Projects Don't put a Chevy in that.

I'm one of the guys that just posted about putting a sbc in my Olds and for me it's simply a matter of finances. The cost of rebuilding the 394 is just not within my budget at the moment and I have a perfectly good rebuilt 350 sitting in the corner; it's going to be a closed hood car that I plan on taking on road trips so I'll be glad it's so common place when I'm out on the road. Maybe I'll put the rocket in my A someday, maybe not? I don't think I'll feel too badly about the chev motor when I'm rolling with the top down. Do what you want, it's your ride.

 

I just aquired a 62 Ford pickup set up for a chevy engine. Since it is already set this way I am dropping in a 350/700r4 thats been laying around here waiting. If someone looks under the hood and has a problem they have two choices, shut up and walk away or buy it and put whatever they want in it. Either way I don't give a shit.

 

Just curious.... but was'nt that pickup originally designed to run a Ford?

 

hell put a sbf in it and make em really wonder

 

No it is not acceptable to bastardize an early Ford with a Chevy driveline. It is done because there are many "mind-numbed robots" marching in cadence to the commands of the various hot rod magazines. It's a conspiracey designed to sell more sbc intake manifolds and camshafts. Anything else is a pain in the ass for them. In fact I can count on one hand articles written about Ford driveline products that are even remotely correct. They usually start like this...... "Hey all you gearheads listen up! Everyone knows that the sbc is the be all end all of the hot rod hobby right? Well if you're really stupid and want to be different and try a Ford engine you're gonna be sorry..... dont say we did'nt warn you." Sound familiar?

 

Chopped, I was in a similar situation. I have a 1965 Buick Sport Wagon. It had the stock 300 V-8, baby nailhead or pinhead (Yeah I know, it's not a "real" nailhead. WHATEVER). It ran good for it's age, but the 2 speed automatic sucked. There is absolutely no aftermarket parts for this motor. I thought about a 401 or 425 nailhead for about 5 minutes. The prices to buy a good core and rebuild one turned me off.

I had a virgin '72 350 waiting to be rebuilt in the garage. So I think you know where I am going with this. The wagon is my daily driver rain or shine, so I wanted something easy and bullet proof. We stroked the sbc to a 383, turbo 350 trans & a brand new 12 bolt rearend with 3:42 posi. It might be a tad overdone with these gas prices, but I love having a little extra horsepower. Be careful of those stock rearends. I was having the new rearend being built while my dad was breaking in the motor. One of the runs he jumps on it a little and spun the stock insides real easy.

Think about what you are going to use the car for. If it's a nice stock Sunday driver then rebuild the stock motor. If you want to be able to have a little fun then go with a sbc. I just don't understand the hate about affordable & plentiful horsepower. This "belly button" thing is just crazy. I'll put up my "belly button motor" against your "third nipple motor" any day of the week.

Sean

P.S. If you do go with a sbc and have any questions or need photos of my swamp send me a p.m.

 

this is what is really boreing to a real hot rodder there are many good motors to use and just becuase you are stuck on one make and think a ford must be in ford thats boreing you run what you want and have fun with it

 

Of course, a BOP pattern TH350 or 200R4 would have bolted in and solved the problem of having a 2-speed trans, without the expense of building a motor.


What gets me are the people who talk about the reliability of the Chevy 350. I've logged plenty of miles on Pontiac V8s with well over 100K on them. Unless you plan to beat the tar out of them, they'll run forever, they'll run until the car falls apart around them. Same goes for the small Buicks. The bottom end of the Buick 350 is the stoutest of any GM made, that's why guys can pull 1000 HP out of them as noted above. For the last 40 years plenty of people have driven those motors day in and day out and never had a serious problem. Sure the Chevy is reliable - but SO ARE ALL THE OTHERS. If you do need parts? You can find them just as easily. Some of the tune-up stuff are the same parts the Chevy uses. So what's the problem? I think people just don't know any better and aren't interested in educating themselves.

By the way, I bet a lot of guys would like to see the Chevy motors put in the swamp, you should post a pic or two of that ...

 

I think GM's decent into the cess pool it's in now started when they started putting "corporate" (Chevy) engines in Buicks, OLdsmobiles and even some Cadillacs starting in the late '70's.
Loyal Buick and Olds buyers were furious.

