big block chevy:traditional enough for F-100

In the course of things I picked up a 454 BBC. Is this traditional enough to satisfy the powers that be here? It's dressed with old style aluminum valve covers,edelbrock intake,etc and repainted Chevy orange. it would look great under the hood of my '55 F-100. can it be discussed here or should I put in a bellybutton? Anyone here have a '53-'56 F-100 with one?

 

I have seen everything in F100 trucks. Build what you like, you dont need anyone's approval....in my opinion.

 

Its your truck, do what you want.

 

who cares?

...and no.. 454's are not traditional. unless you are doing a traditional 1970's build.


if this place were 100% pure traditonal it would be a ghost town.

 

you would still be here.

No one really cares that much, I would think you could pull off a 427 or a 396 so a 454 isn't that big a stretch. Just leave the hood closed.

 

Your car, your choice. Don't be concerned about satisfying other people's opinions. Ford, Chevy, Hemi, straight 6, whatever. If you've already got it, run it.

 

I am a big fan of the Brand X-in-a-Brand X mentality. Sell the 454, and invest in a Ford FE or Lima (429-460) for your F-100. Maybe a cheap junk yard 390 stroked to 445???

But as all have stated, it is your truck, do what you want and have fun doing it.

 

a good built fe is they way to go.had one in my f100 it would go fast and get a good gas milage.had it bored out to a 410 sounded good to with strait pipes.

 

There aren't any FE's left in this area. The boat crowd have them on a long chain for what they best do.

 

Baloney. Probably just another Chebrainwashed who's never actually run a good FE

 

Go for it. Probably an easier swap than a Ford motor anyways...the sump is in the back where it belongs.

 

I say do it, who cares if its not 60s traditional, 90% of people will never know the exterior differences between a 396/427 and a 454

 

I think you need to ask yourself...what do I really want?

Do you want acceptance on a message board or do you really want a nostalgic hotrod. A BBC doesn't do it for me. I don't build anything to get approval here but I understand the mutual feelings that most of us here get.

I came here because these guys share my views (mostly) I didn't come here to try and adopt other peoples feelings.

That being said I still try to "spread the gospel" If you catch it, you will want to sell the 454 and find an early Cadillac. No it won't be cheap and it won't be easy but it sure as hell will be cool. Somethings are worth the costs and efforts.

You'll never finish a build unless your heart is in it. Anything less than that and it will end up becoming a short term fad.

Nobody will bad mouth you for building a streetrod if that is what you want. Just don't try to stuff it down our throat as being cool.

 

I don't understand the connection between boat chains and kicking Chevrolet's ass

 

Ya, they got a few, but not for anchors

 

Put whatever you want in it because it's yours...but since you are here asking for opinion, I will give you one.

Caddy power or an Olds rocket.

One of our high school shop projects was a '32 Ford pu. It had a 460 in it. I had to say screw traditional because YOU KNOW THAT THING WAS FAST!!

I always thought it was cool because it didn't have a belly button SBC in it. But then again, I am a guy who thinks outside of the box. Hell, my '41 Dodge has...:gasp: a Dodge engine in it!!

 

Is this about having a "cool" engine or doing a swap your way with what you have and can work with.What makes an engine cool? A slightly different look that the common Chevy?
I'm no Ford guy but I sorta think an old F1 should have a Ford engine.However I couldn't find a good FE engine around here except for maybe a trashed 361 from farm truck.In an hour I can lay my hands on several good 454 Chevys.
Cost and availability can determine what's cool.

 

If your question is "Can I do it and be accepted?" then dude, of course. There are lots of guys here who just have what they have and participate and nobody cares. It's all good.

If your question is "Can I put a BBC in my effie and still be period correct to the fifties/early 60's showcar scene?" Well not really. '65 would be the earliest you could possibly get your hands on a mkII rat motor.

Great advice!! Caddy's RULE! Check out the Lil' Nugget. Had a caddy with dual quads. Way awesome!

 

Depends I guess on what you really want. The owner of this F-100 wanted a small block chevy. We talked him into a 430 MEL.





Meanwhile the owner of this '55 GMC already had a big block and that was what he wanted. So we looked for ways to up the cool factor. Is it period correct for the rest of the truck? Of course not. But I would dare say it's pretty cool.

 

I kind of like the factory look on motors in older cars, just looks more traditional. I think the only engine that looks good with edelbrock valve covers are SBCs, thats just me. For BBC I like the Cal Custom ones all polished up, but those are a little late '60s so probably would be a little "modern" if you are going ultra traditional....