Thread: What ford?

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Ok here we go!!!ford is no good ,they cry, ford is no good. Ok here it is I have a 302 world products block ,je pistons and a scat crank,manley valves, trickflow heads ,edelbrock intake ,holley carburetor,msd ignition,arp bolts ,custom valve covers ,aftermarket oil pan,champion plugs,acccel wires,mr gaskett gaskets,melling oil pump,oliver conn rods,clevite bearings,where exactly is ford at? I really dont see him and how can all this be junk because its a ford or be good for that matter because none of its ford and the same with the chevy motors ,when its all aftermarket and something breaks it should be holley sux or merlin sux but not ford sux or chevy sux because not 1 piece of that motor came near a ford plant or chevy plant.And the design has been altered so much with these aftermarkett designs that its really not a ford or chevy design anymore .So shouldnt the side or back of ur ride really say powered by cash or me or merlin not jebby or ferd.

Both manufacturers are very supportive of the performance aftermarket and offers quite a few performance parts for their engines. Anything from aluminum blocks, aluminum heads, tall deck blocks, short deck blocks, forged cranks, cams, intakes, distributors, crate engines, you name it.

Ford, Chevy and chrysler products all have good and bad things. Fords are pricey to rebuild and the transmissions may become the weak link quicker than Chrysler or Chevy trans's. Chrysler is expensive to rebuild and to maintain but well known for the inexpensive factory muscle cars, like the Cornet and Road runner, yet, the unibody cars like the Dusters and Demon's ( I think there A body mopars ), rot out very fast. Chevy is the best of the 3 because, there cheaper to build, 1 size fits all with the engines and transmissions, the downside is, everybody's got 1.

Appearantly you must not have run TH350s. They are about as worthless at tits on a boar hog. The Th400 is the exception, but like the C6, it's weight is at it's mercy. The C4 however, will take quite a beating. The 904 trans is a bucket-o-nuts while the 727 trans is right up there with the C6 and the TH400.

I don't know about you, but with the SBC, how can I applaud an engine that mounts it friggen distributor in the BACK of the engine... how STUPID. Top that off with cam that has no thrust plate!!!! And why is it that the lower ends always seem to fall out of them? Explain to me whey the valve covers turo into oil tanks when you wind them up? And who in the heck would think that a non-milled gasket surface (valvecover sealing surface) would actually SEAL, and without splitting the gasket in 2 if accidentially overtigtened?? And explain to be WHY they still blow more head gaskets with twice as many headbolts??? Lets not start with the frequent 'flat' cam scenarios.... And for cripes sake... why couldn't they just make the freakin starter fit the block better or mount in the bellhousing so you wouldn't have to waste time 'shimming' it so it doesn't sound like a mammouth can opener every time you start it.
I don't mean to pick on Chevy intentionally, but to me having built a few of all three, the SBC has what I'd consider the most flaws. OTOH, There are some things I like about the SBC. The waterpump and fuel pump are a snap to change, the timing set is easy to get to, it's a real compact setup, and yes, they do have what seems infinate interchangeability and configurations. And i do really like the "one wire" alternators, best thing to hit street rodding. Also the motor mount setup in the SBC seems to give you a great deal of room to work in a pair of headers, even in the tightest of applications.

And again with Chrysler, they did the stupid and mounted their distributor in the back too. I hate that, and curse it every time I'm tuning it up. Luckily the 327 in my T is easy access so it doesn't bother me as much. I do commend chevrolet for running healthier factory cams and having MUCH better factory heads than the others.

When it comes down to it, I suppose it's just personal preference and what you're willing to put up with. Nowadays the SBF is basically exactly the same $$ as a SBC to build. Now about 10-12 years ago, that obviously isn't true, I can't deny that. And as it has been and probably always will, the SBM will be more costly to build.

And I think that when we're cursing the broken parts (whatever make it is) I believe we're cursing the design rather than the fact it's actually the aftermarket part or the maunfacturer. Be it even if the entire engine was aftermarket, it is still a 'Ford, Chevy or Chrysler by design.

Just my $1.01 with a $.99 rebate...

