Which Engine Should I build?

I'm building a '32 Tudor right now. It's probably not the most HAMB-Approved ride, but it's my vision and it'll bad ass when it's done. Also, this is my first project, so I don't know a whole lot about any of this...but i have time to learn while the bank account builds.

First, this will be a street car, not a show car. No sense in spending all the time and money to putt around town and sit and talk about it. Tires are for roasting.

Anyway, I am trying to decide between a Blown BBC or a Blown Hemi. I want to be able to make retarded amounts of power..just 'cuz. But the car will be driven to work, to the store, to scare women and children, etc.; so it has to be streetable. I don't plan to max out the power; i will likely just underdrive the blower a bit.

BBC parts seem abundant, but the look of the Hemi would be sweet. Will one cost significantly more than the other? Will one live longer than the other?

I need your thoughts,please. Also, there's a poll...put in your votes please.

 

Hemi's are retarded expensive. Chevy engines have an endless supply of cheap parts.

Id vote Chevy, thats what im building with.

How much HP do you want? If you just want to scare old ladys go with a flame thrower kit, gear drive timing chain and maybe some kind of header y with an open dump on a choke cable.

 

a hemi will get about 20 to 1 looks over a bbc but i am thinking that you may be looking at some big bucks for a blown hemi lets see some pics of what you have going, or are getting

 

The account will have to be full if you want a blown HEMI, the bb chevy would be the cheaper route,but a hemi is a hemi and a bb chevy is just that.either way its not going to be cheap,post some pics of what you are building,it takes a stout frame and running gear to stand up to that much power.

 

Hemi---definatly better for looks but will be quite abit more expensive to build.

 

if your thinking about a Hemi... Why not a Cummining's Diesel with Twin Super Charger's
it will Cost the Same!
and Look Awsome
just my 3.5 cents

 

If $$$ are not a problem...Hemi hands down.
BUT......BBC will not break the bank to build, or fix.
Your call.
You will scare old ladies either way....
Good luck.

 

And the wrong board for that....

The Hemi looks cooler, the BBC is more affordable, I'd personally go Hemi with those two choices.

 

Hemi

 

Since it's easy to spend someone else's money I'll vote Hemi. Having said that... I know you'd never win a drag race, but I have a Flathead in my '30 Tudor (I'll be putting pictures on later tonight). Put my Flathead in a crowd of tricked up Cheby motors and 90% of the people will be standing around my car. It has a cool sound all it's own (especially when I'm just running the lakesters) and well, it's a Ford motor in my Ford car. Just my humble opinion.

 

Hemi!

 

Hemi for cool value but you'd better let the bank account grow for a long time.

 

I know this wasn't in your list of options but I would say build a big block mopar. they are heavy but you can make some stupid power quite cheaply as the bottom ends are stout because of the fully skirted bottom end and the early forged cranks are quite strong. get some industrial 413 rods and some nice forged or hyperutectic pistons get some decent aluminum heads or port some cast iron units. 413 cranks are great too but the bore of a 413 is weird and pistons aren't cheap (cast .030 over cost me over 500 clams) plus you can find mopar b / rb's in alot of trucks motor homes vans etc. but like I said if ya don't want to go the mopar big block route then don't mind me.

 

(First, this will be a street car, not a show car. No sense in spending all the time and money to putt around town and sit and talk about it. Tires are for roasting.)

Ya the Hemi will get more looks, but you sound like you like driving more than sitting at a car show... so with the money you save with the BBC you'll get a free trip to Hawaii and a years free gas!

 

You'll only get one answer from me...............BBC. If the visual factor deters you put a hood on it and make 'em wonder how you can lay 2 strips of rubber 16" wide for as long as you hold the pedal down. And do it for less than the cost of the Hemi.
BTW, we NEED to see the car this is going in.

Frank

 

If your bank account can handle it, go with the Hemi.

 

I can't believe how often this comes up....should be a no-brainer anytime a Hemi is part of the equasion....

 

I don't know zman, I'm not sure about a "Cummining's" Diesel is but a Cummins could have potential!







I still say HEMI!!!

 

I cant find the Caddy button?

 

then do whatever you like

 

Depending on what you wanna spend, I'd go a built 500 Caddy or at least the 482 Blackbird. Lots of hp and stupid amounts of torque even though they were late 60's

 

beings its not coming out of my wallet i say hemi

 

I'd spend my money on a flathead because I like to spend tons of money to go slow.

 

Heh heh, I kinda figgered it'd be a 50.5% Hemi votes.

I'm thinking that i can build a new BBC with an 8-71 for around $16K. From the way y'all are talking though, it sounds like a Hemi would be $30K????

Or am I just Waaaay off on both of them?

Anyway, I shoulda posted the pics first; I know. Truth is, I was just too lazy to post all of them to Photobucket. But, with all the replies, How can i possibly disappoint?

Here it is. I don't have the X member in yet. Just have boxed rails and the front end installed. I have designed some 4-link brackets and bars and am going to use Currie's Johnny Joints instead of Heims or bushings.

The Rails are JW Rod Garage and are about 1/8" thick. The fish plats are all 1/4" and the boxing plates are all 3/16" Overbuilt? Probably. Worries? Probably not. I hate doing things twice.

Money IS an object, but I'm spreading this over a couple of years. The body is on another frame, so disregard. Mine will be a lot lower.

I'm about to pull the trigger on a mock-up block and a Tremec 6 speed. But then it's fab, fab, fab while i pay the bills and let the money tree bloom again.

Thanks again!!!

Don



Click for More Pictures

 

if you have $$$ to waste and just want to look pretty go for the hemi but if you want to drive the wheels off it then bbc is the way to go or if you want the real cool factor then a caddy or a nailhead or a non hemi mopar big block is the way to go to many hemi ,hemi, put a hemi in it it,s got way more boreing then sbc or put the same make motor in it just my 2 cents but what ever you due enjoy it

 

Wow I knew you fell off the Hemi wagon but I didn't know you fell that hard DB!

 

Iron duke!

 

I just don't visualize that sedan as it sits in the photos with a blown big block or hemi in it. Blown and honkin engine in this hood usually means those 16 inch wide tires on the back and those B word wheels on it. That thing would be sweet as hell with the 331 Desoto Hemi that I have out in the Milk house with a pair of 4's and a 4 speed behind it. Or an Olds, or Cad ohv dressed out in it.

It sounds like the whole concept is taking a pretty sweet almost HAMB poster car and making something else entirely out of it.

 

When I had a machine shop I'd get people who didn't know what stuff costs, or exactly what they wanted. I'd allway ask them how much money do you have to spend? I'd spend every dime LOL. It eliminated the shocking bills and engines sitting in the corner waiting to get paid for though.

 

Have you thought of going 500 caddy with a under driven blower. Cheap and cool.