Hot Rods Rocket or Flathead?

I feel we are straying from the original poster's question but
I did buy one of his drive kits for a 371,
nice to get it all with one phone call, and yes it was affordable.
I have been saving for a set of his aluminum heads since he started making them,
unfortunately every time I get close my money seems to find something else to go towards..
I just look at the pictures and say "one day, oh yes you will be mine"

 

One more vote for the Olds, but make it an early one - '49-'56, to fit your theme, budget
(and car). Yes, I'm also biased.....

 

I see this thread is very one sided. In your opening post you said that you wanted to trade the flathead for the Olds engine. Not one flathead guy has responded and why would they. On the other hand all the Olds guys have all chimed in here and why wouldn't they, if you are going to use the Olds.I wouldn't be in a big hurry to trade away your flathead. It sounds you are on a very tight budget and you may not end up building either of these two engines. To build up either of these two engines correctly is not cheap and you will have to ask yourself if you can afford to spend $5000 to $7000 dollars on an engine build. A crack free flathead block is equity and the money from the sale of the flathead could be used elsewhere. An Oldsmobile engine is a whole lot harder to sell if you decide not to use it. If it were me I would take a few days and plan out your entire build and at least have a game plan. For a V8 engine the stock T frame is too light. It makes much more sense to go with a 2 X 4 rectangular tubing frame. It will be far better and cheaper to build in the long run.I would also look at other engine options. A Chev 283, 327, or 350 or a 4 cyl. Chev engine may end up being your choice if you are on an extemely tight budget. Take some time and think out your entire build before you do anything.

 

Thanks for the advise quick.But you're kinda negative.Its true that i wouldn't be able to afford 5-7000 on a rebuild,but it doesn't cost that much if you do it yourself.
Also,the flathead may get away with a hone and re ring.Its not seized up.Rings are around $160 from egges (i think)..

I asked my boss last night "flathead or rocket?"...."pfffffttt,flathead"...no hesitation.

He's not a flathead guy either,but said if youre building a ford,a ford should go in it.


Again,im using a tt frame.There is a difference in a tt frame and a t frame..big difference.

I would never use a small block chevy engine.No offense to the chevy guys.I just dont like them.

 

The flathead is an excellent choice. This is indeed an engine you can work on yourself and save money in the process. It wasn't my intention to come off sounding negative. I was just trying to emphasize that you already have a crack free flathead block and I didn't want to see you just give it away. It has value. I like to be careful when I am doing a chassis and I am just wondering about your choice of the TT frame. If it is 1920 then it is almost 100 years old. If you went with the Oldsmobile engine then you would have to weld in crossmembers and do some frame boxing as well. I'm just wondering how this frame would stand up to the heat of the welds. I would be fearfull of stress cracks. The flathead would be much easier to set up in the T chassis and you may just get away with just bolting the crossmembers to the frame and not having to weld much at all. I guess it all depends on how" built "the flathead is going to be.

 

OK cool.I didn't really choose the frame..It chose me i guess.When i went to pick up some sheet metal,the guy asked if i wanted the frame.I thought it looked pretty beefy so I've decided to try to use it.I don't mean to argue,but plenty of people are using original model a frames when building they're hot rods and a model a frame is almost 85 years old.(that's pretty old too)This thread is getting a bit off track.When i get a lil bit closer to having all my parts ill post up a build thread.

 

Not long after the Olds V8s hit the streets, hot rodders (Ak Miller being one of the first) found out that even a stock engine put out as much power as a lot of the flatheads that were on the street, with less fuss. As Paul said, the later the rocket, the more hp you'll have in as is form....a '49 303 was factory rated at 135 hp, and the '56 324 I've got in my garage was rated at 240. I don't know how things are in Whittier, but around here (upstate NY), I haven't had much problem filling my already overfull garage with various Olds engines and parts. I see more used speed equipment for '49-'56 Olds engines at swap meets than for any other early OHV V8, and at least two people are reproducing conversion engine mounts for them. If the engine you're looking at is in good used condition, a simple rebuild would get you by until more $$$ permitted the addition of some speed parts.

 

So a little update:I'm keeping the Flathead and going to use the rocket in the project.I got a deal worked out with my neighbor.So im pretty happy.I think ill be starting a build thread in a few weeks.I have a few more things to soak before i can start putting the body together.

(by the way,the engine is a 54 324)

 

excellent

 

Definitely a win, win situation getting to acquire the Olds rocket and keep the Flathead. Now if you can get a early smallblock Chev and a Nailhead you would have the nostalgic V/8's pretty much covered.

 

Lol i'm actually working on getting a nailhead too.My buddy has a 65 riviera with a "bad motor"..so he bought a new one.I told him id install his new engine if he'd give me the old one.Hes thinking about it.

 

Flathead>>>>>>