 

Lets be honest here, this is a Boring thread

 

My 39 has had a SBC in it longer than it had a flathead (41 years). Iput the first one in as it was easy to fit and gave me the most for the least cost, I still run one today for the same reasons. It is my car ,my money, my way. I could care less if some AH looks down his nose at me and my car.

 

I didn't know that. But, it's yet another design improvement that occured AFTER the horsepower dropped off.

 

Use the 455, it's tame enough if you keep your foot out of it, has more torque than the SBC will... great motors...

 

what was in that thing from the factory? as said befor its yer car do what makes you happy! I have a LOT of different olds,chevys, and 1 231 buick v-6 . what ever i can get i run, you might check in to the buick 350 i had a stock q-jet motor in a bomber car and it was impressive! it ran with the chevys and 302s. have fun!! cjc

 

Actually, the motor that came in the '64 Skylark was a great motor! Maybe you can find one of them. Think it was a 300 cube V-8 with aluminum heads. The 4bbl version was 11:1!

 

What is it you dont like about a small block chevy?
The horsepower per dollar, the traditional history, or the dependability?

 

You're probably not asking me but I'll pipe up again.

There is nothing wrong with a small block. I put one in the modified and am very happy with it. But in this application, a SBC choice is the wrong one.

Any engine is only as dependable as the parts you put in it and how you keep it maintained. Don't be cheap, have a competent machinist, change the oil and keep an eye on it, why would you have any problems, Chevy or not? BOP engines (not talking about rocket motors or nailheads) aren't known for randomly blowing up to my knowledge.

Yes, it costs more to build one of these. It's worth every penny. And I can still walk into any Autzone and buy a water pump, distributor parts, starter, etc. for my 350 Olds.

 

Yeah,the Chevy smallblock does have the history.I believe it's correct to say more races have been won by Smallblocks that all other makes combined.It's light weight and ability to be tuned for more power easily makes it a favorite.
A plain orange painted smallblock looks traditional that's for sure.

 

whats un traditional about an SBC?

maybe they dont belong in a buick..or pontiac..but in model A's and the such..just because they are common..or easy to get and easy isnt a bad thing, when your broke down on the side of the road..and cant get that wibble bearing or do hicky for that Odd mill than what..here comes the fuckin' trailer..
Hey SBC's are traditional..they came out in 55 man!
whats not traditional about that? not to mention you can go into any parts house, and buy what you need to keep the ol' girl running..cant say that about alot of these odd mills.
sure id love to have an odd motor to look at.. but im not lookin' at mine..im driving it!

 

Well, hello Art Vandelay! Are you still into importing/exporting?

 

SBC = nothing special

 

My Comet will be getting a 283 or 327 sometime this Fall/Winter.
I hope you dont like it.

 

Not to confuse the issue but the Chevy 305 was put in the Buicks at one time. So am I OK if I use one of them? L.O.L.

 

in 78 pont. gp, olds cutlass,buick regal, some got 305 chevys. some people cared some didnt.

 

...

 

I guess maybe most people tend to feel sorry for the under"dog" and don't bust on em

 

I LOVE SBC's. But, call me nuts. The motor in the gold dragster, next to the gold 55 Chevy looks like a Pontiac?

 

And some really cool ones that are heayly modified....

 

Your right.

Sorry, I'll get rid of it.

 

I would build the buick for a couple differnt reasons...

#1- it's gonna move that land Yacht around ALOT more gracefully than a small block ANYTHING. Big fat car+big fat torque= Big Fat fun.

#2- though more expensive to build, it will only be marginally so.

#3- Buick 455's are NOTORIOUS stock power motors. The running argument among Muscle car guys is what was the fastest Stock Muscle car? There are 2 contenders- The 1970 Hemi Cuda, or the 1970 Buick G.S.X. - which is impressive because Ford, Pontiac,Olds and Chevy were substantially slower.

#4- While No Flatty or Hemi, They aren't bad looking engines. Prettier than my Olds 425 to be sure.

#5-You will hear talk about oiling problems-Much like the Olds, it is a 30 dollar fix, granted You have the engine apart.

#6- a well built 2004r will live a long happy life behind it. Some guys will tell You how many they blew up. I will tell You how many of them I have seen real well...under the wheelstanding 80's G.S.'s that terrorized My hometown dragstrip.

#7. You aren't a girlie man, right? build a big block!