When is it time for a "SBC"????

I really think you should keep a vintage engine in your Ford. How about a 58 year old V-8? Sound old enough? A SBC will fit that description like a glove. It's only 9 years newer than the car...it's like they are of the same generation..sort of.

 

Do you like driving or wrenching ? Do you like going to the local parts store or mail order ?

 

One suggestion. PM Deuce Roadster and ask him about his 283 powered '40 coupe. I remember him saying it was the most reliable hot rod he had ever owned. Don't take my word, give him a jingle. I believe he did it with and adaptor to the origional trans and a input bearing adaptor. Of course the motor mount ands a couple of minor things but all in all a very tidy swap and reliable as an anvil. Everything you need is available from Speedway.

Frank

 

I do understand wanting to keep a flathead in the car ... but remember ... SBC's in a old Ford is very traditional. It has been done for over 50 years.



Just buy yourself a old Wilcap engine/transmission adapter and a Hurst style front engine mount plate ... add in the other small few items needed to make it work and then drive.

On the one above ( owned by Krusty40 now ) ... it uses a MSD samll body HEI, a new Edelbrock aluminum water pump and a 16 inch 6 blade mechanical fan. The aluminum intake is OLD ... and says WHY-AND . Alan Grove makes a neat alternator mount ...

The car above is even using a old original 40 radiator ( converted to only two outlets ) and the coupe never runs HOT.

 

Back in the 70's and 80's we were racing pretty hard so we get off the beaten path and tried to rod some different makes. After a year or 2 of this our friend makes the quote "God intended one and only one engine to be Hot-Rodded". Man I wish Marvin was still around>>>>. --------------------------Crankshafts------Lots of em!!!!

 

IT is ironic that Frank and I were typing at the same time ... he just must type faster

 

stay with henry. If u must put an OHV in it go with a windsor

 

What makes you think everything needs to be changed. Chevy's were made to fix old Fords... They are the closest thing to a direct bolt in you can do. And right now it sounds like hes wanting the quickest most cost efective way to get his car on the road.

 

+1.

I dont think any engine in the world has more parts availability. The 350 we've got has been nothing but great. Built and blown for around $5,500. I'd imagine it makes atleast 550hp (it'll spin the 33x22.5 tires at a 25mph roll), averages 22 - 25 mpg (seriously), and never got over 200 degrees in the Vegas heat all summer.

If youre gonna be driving alot, a small block from any of the big 3 companies (chebbie, ford, mopar) would be the way to go.

 

WERD.

~Jason

 

A small block chevy is the most traditional engine out there. From the 1955 day of their debut they were the engine to have. Corvette valve covers are a plus. Thats the engine we all lusted for in the late 50's and 60's
Sometimes it pains me to say this cause I'm a Ford guy, but it is the pure unadulterated truth.

 

when an SBC breaks it is not the same as breaking a flathead or 390 or whatever.. There's a distinct price difference and availability difference. We are in the process of rebuilding a 425 nailhead and the machine work and parts cost is astronomical compared the 400 sbc I built at the same time. Finding a flathead you can drop in and go without any work is rare.. Finding a SBC you can drop in is easy.

 

When you are old, don't care whats cool any more, begin thinking you should do what everyone else does, start taking interests in glass cars....have I made my point yet?

 

Yeah, but diggin' yourself out of that craphole will be a lot easier and quicker (since finding another sbc to bolt in is a pretty easy task).

What more can I say? Run what ever you want, but stop beating up on guys who make an intelligent decision. I sometimes think that this hate chevy thing is just sour grapes from guys who spent twice as much to go half as fast.

 

Since you basically have a freebie SBC (since that is what they are worth and that's all I'd give for one!), use it. It isn't all that hard (or expensive) to get the crank and such for the flattie, and by the time you get all the crap you need for the SBC swap, the expenditure overall will be the same.

If it were MY car, I'd build the flathead. Put the SBC in it, and you are like the 80% at the cruise or the event with one. Whooptie-doo. Me, too. ANY engine will run right and be built economically with the right mix of parts and engine-building skill. The hard-core SBC guys probably have not ever touched anything else, so that's all they know.

