I purchased a 38 Ford tudor that was hotrodded decades ago. Its actually in pretty good condition with paint and interior but needs to be ***embled. I am an old Ford guy and have been autocrossing a 66 Mustang for 25 years. I have been wanting a Ford of this era and the price was right. The only thing I HATE about this car is it is powered by Chevy, Corvair drum front end and 12 bolt out back. As a Ford guy I am wondering, how does the market view a Ford with Chevy running gear. Its all done and runs good but Bowtie??? seriously??? This is a big project to power by ford, I doubt I will keep the car more than 3 to 5 years. I notice the Chevy power in Fords is pretty common. Thoughts???.
How much of it is Chevrolet? My last "without a budget" SBC build only had a GM block. Except for a handful of nuts and bolts everything was pretty much aftermarket parts. Pistons, rods, crankshaft, bearings, rings, camshaft, lifters, intake, heads, distributor, pulleys, water pump, belts, hoses, starter, alternator etc were built by the aftermarket. It was in a Hudson and I would kid, when asked, about it saying something like it's not a Chevrolet engine it's a Chevrolet block built with all new parts. Don't sweat it just enjoy it if it starts and stops as it should.
I am curious why this post would get locked or deleted? Did I post incorrectly or is this a controversial topic? Thanks, M
Not sure about the motor and trans but lots of aftermarket Weiland Edelbrock... Although the Corvair front end and 12 bolt with the Turbo 350 is all bowtie. Boy I sure do love me some Hudsons, I have had every thing from the 34 terraplane, 46 pickup, 52 coupe, 50 4dr with a 7X police interceptor (NASCAR) motor and a 52 4 door. Wonderful cars, wish I still had a couple of them!
If anything is going to detract from resale value, I would be willing to bet it will be the Corvair front.
SBC’s have been swapped into Fords since they started showing up in s**** (junk) yards in ‘55. They’re more common in a Ford than “A Ford in a Ford” now I’m sure.
Rule number ONE ... when you get to the bar, find the ugliest girl there ... keep an eye on her all night. When she starts to look good you know you've had too much. You are welcome
X2, the Corvair front suspension is what would detract from the car long before the engine, trans and rearend. I say buy it if you like it. it drives good, and makes you happy having an old hot rod. SBC in an old Ford is so common that it is probably the majority of what you will find. Flathead next and SBF third.
Sad, but true. Not quite as hard to put a small block Ford in a Ford as it used to be, but it still takes a bit of searching to find the right parts like the rear sump oil pan and short waterpump. When I changed my 47 Lincoln from a SBC to a SBF, I had a rear sump pan engine already, so that part of the puzzle was solved. Then I had to build a new crossmember to put the motor stands on, couldn't just put them on the frame because the steering box was right in the way. That same steering box was also in the way of the exhaust manifolds, my solution was a set of Explorer manifolds. Of course, the wiring was a bit different, too, Ford distributor is in front, so had to lengthen the wires to it. Lots of differences, some bigger than others, but nothing that couldn't be overcome. I could have just left the Chevy in there, but I'm a Ford guy, and I get tired of seeing Chevy engines in everything. It all breaks down to how much money you want to spend, and how long you want your car to be down. Lots of us would rather have a Ford in a Ford, so I wouldn't sweat the resale value. If you're in it to just to make money, you're in it for the wrong reason.
The Corvair front suspension was the hot ticket until the pinto/mustang II suspension came out. It had disc brakes that is the only reason it replaced the Corvair stuff.
Can't vouch for the front end but my '38 sedan is Chevy powered and wouldn't have it any other way...
I've lost track of how many SBC's I've installed in Ford's for Customers. They paid for my House and my Wife's horse habit. Never thought I'd do one for myself till my 51 Vick. That was done so I could sell it off. That was also 19 years ago and near 100K miles. I just leave the Hood closed so I have to look at it of explain it. I don't even think about it while I'm behind the wheel.
If I build a Ford it will have a Ford in it. If I'm buying a Ford, a Chevy engine would be a deal breaker unless the car was cheap enough to replace the engine. I love Chevy engines and have owned more Chevy and GM cars than Fords, I bleed Chevy orange, but not when its going in a Ford!
Dobro… your a Ford guy and you probably know them very well. With a Ford in a 38 it would be an ez sale in 4-5 years to another Ford guy. With a SBC an easier sale to anybody because so much more is available and way cheaper than Ford parts. SBC’s exchange parts very easy as you would find out if you already don’t realize and Fords not so much as you probably know. The biggest option you have is keep the hood closed. Good luck.
Change just for the sake of change is seldom a move forward. If it works and you're in it for fun leave it alone.
Never been much of a SBC fan....Owned a few and the worst one was 55...Been a Chrysler guy for the most part....
Kind of limits your options if you limit your parts to vehicles original manufacturer. I pick what I think is the best parts that will work for the job I want it to do, no matter whos name is on the part.
The Jalopy Journal
