50 shoeboxes what you got under the hood

A friend of mine is building a 50 shoebox and havin a time deciding what to put under the hood.He has swung from FE and sbf to big olds power to old hemis and such.So throw some ideas or pics at me and show off your shoeboxes and power plants.

 

FLATHEAD

 

not to be too old fashioned, but my opinion is a ford should have a ford, so if not a flathead then a y-block.

my $0.02

 

Flathead presently to be replaced with an SBC. So kill me.

 

couldn't have said it better myself. If he wants to go bigger but still SBF, a 302 would be fine.

 

I've got a 302 in mine. Reliable and is very easy to swap

 

440

 

Flathead, stock with headers and duals.

 

I have a ZZ3 crate motor in mine, because the price was right. My real preference would be an early Cad (very trad -- Fordillacs were the hot ticket in the early '50s), next choice would be a SBF.

I wouldn't consider a flattie in a shoebox any more -- they are 3000+ pound cars, and I'd want more than ~150 HP in mine. A Chrysler is too heavy, in my book; it would handle like a pig.

 

My '50 has a 302 / C-4 combination. It's an easy swap.

 

I've gor a Merc flathead in one and a 283 in the other

 

I think it's a loaded question. To me it depends more on how you use your car and what "theme" i.e. era you are trying to emulate. If it's going to be your daily driver or you are into going on many long distance trips, I'd swap a 302/c4 in it. It's a relatively easy swap , kits and parts are readily available and the motor is relatively cheap.

For most of us its about building a car to an era and getting the right look, so parts availability isn't the main factor in building the car. So, a flathead, y-block, 303-371 Olds, 264-(early)401 Buick, 331-365 Caddy or a 283 Chev are good choices in MHO. Although I love Hemi's they are a bitch to get into a shoebox. (Not that the other motors are easy, but at least you can have inner fenders.)

I know guys pick on SBCs, but to me a 283 with 3x2s with early Chevrolet or Corvette script covers is legit. An LT1 with plastic overs on the other hand.....

I've got two of these things; my '50 ragtop is running a flattie and I've got a 401 Nailhead going into my '49 Coupe.

Just my 0.02.

 

I had a flat 6 in my old 51 and a 351/C4 in the 51 I have now. Would pitch it in a second for a 327 tho...

 

Im the friend. i have two routes Im thinking right now. Im looking at a 62 cadillac 390 with 4 speed auto for $400 tonight. ran 3 years ago. I have found some rebuild kits for $800-$1300 (the higher being higher performance parts). Im leaning this way, the fordillac way. i also have a 455 olds that i might look at. its in a car, comes with engine, tranny, shift kit, auburn posi (and everything else in the car). but, thats a damn big engine and I have no where to park it while pulling everything out. so, im leaning towards the 390. i know parts are expensive, but still a cool engine. let me know what you guys think and if anyone has a connection on parts, rebuild and speed. thanks

 

What about a Pontiac, an early 60s 389 sold on craigslist the other day (in denver) for $200 a runner w/generator, wp, fan, exhaust, ......

get some finned valve covers and a tripower or a dual four or 6 duece?

it has been said, i'll repeat........early sbc 283,327 w/th350 or even a glide, better yet a T5.

let me know if you want one, anyone- (3x283,2x327,pg,302 builder)

good luck -

 

i dont have a shoebox but i have seen alot of Caddy 331s in old Rod and Custom and HotRod magazines from the 50s and 60s. But it seems a flathead or y-block would be good to

 

Old fashion? There nothing more old fashion than a Cadillac in a Ford. They used what actually fit. You ever put a Y-Block in a shoebox before??? Might shed some light....

 

My '49 has a 354 Hemi and a 3 spd, but everytime I walk by it, I picture it with a Caddy, so out it's coming!!

 

flathead with an Edmunds 2 pot intake with twin 94's.

 

I don't have a line on speed parts, but I'm with you on the 390. That'd be a cool swap.

Hank

 

How about an original flat six with 3/4 cam, two carbs, electronic ignition, split manifold and a Knudsen aluminum head? Cruise at 70 all day with stock 3 speed and 3.54 gears.

 

pictures!?!

where'd you score the cam, head and manifold?

 

Cam - Regrind on my original cam by Nielsen Cams, somewhere in Utah. I lost his address.
Intake - Nicson at the Pate Swap Meet in 1990.
Head - Knudsen - Met a guy at the KKOA meet in Denison, Texas. He had it.

If you want to see a picture, look on the Inliners International Website. It is in the pics from the Crowley, TX picnic.

 

I had not installed the head when these pics were made.

 

run what you want but in my 51 I am running a 68 impala 350 it has a set of the real cal custom finned aluminum valve covers and an old 64 chevy aircleaner with an extra duct added on like an early vette.
But my car is driven daily it is built up nice and has a real lumpy cam that sounds boss through old glasspacks and pencil tips! To Some naysayers thats not old school enough,but 68 is plenty oldschool for me,but it is cheap to keep runnin, looks cool, and strong as wolf pussy!

 

I am going SBC....cheap, reliable, plenty of power and Shoeboxes have hoods!

 

One of mine has a 302/c-4 combo that smokes'm good. The other one has a 350/t-350 combo.

 

I'm feeling a little lonely being that I put an FE in mine . Granted mine's a 53 but I wouldn't hesitate to one in a 50 either. Put a 3 speed OD behind it and cruise all day........slim

 

Hey, slim, how did the FE fit in there? Do you have a stock steering box? Does anyone make headers for that application?

Hank

 

i would have to go with sbc dress like a 283 or a caddy