most popular Traditional Hot rod engine?

Flatheads are #1 my second choice is an old Chevy straight six. Six in a row can really go!

 

Calling a small block Chevy "traditional" is like calling Al Gore the inventor of the Internet. It all depends on where you want to start your "clock". Hot rods were around for a long time before the SBC came along just as the Internet was around long before Al Gore discovered it.

A small block Chevy is an entry-level hot rodder's power plant. Anyone can build/buy one and stick it in a car and call it a hot rod.

Traditional? I don't think so.
Popular, yes, but not traditional.

 

Caddy and Nailheads

 

small block chevy, cheapest and easiest

 

To some, MULLETS are a traditional hairstyle! All of you know the FORD FLATHEAD motor states with exclamation, TRADITION! All those others are great motors too.....However the question was regarding tradition. But alass I am bitten by the flatty bug. And by the way, as time and engineering progressed so did vehicle production. So just cuz there's a zillion SBC's in Rods, sheer numbers don't equate into tradition as far as I am conserned. There cheap and easy. 'Nuff said. Oh BTW Budweiser rules!

 

You're kidding, right?


Mutt

 

my opinion of what the traditional hotrodders were doing was to put the most powerful engine they could find in to the lightest thing on wheels. The majority did it on a budjet
just like most of us do
so i think the most traditional hot rod engine is the one you can afford.

 

The correct answer is 303 Olds. Thanks to all of you who tried.

 

Without a doubt, "Flatmotors" until the introduction of the overhead Caddys and Rockets. Almost overnight a few "Hot Rodders" started developeing adaptors to mate the Cad/Olds eng bolt pattern to the 32 thru 48 Ford and 49 thru 51 Mercs. Cad was the easiest to transplant with rear sump and dist close to the intake for firewall clearance, the easiest part was you could use the Caddy side Eng mounts by removing the rubber, drilling a hole for the flathead Motor mount biscuit and bolt and fabricating simple frame brackets. Then Hurst came out with bolt on brackets that went forward and utilized the Ford crossmember and original mount location. Olds were a little tougher because of the lack of front side mounts, they used a single point mount under the harmonic balancer. However it didnt Hurst long to ovecome that with there mounts either. Edmunds overnight started making intakes, valvecovers, ex manifolds, air cleaners, etc for Caddys and Olds. McGurk made cams and Adjustable rockers for both. Crager made 471 intakes and drives for both. All very scarce now and no one seems to want to part with any of their "Treasures" now days, I cant blame them as I am saving all mine for my "CAD" powered projects Too!!
OK, I'm done rambling on about my High School Days (54/58) in the Pacfic NW!! Still have the 34 Ford I drove in HS, it still has the 56 Olds with "Offey' dual 4s and finned valve covers, stock ex manifolds, 2 lefts I think. All "adapted to" the stock drive train W 40 Hyd brakes.

 

You asked most POPULAR -- if that's decided by the most units installed in earlier vehicles, it's the SBC hands down. If it's decided by the most fondly remembered, it's probably the flathead Ford V8.

I've got two rides, and I'm lucky enough to have one of each.

Not bragging, just want one for the memories and the other for the 2,00 mile push down the freeway to Oakland.

 

SHOULD BE the Buick Nailhead.

 

Thanks heaps Guys/Gals.....I guess i should have worded it a bit different....but I wasnt asking what was your favorite trad motor....but your opinion of what you thought was....I have not done a full list of what was what ...but at a quick glance...Flatties seem to be on top ....and when you think about it ....i guess thats where they should be .....along with the 4bangers.....as way back when ...thats were it all began....the biggy for me was the olds rocket motors...im from a different country ...and it looks like i will have to do a wee bit of reaserch on these....as i dont know a lot about them .......ok you may say ....how dare i even come on a site like this and not know about an olds rocket....for me it's all about learning ...and since i have found this site i have learnt heaps.. which is helping me with the projects im doing ....as i have stated in another post ....i will put up some pics when i get a camera....but if you given the choice of... parts ...or a camera......well i think the answer is simple ......

 

sbc chevy

 

From what I have seen, most trad cars go as follows...SBC, Flathead, Olds Rocket, Caddy(not flathead)

 

OOOOOKKKKK......I have just done a quick tally up .....and taking all in to account......

Flatties 18
SBC 9
OLDS 5
Others 4

but i guess from that any SBC fan would take it as a win....but this was not a race.....it was a question open to each persons opinon

 

The 308 Hudson kicked all their asses.......





Also, those stovebolts were pretty cool if you kept 'em under 3,000 RPM's...

 

I'm running a 1957 347 Pontiac with limefires in my all steel 27T Modified (on a 21 T One Ton Truck Chassis)

 

By shear numbers, SBC. Don't believe me? COUNT EM!!!


Frank

 

What he said.