anyone else caught themselves doing this?

I built my '40 Chevy cruiser to drive with a basically stock 350 SBC and 700R4. I don't have to worry when on a long trip about it breaking and not being able to get parts or finding a shop that can work on it.
A HEI ddistributor cap is available everywhere but try and buy a left side water pump for a Flathead in Buzzard Puke, Penn. or East Jesus, Texas.
You build a car and power it to meet your needs so there are no absolutes.

 

I pass cars that have shit work, skulls, spikes, tribal, patel colors, or any trendy garbage.
The overall vibe of the car is what Im looking at, finished, work in progress, whatever. I dont pay much attention to mopar stuff, I never plan on building one.

I have a pile of SBC's so I can build one from the stuff on the shelves, but theres a 348 in the back for the right hot rod built on an early 60's timeframe.

 

Why does it matter.. ppl use SBC's for a reason... If mopar and ford made a good SB motor ppl would use them

 

Dad's a Chevy guy, bro-in-law is a Chevy guy and I've always liked the blue oval stuff... new and old. But when I found something a little different ('32 Plym Sedan) I was all over it. And yes I was a little put off by the sbc power, mainly because I knew of the crap storm I was about to be hit with when Dad and Bro saw what was powering my new toy. That being said, there's something comforting about knowing if u break it in the middle of BFE, u r able to get rollin again with parts from the nearest hole-in-the-wall shop... probably for not too much $$ either.

DITTO!

 

Nah..the SBC is a good learner engine, simple enough for the novice to pick up basic fundamentals from. People that are serious about performance won't waste time on a SBC. The newer LS motors are a lot better, though not HAMB friendly. I would rather have a W motor or Olds Rocket than any small block bowtie. I like older stuff, they have more character. Being a Ford guy, I am more drawn to the Y-block and FE than anything else, though I do have a Cleveland right now. Even my newest engine has been obsolete since 73....

 

I love vintage engines...a fully detailed flattie is the cat's ass! An early hemi with the right parts...almost as good. An old caddie, nailhead, inline 6, banger...I love them all!

I definitely spend more time looking at the engine if it's one of the above, or a big block, or topped with multiple carbs, or....

But a well dressed SBC can catch my attention too. I'm not speaking of the $29.99 dress up kit, or the big hokey aftermarket aluminum pulley brackets. Multiple carbs, nice detailing, vintage look...

I have a '53 Merc Flattie slated for a Model A roadster, and a 401 Nailhead slated for a '27 roadster. I also have a 331 Hemi with seized pistons (might as well be a boat anchor for the cost to rebuild)...but I can't seem to part with it! I might also get the 331 (I never ran the #'s...might be the 365) back from the '57 Caddy I recently traded away; it's a tire burning engine and might go in the '27 instead of the Nailhead...

But I usually use a SBC for price, dependability, parts availability, etc. Over the years, so many configuration have been put together that the possibilities are limitless, there's a wide range of trannys able to be bolted on, and a replacement for component failure in the middle of nowhere is as close as the nearest parts store or junkyard.

My $0.02

 

traditional??? i love that it you are brain washed, remember build what you want, call it what you want