The best engine for a hotrod?? Flathead, sbc, etc

I know what you're saying, great looking Chevy motors that stop people in their tracks are few and far between. I can agree with that completely. But there are nice Chevy motors out there and the need to stick up for them is justified by the amount of cool ones that were used in the past. Wasn't trying to knock the FE just trying to state that a unique Chevy motor is attainable if the builder searches the right parts and looks. The FE to me just doesn't hold a candle to what the 283's accomplished on and off the track from the late 50's through the 60's. But like you said, it's just an opinion. Sorry if I came off dickish.

 

Barf!

 

What's a matter JJ ya got something against street rods?

I'm a small block guy died in the wool but I'll take mine shaken and not stirred. If you're gonna run a street rod motor you might as well go the full route and run hoops and velore.

The late mills are neat motors and make plenty of zot but they just have no place in a traditional world.

 

Look bro, this is a traditional hotrod forum. Suggesting an LS1 swap messes up our mojo. hahahaha

 

Put whatever motor you want in it, you're the one paying for it so do what you want. However with your 36 I would put a Ford in a Ford and wedge an older 289 or 302 in it and enjoy. Flatties definetely look sweet and sound good but they can be tempermental if driven a lot. The '50 Chevy I'm building is getting a 307 out of a 69 Camaro in it simply because I can work on it easily, it is a strong reliable motor which will see a lot of miles, and I got the mill for $100. Bottom line is do what you think will be provide the biggest kick in the pants.

 

I have a '55 Ford F 100 Panel project that has been sitting more or less idle for the better part of a year. It came with a hacked in 400 SBC. I spent some decent coin on cleaning it up and doing basic tune up type stuff. Something still wasn't right about it for me. After alot of saving and thought I decided to go to a Flathead. I picked up a '51 Merc from a fellow HAMBer on Monday and I've never been so excited to get in the shop and get my truck on the road. The thought of a nice clean Flathead rumbling away w/ a couple 97's on top has been keeping me up at nights. I say go Flathead. The horsepower trade is worth keeping w/ tradition. But if you want a SBC maybe I can ship mine to you !

 

Gosh I didn't even notice the engine, I was choking on the electric fan and bitchin' firewall.

Let's get this thread back on track and try to help make his choice a bit easier. How about some cold hard numbers.

Prices for rebuilds, HP numbers, Pics of different motors in '35-'36 engine bays.

 

This one is just awesome!

 

Red Ram Hemi

 

Aww...go ahead and put the flattie together and stick a blower on it with 3x2's!

 

Ya know, asking this bunch what's the best engine is the same as asking 'em what's the best brand of beer!

Yer gonna get 50 different answers and no consensus.

In the end, it's your car so do whatever tastes best to you!

 

Either go with a flatty or go with a 351 w engine stroked, keep it Ford, the days of needing a bow tie in it are gone, you can build a nice Ford powered engine very reasonably.

 

Flatty. Or Early Cadillac, Studebaker, something off the beaten path.

 

The funny thing is, for the last 15 years since i have been into the 'traditional scene' everyone i know has used flatheads more or less. At this exact moment every friend i have with a hot rod has a flathead. Not one is using a 50's chevy V8 decked out in vintage speed parts, so in my world it seems that now maybe the flathead has become over done. Is that possible?

check this beauty out, how could you not want to show this to the people-

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/283-Tri-Power-Crate-Engine-Small-Block-Chevy-No-Reserve-/250650810840?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3a5bf3d9d8#ht_500wt_956

 

jamesville, that thing is a great looking motor. Get it!!!!

 

I wouldn't have a problem showing it if it were mine.

And you're right about the flatty; at the risk of pissing everyone off the flatty is going the way of the SBC everyone has one and they all look alike.

Once in a while you find a flatty with some rare speed parts but for the most part they are becomming catalog engines just like the SBC did.

If that chebby fell into my price range I'd be all over it.

