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 p*** cars that have **** 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 **** 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 ***! 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 ******s 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