1932 Roadster Build - Which Engine???

Well... I went up this weekend and met Squeak at Kiwi Konnect and gave my deposit for my frame. But I am having problems deciding on an engine and trans for the build. SBC would probably be the easiest, but I would really rather it be a ford or some non-chevy motor. However, I want lots of hp, so... don't think a flathead is going to be an option. Anyone one have experience with a 351w or 351c in a deuce?

Please give me your opinion. If you were building a 32 roadster and wanted lots of hp... what would you put in it? Thanks for the help!

 

Horsepower
Extreme at***ude
Mega torque
Impressive looks.

Theres only one answer...its right in front of you.

 

Though a BBC won't look traditional (pre-65) it will kick ****....

You should be able to do well with a Ford if that's the way you're leaning...
The car should be lite enough that a Ford plant will move you down the road... and if you make serious amounts of power you'll have a problem hooking up without stupid big tires.... Personally I'd go Nailhead or Hemi...

 

Think I would go with the 351W engine. Lots of speed parts & stroker kits to put it up to a 396ci! Power to weight would be killer! Big blocks are just that BIG! Weight is a cars biggest enemy. Make Henry happy and keep your Ford a Ford!

 

absolute stock looking and painted 1957 283 with ram horns and a generator.

 

Built Olds Rocket.

 

Well as long as you asked - I have a friend who had a 1970 Plymouth Fury that was an ex-Minnesota highway patrol car that had a 440 in it. As big as that car was it flew! I think that a 440 in '32 roadster might help you get your pilot wings real fast! Gary 4T950 Chevy Guy

 

Well sense you dont want it flathead powered . An Olds motor would be killer.

 

It's not that I don't want to use a flathead, but how much hp can you get out of one with out going crazy?

 

y-block; T-Bird chrome covers; 3 carbs ;headers, and three pedals. finished off with a quick change ;wide five ford wheels spider caps w/black walls...

Just my day dream if I had a 32-- Ryan

 

I'm 62. I was in high school in the late 50s (San Gabriel High School Matadors, thank you very much). And I can tell you that in my day the Chevy 283 was the engine of choice. If you could find one and afford it on part time bus boy or theater usher pay. So I vote for a SBC with ram horn exhaust manifolds, a generator and three twos.

I understand a pre-smog mill eases initial registration in California.

What rear end are you going to run? How about a banjo with late axles, open drive line conversion, Model A spring, and ladder bars. That is traditional. For a ****** I'd opt for a 700R-4 - modern for sure, but the overdrive really improves driveability. Or a 5 speed.

If you go Ford consider a Y-Block. Another traditional motor. They look good with Thunderbird valve covers, and three twos. And with a little work they can be really peppy.

I have close to 300 HP in my 32 and, as I have said here before, I have more power than guts. In the day a 200 HP street motor was a bragger. You don't need much more.

But what do I know?

 

Hemi power is the way to go!!!

 

San Gabriel High... as in San Gabriel Valley??? I grew up in Covina.

OK... to answer a couple of questions... The rear end is a Ford 9in with ladder bars and coil overs. I was looking at using the 700r4 with a SBC, but then started thinking about staying with Ford. Now I am leaning toward the 351 Windsor, but I am still open to ideas. Thanks for the input.

 

I'd be happy if i got 100hp out of mine

Danny

 

Depends on what 'period' and 'style', yanks your crank, pre-48, stick with a flatty, '49-'55 add in the OHV Cad, Olds Rocket, early Hemi, Nailhead Buick, or even Studebaker V-8s, 1955-'62 all of the foregoing plus Ford's Y-block, or FE, and any SBC dressed out in correct 'period style', from '62-on just about anything, but this brings you into that 'showcar period' where a lot of ill-advised and better forgotten build styles came and went.
Bottom line is, you can't go wrong by picking and sticking to one of the "Cl***ic" formats, late model Ford smog-motors were just never part of the scenario, and far too much water has gone under the bridge for that combo to ever attain to the "Cl***ic" status of these earlier combos.

 

if you're lookin for a ford motor get a 302, bore and stroke it to 347 and build it well. My uncle did and he's gettin 450 hp and 430 pound feet of torque.

 

Sbc Asap.

 

No other V8 fits as well as a Small Block Chevrolet in a 32..... end of story..

I hear all the whining and moaning about them being " belly ****on " motors but the truth is they make serious HP easily, cheaply and they fit the BEST...With Aluminum heads, intake, water pump and a gear drive mini starter.....they cross the scales at 460 lbs or so. Easy to cool, easy to find parts on the road in case of a failure....

Plus at sale time.......they sell easier.....more folks want, understand and can work on a SBC than anything else......

But I am biased......

 

Wow... that is some serious power from a 347. What else has been done to it?

 

331 inch Caddy, with factory dual quads.

 

Very nice looking setup. Where did you get the engine? What transmission are you running with it? How much HP does that thing pump out?

Hmmmm chevy... I don't know... I still like the Fords. But I am new at this and am easily influenced. Hahahaha You know... still a FNG.

 

The engine is a factory GM crate engine.
The engine makes 430 Horsepower and 430 pounds of torque. They only made 430 of them and it is the last one ... #430 as the serial number on the valve cover shows....It is a 350 cubic inch Chevrolet. I have a 400 Turbo transmission and a 9 inch Ford rear....



This is a photo of it in the crate from General Motors....

Look at the first photo and you can see the ZIP raised water pump....with the 18 inch mechanical 7 blade fan and the alternator bracket cast into the riser......EASY stuff.....

.

 

which is it?

 

You can get killer Ford sb's up to 460 inch if you want to spend the money, but in any case you'll be able to get all the power you need out of one. They're not hard to fit, I've got one in a deuce and it goes like stink. Right hand drive helps with the oil filter issue, but god almighty, it's not that big a deal to work around in your world. Brizio seems to be able to cookie cutter the process easy enough.

SBC is so......well SBC.

 

Let's see one of the finest and most cl***ic Ford automobiles (the Deuce) ever to come out of Dearborn and you lean towards Ford power. That's neat and if you stick with it your car will be special. Ford gives you alot of choices but in my mind one stands out. The 4 valve 4.6 or 5.4 Modular engine is a fantastic hot rod engine. Why? because you simply get tons of bang for the buck in stock form. You don't have to buy fancy aftermarket heads or worry about 4 bolt main blocks because they all come with them. They are very short in length and a little wide, a perfect situation if you want the thing to fit yet provide that insane visual impact of a hemi headed engine. They are reasonable in cost as you can get a complete one from www.karkraft.com for $2000.00 to $3000.00. For me I'd convert to carburation to make it simple and more traditional looking and away you go. Check out www.sullivanperformance.com if you are interested as well.

 

aftermarket rails,
coil over rear
351 Ford motor...

let me guess, gl*** body?


sounds like a nice Street Rod

 

Well.........that 430 was not cheap......

The truth is with a weight of 2200 to 2400 pounds ........most anything V8 will push the roadster BRISKLY...

It boils down to what you want....and feel good about. Every engine mentioned here in this thread has it's own advocates and fans.....Some are big, some are heavy and some are outdated. Some are ALL of these things. IF you want to run a hood....some of these engines are too wide....a few are NOT traditional.......and difficult to adapt. One is considered " cookie cutter or belly ****on "

Do what makes you happy or you will be dissatified with the roadster as long as you own it.

 

I definitely agree with that!

 

Nostalgic is'nt cheap typically, but the cheapest nostalgic motor would be the Chev smallblock.

 

Here....horsepower to spare and more traditional than a SBF.