 

I would love to buy it, but i am still putting pennies into the piggy bank.

so JeffreyJames in your opinion what is the best intake and carb set up for the 283, and i mean best working not what is era correct. Obviously would like to hear other peoples ideas.

also same question about the dizzy (ignition).

thanks.

 

the best working is not the best looking that is for sure. But you can get one that looks good to work well. Same with the ignition. GMC bubba can make an old stock distributor work better than a new one.

 

Go find that past issues of Hot Rod Deluxe, our own Brad54 has done a nice 283 buildup and in the latest he dynoed the edelbrock c3bX and c4b and the performer.


there are some good threads about 283 build ups, i have a block that I plan on doing


Dizzy, GM single points are as good as anything in good order, or you can add an electronic kit to upgrade but still look good. Also early vette dual points on found on ebay, the ones with the oil tube on the side.

2 by 4 setup is killer, but a good old holley on an edelbrock c4b will run good and look good too.


http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=326999

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=364709

 

Ignition is a large subject by itself.

I have had real good luck with the Mallory uni-lite. You can buy them new or you can convert an old distributer. Mallory makes a kit to convert about anything and its not rocket science.

For ease of tunning a Holley or Weiand single 4 intake ( I've been using a Holley Contender) single plane will get you down the road real fine and a 600 cfm Holley is all you'll ever need to feed a mild 283-350 inch small block.

But if your willing to play with it a bit a 2x4 is the way to go. Performance wise 3x2 is way over rated. I raced 3x2 when I was young but discovered that I was fighting to keep up with the 2x4 cars and even the single 4 cars that were properly tuned.

I'm currently building an offenhauser 2x4 for my small block with a pair of 450 Holleys. Its going on a 355 inch small block chebby and will be more than enough.

I would try and avoid the big monster carbs unless I was building a big monster engine. The smaller carbs sound better when they are open and it easy to over carburate a small engine.

 

hey Porkandbeaner,

Do you have any photos of the 2x4 carbs you are building please??

 

I'll snag you one this evening.

Its still in the early stages but you can get an idea how it will look.

Oh and you can call me Benno we're friends.

 

flatheads forever, though an sbc will make your life easier.

 

I put a 283 chev in my 39 sedan back in about 1964. Duntov cam, AFB on high rise manifold, etc. Ran great and would do it again. It was cheap, available, easy to put in the car. I was not sure about the ford 3 spd so used a chevy trans and some sort of ford rear axle on double leaf springs. again easy to put all that in and cheap. Now to the current project. 29 roadster pickup. full fendered, etc., etc. I went through the same thing you are doing deciding on what engine, trans, etc. Then I was at a swap meet and there I saw the perfect engine. A 1963 buick 215 aluminum V8. Had a stick bell housing with fly wheel, etc. My reasoning: very light, good power to weight, T-5 trans bolts up, quick change rearend. Again easy, cheap. Also a 300 ci buick crankshaft will fit with little work and product about 261 inches and more torque. (This same engine was used in olds, pontiac, range rover, MGC, TriumohTR8) There are lots of interesting engines out there. All will work but some take less work, money, time, etc. and have more or less potential. There is a reason so many sbc are used. See above. If I had a car as nice as yours I would very likely use a 283 or 327 sbc. It can be upgraded with power and visual options to whatever use you plan. It is inexpensive and available and it fits very well in that car. Why not use it? With all that said if I owned that car I would go with a small hemi (dodge or desoto) because I have never used one before. Good luck with your project.

 

A Packard V8 is a fine engine.

 

DO YOU MEAN SOMETHING LIKE THIS FOR VINTAGE SPEED

 

that's a 4x2 not a 2x4 Jamesville. A 2x4 is 2 4bbl Carbs (Carter WCFB probably) like the original Corvette intakes .

 

ok so are you saying not to use the one i posted above??

 

No use it. it's cool as hell. I think JJ is just saying there is a difference between the two.

 

Keep the Flathead or go Y-Block, both are cool.