounds right. It needs a lump. People - put a cam in your motor.

I have two small chevy's - one I built and it still doesn't haul as much *** as I like. I had ont that came in a truck that I bought from a guy for 3 grand. I wish I never sold that truck for 4K - I can't even build that motor for 4K. That motor was BAD ***. It would pin your *** and slide all over the place.

I am still trying to recreate that motor. Not there yet. That is why thy SBC is so kick *** - if you build it right - dress it right - it will treat you right.

The motor in my A model - I built. First engine I have ever built from the getgo.

It came out of a truck I owned that broke down on me on the way to work. I stored it for 3 years. It was the basis of my project plan - I have the motor already. I tore it down - the heads were cracked. I took it to the machine shop. Met the coolest old guy I still am friends wi, bouns. We decided what we needed to do to make this 283 be sweet. He hot tanked it, bored it 40 over and pressed my new pistons on to the stock rods. He changed my cam bearings and mounted old rods on the new psitons. Stuff I really could not do at home. Me and him put the motor back in the truck when he was done. I brougt the motor home and had to spend a lot of time painting and ***embling.

I sneaked off of work this whole time to get this done. I neglected my wife and spent money I shouldn't have to build the motor. Stuff like gaskets, oil pump, new 58 CC stock heads, head gaskets, countless bolts, NPT plugs - **** lots of stuff and I am still not runnin this motor.

Paint - clean up. The coolest part was putting in the rod bearings and torqeing the caps. Oh I forgot ordering the rings and installing the rings - figuring out which rings went on top and the middle and bottom and how to gap them. I spent an hour on the phone with a ring manufacturer.

Then I went to autozone and bought a ring compressor and tapped the psitons in the hole - then ligned up the rods on the crank. then figured out I had the rods were backwards and redid it. then drank some more beer - I drink beer while I do this stuff. Then torque the heads - time to clean all my old bolts - then I decide spend 60 bucks and get new head bold bolts because the of the higher compression pistons might stretch the old bolts more. Oh and i need a fuel pump - wait a minute these pulley's don't line up - etc.......

I haven't even got to the part where I have to adjust the push rods and crank up the motor. Whatever - my whole point is these motors aren't self expalanatory. yes they are easier because stuff is available - but have you ever called a guy and had him know exactly what you need for that problem on your SBC - hell no, you're on your own to make it work. It is called hot rodding.

It all takes time and effort. Spend it on whatever motor you have. I especially appreciate the time it would take to do a flat head, hemi, olds, 351, 302, FE, motor. Don't get me wrong guys. I get you and I really respect the extra money and ******** that must be waded through. It is for REAL. IT isn't going to do it self.

All I have to say - is please everybody quitcher*****en about the small chevy's. They will p*** you on the track if built proper.

Godspeed - get your mill - whatever it may be - build it as hot as you can cause I'll be tryin to p*** ya

 

Then bring your SBC to the HAMB Drags and we'll see if it p***es Flamedabone's poncho or my Nailhead....

 

That my friend, is a great looking hot rod motor...

Danny

 

Is it Dead Horse Week again ?

 

DING DING DING.....Wanda Tell um what he's won.... WANDA: Unkl Ian's just won 2 nights at the mustang ranch located in LAS VEGAS.... with his choice of any ******

 

Hey Tudor, if these guys wanna ***** about a SBC, let 'em...what they don't know won't hurt them...if they wanna spend money on making something else run as hard as an SBC, let 'em...

Like anything else on this board, you don't like it, don't look...don't want to get irritated, don't read the thread...Besides, the more SBC's they DON'T use is all the more for you and I!!!

R-

 

Hey man, no apologies necessary to anyone for running an sbc mill!! As you said, it's all how it's dressed!! I built a flatty because that's what my dad raced in the super modifieds when I was a kid and also I just always liked them dressed out. If I wanted "Fast" I wouldn't have went with a flatty and old Ford driveline.
I had an sbc in a T bucket that I put 3 Ford carbs on and Corvette Aluminum valve covers on and it was very Trad as far as I'm concerned.
Lookin Good,

 

I've ridden in his other SBC and it ain't no slouch (sp?). Its defenatly got some go!

 

So what if I dont like your engine or car, u didnt build it for me anyhow?

 

Unkl Ian, How observant of you. Yes, it is Dead Horse Week and I'm afraid we've left the corpse with just the faintest of a pulse. My prediction is that he will lay there gasping and wrything for a period of time and then, just when you think he's gone for good, will rear up and come charging back with the same old information in an effort to make a point that doesn't need to be made.

Bless all of those who stand up for the SBC, I'm a**** the faithful. Just like so many other things in life, when your at the top you're the target, the easy mark. Along with the SBC I'm a fan of the Hemi, the Nailhead, the Rocket and bowing my head in reverence, the Flathead Ford. There are others that deserve and get my respect simply because they exist. Each in it's own way contributed to the colorful spectrum of powerplants that propeled an automobile down the road and left its mark on history. fifty years from now most of our cherished powerplants will have been reduced to museum curiosities displayed with small printed cards describing their rise and fall. Only a select few will survive actually powering a vehicle down the road and then only in a controlled invironment. I predict they will be reduced to their lowly state by legislation, practicality, parts availibility and indifference. Lets face it, in fifty years who is going to be left that gives a rats ***. Well, actually there will probably be a few who do and I hope they find my stash and build something that will melt some rubber, if we are still using rubber for tires. Unfortunately, or fortunatly depending on your point of view, most of my automotive powerplant entrails will have a bow tie label atached.

Frank

 

Looking good Josh! l really like the 2 carb adaptor!!!
see you tonight...