It is your car, but you did ask.

 

What kinda smart ass remark is that?

Hey eightbanger,,,I'm old and really don't care what you think,,and I own a glass car,,Have I made my point? HRP

 

I own a car with a flathead,I also own a couple of cars with the sbc engines,,,,

If I have had the probles with the flatty in my car like you have had to deal with,,there would be a sbc in it in a heartbeat,,forgive the pun,,,

It's your car and don't worry about what anygbody thinks,,,damn,,, it's a hot rod and the sbc is a traditional engine and sounds like the price is right,,HRP

 

Why use the bastard child of GM's stable? It doesn't share a bellhousing with anything other than itself.

Go get a "worthless" 455 from Buick, Pontiac or Oldsmobile. Or have a look at the numbers a Caddy 500 puts out stock.

I've got a Buick 350 in my truck and I'd never put a Chevy motor in to replace it. Chev 350's are just too heavy.

Just remember, EVERY engine can break down and leave you somewhere. You've already got a nice running flathead that fits in the car properly. Just go find a new crank.

Shawn

P.S. The Smallblock Chevrolet is out of production now. LS engines share nothing except the fact that they're OHV pushrod motors and made by GM.

 

I think the SBC is for guys who are either lazy, cheap, have no immagination or all of the above. Sure, people have been using them since 55....but people have been running flatheads since 32. And yes, A flathead will cost more, and will not keep up with a SBC. If your building a race car, then sure, choose the more HP for buck that you can. Go to a car show and see peoples responces when people ask "what kind of engine do you have in that ol Ford??". The flatty will draw more attention 100% of the time than a SBC.

 

me too!!

 

"We choose these things not because they are easy, but because they are hard" JFK.

Your car, your choice.

Flatman

 

My imagination is running wild!!! I have this engine thats a 327 Ross .550 domes,fuelie heads ported 2.02s-1.60s,550-530 300-295 cam,tunnel ram 900cfm of carbs,juiced ignition,chassis headers with 3-1/2 open exhaust.Probably won't draw much attention at all>>>>.-------------Crankshafts------Motherload in the house>>>>.

 

Whats it going in??

 

Wow my whole thinking on this subject has changed. Ive been doing this for all the wrong reasons. You mean if I get rid of my Chevy engine out of my 40 coupe I'll be able to draw more attention to it at a show? Ahh no thanks. Id rather be burnin up the roads than sitting at a show any day. After all that is whats its all about isnt it. DRIVIN the wheels off of them.

 

Here's the old Corvette 327 going in my dad's '55. For all you "anti-SBC" guys that say this isn't "traditional", this motor was built in the 1960's, lubed up, wrapped up and put into storage. ZERO miles on it. It's now been freshened up and going in a VERY traditional '55 chevy. I don't care what everyone else says, fact of the matter is that the SBC was very popular back in the day. Is it common today? yup. Why? It's a great motor. Anyone that says this motor sucks has some problems....

 

True true, I don't drive any of my cars, they all have flatheads or bangers in em

 

It's going a little project car we picked up. Not ready for the Press Release yet but we will keep you informed>>>>.-------------------------Crankshafts---lots of em>>>>.

 

I´ve got this 1967 327 030 over with dome pistons in my 34 Plymouth.

a 69 350 HP 327 in my 56 Bel Air
a1958 283 as a spare

and I still have a 56 283 w/o side motor mounts, just in case I run out of motors
I think that´s traditional, at least to me
Chris

 

Did I just read this correctly?

So, do you trailer your car to all these car shows too? Wouldn't want people to see your car dirty. Imagine their response to that!

My car will be the one in the parking lot. Don't really care what response I get from people.

 

Hey did you guys ever notice that the dudes that usually starts these threads kinda dissapears and leaves it up to us to piss and rant about all this?????>>>>.------Crankshafts------Lots of em>>>>.