 

PBRmeasap - thanks and cool - see you tonight. For the record I also like your motor!!! that nail head is gonna be cool.

thanks Danny! a complinent from down under! that is pretty wild that you can share some hot roddin with someone in Austrailia

for everyone else - Sorry for bringing the horse around for another beating!! ha - that is true. it is railed to death.

at least there is some good stuff on the hamb this morning - I am drooling over Sams fuely post.

Zman - the HAMB drags are coming and I hope to go. The proving ground right!!!!

send unklian to the "chicken ranch" it is closer!!! I've been there - ha

 

Love seeing a smallblock with the 50's and 60's goodies. takes me back to my teen years. Looks very hotrod to me.. please no more small block posts.

 

Nobody on this board actually "builds" an engine......we are just "***emblers"....so it really doesn't matter what you ***emble (internal combustion engines are all basically the same)....As long as you are having fun, who cares what it is. Maybe some day someone on the board will cast their own block, and machine their own billet crank and prove me wrong....but I doubt it.

Some people think that they are special due to the parts they own....Unless they actually give birth to cylinder blocks, I see nothing out of the ordinary in different companys variations on cast iron.

 

Did we have a few beers last night? hahaha

Josh, I too am one of the faithfull with ya. Hell I have a 262 the ultimate TURD motor, but also have a mid range 400 so both ends of the spectrum.

 

Dixiedog - why yes I did I should know better than to run my mouth. - I was surprised at how few typos there were! I even used commas.

Hatch - you are right - that is funny - all it is - is slight different varaitions of cast iron.

 

Ah hell Z I'll run you and your nail with my push truck.
Sorry I just couldn't resist.

Who cares really, SBC, SBF, FE Nail, Poncho, if ya got it run it. If someone else don't like it there's a thousand other hotrods for 'em to look at. Don't get your ******* in a bunch

So are we racin'?

 

Again I say if you're gonna use an sbc in an early Ford, why does'nt using an actual Ford engine occur to most people as the obvious choice. Yeah the sbc may have come first but by the the early `60's tons of top notch rods were being built with SBF power. I know Roth, Winfield and Barris were using them. They seemed to do OK with them. That's the essence of this discussion now is'nt it. The fact that sbc's are used in everything even when the alternatives might make better sense. The use of sbc's in Fords specifically, is so common that you'd think they came from the factory that way. That's the only thing I have against 'em. They're very good little engines to be sure, but Ford did'nt make them, and the stuff Ford has to offer a hot rodder is pretty damn good in it's own right. It has never been all that much more expensive to build a SBF than it is a Chevy. That's just a tale that gets told over and over by car magazines with an agenda. The costs and rewards are very similar. No knock on the Chevs here but why use 'em in a Ford when Ford's got their own goods???

 

sbf valve covers are ugly...I like sbc better.....for that reason alone, I will never use a sbf.

 

One thing i decided on some years ago , and it has worked, I build CHEVY'S W CHEVY motors , never get any **** anymore ,unless its an old school oddball Austin/Poncho g***er

 

That's one of the best most rational reasons I have ever heard. Makes me laugh though, because I have actually seen some sbc's with Ford valvecovers grafted on! ha ha

 

Absolutely.... 3000 mile round trip with racing in the middle... That's a lot on a car.... or truck...

Yes, yes we are....

 

Really nice motor. Love the intake, carbs, stacks, and lake headers. Looks great to me.

 

Now that's funny. I prefer the SBC too. I have been digging like crazy for what I consider the parts for the right look. Tudor's pics above have the look. I bought a 3x2 polished intake last fall - it has the look I am after.

I think no matter what the motor needs to have the look too. All the good stuff inside comes down the budget when it is time to put it together - at least for me.

 

I guess I don't understand what the terms "build" or "***emble" have to do with this thread. Anyway according to my thesaurus, build is a synonym of ***emble. When and where I came from, folks always spoke of building racing and hot rod engines or motors, (whichever ya like) so please excuse me if I use that term. I don't mean to stir up anything but I just don't get your point.
Should I have not used that term in my post?
Has anyone else out there "built" their race or hot rod motors or have them "built"?

 

LOL...I too believe in picking a manufacturer and sticking with them throughout the build. Thats why all my Fords are Ford powered. I dont have a problem with a chevy powered Ford- to each their own. I dont care what people think of my cars, as they are mine. It is only me that needs to be satisfied with the decision. And when someone asks if it is chevy powered, it only makes my ride seem even more unique.

Reminds me of a buddy of mine who had just bought an old house to make a bed and breakfast type place out of it. We were painting the pillars black, with the rest of the building white. A woman walking down the street said "Ooohh...did you have to paint those pillars black?" He immediately shot back "Unfortunately lady, you have to buy the building to decide what color to paint it. LOL

I think most any engine will "run", regardless of the make. 302's or 351's might not be quite as cheap to build, but you will have a hell of a time convincing me that sbf's take alot to make them run. Again, to each their own. All you chevy guys (or whatever, for that matter), rock on. Build it and have fun.

Greg

 

Thats the key to the entire age old "Bowtie/Oval" pissin contest, and, in my opinion, cars in general.

If YOU like it, build it. DRIVE it, and fercrysakes above all, have fun picking on one another.

 

I've got a SBC, Nailhed and a Stovebolt. In the imortal words of Mr. Bleed, NO EXCUSES!!-MIKE

 

BINGO!!! the key phrase being "all you chevy guys"

 

I have 2 Chevy moters L-6 292 and 327 the rest are 1, poly 5, 472/500 Cads and as far as I am concerned all are unique purpose built, torque and more torque. If I had a 429/460 I would use it. The only one close to trad is the 327.Everything I build (***emble) is for my satisfaction I have only attended one car show at the Old Timers the rest of the time I park outside and walk in.
I really like the look of the carb set up and if I wasn't so broke I would go for it.