Originally posted by Matt167
but well known for the inexpensive factory muscle cars, like the Cornet and Road runner, yet, the unibody cars like the Dusters and Demon's ( I think there A body mopars ), rot out very fast.

I don't know where you get your info, but there isn't a Mopar out there that is inexpensive. Not even a bottom of the line A-body. And you're right, Duster and Demon is an A-body and the Coronet and Roadrunner is B-Body except I think there are a few years the Coronet was considered a C-body... can't remember if it was the one.... And you're right again, i can hear my Duster rusting away outside as we speak, but it didn't rust as loud as the '69 Nova i had.... it use to keep me awake at night.

I'm going to have to disagree with you on a few points. Placing the distributor in the front is so 50 years ago. With electronic ignitions, you never have to do any maintenance on them, so why not put the distributor somewhere where it is out of the way? You ever try to get to the hold down nut on a ford engine and have all of the accessories thwart you?

The reason you don't see many fords with oiling problems or scattered bottom ends is because you don't see many fords. Everybody says bowties are cheap to build, but that's only because they build 'em cheap. I've never seen NOS and a 7000 rpm cam go in a $900 reman ford motor, but I've seen them in plenty of $900 reman chevies.

I applaud GM on their starter design. It's a wonderful thing being able remove and intstall a starter without pulling the enigne. Using the solenoid to pull the drive gear into the flywheel is just brilliant. So much more simple and reliable than using springs and weights and torques and such to engage the drive gear.

The surface the valve covers seal against doesn't need to be milled, the valve covers just need more bolts.

I've never pulled a distributor and had my fuel pump push rod drop into the oil pan.

I don't have to drain 2 sumps when I change my oil.

I can read my sister's dipstick (For some reason, it's possible to read a ford dipstick).

Roller pilot bearings for the input shaft of the transmission are a pain in the ass. Why not use a good ol' lump of bronze in there like GM does.

Cast pistons in a supercharged engine, now that was a stroke of genious.

Plastic power steering pump housings with rubber impellers, another stroke of genious.

These are just engine complaints, don't get my started on the quality of interior and body parts.

It's appearant that you are biased, and very so. You must have owned 1 ford in your lifetime, and it probably gave you nothing but trouble. Whatever. I'm not going to waste my time proving that you are misled and obvoiusly comparing '80 and newer fords to everything else. That's just wrong. You're biased, and treading in waters you haven't ever swam in. I'm going to leave it right there.....

Yes, I made some references to 2 80's and newer fords that have been in the family, but they're still fords.

I've heard some real horror stories about the last generation of the 460. Something about them drilling the last exhaust manifold bolt hole into a cylinder head bolt hole and during assembly at the factory the manifold bolt would hit the head bolt and snap off, so the trucks would have an exhaust leak like none other even when new. A whole fleet of trucks was like this and the shop that serviced them said he had seen a whole lot more.

there are 2 things i dislike about my fords, availability and price of parts.... i see all the chevy parts always on the shelf at the parts store, but when you ask for a ford part... we'll have to order it, or... here call this guy, i think he might have some of those or know someone that can get them for you.... but i must say... my fords are more dependable.... i've driven 100 miles with a cam broken dead in half

How can you say it was reliable when your cam broke, I have never broken a cam or heard of anybody doing it in any stock Chevy.

The reason none of the parts counters have any ford parts is because they break so often the stores can't keep them in stock.

Gads, the old Ford vs. Chebbie argument again !!!! Why bother, you aren't going to change my mind, and I'm not gonna change yours. Only thing to say is when the green flag drops, the bull**** stops!!! Talks, cheap. I'm usually ready to go out on the bypass and settle these discussions most Friday or Satuday nights in the summer. Let me know if you're gonna be in the neigborhood !!!!!!!

Oh yeah, one other thing. Sure have seen a lot of sb chebbies with a flat cam after about 40k miles. Maybe I was just hallucinating.

Originally posted by Dave Severson
Gads, the old Ford vs. Chebbie argument again !!!! Why bother, you aren't going to change my mind, and I'm not gonna change yours. Only thing to say is when the green flag drops, the bull**** stops!!! Talks, cheap. I'm usually ready to go out on the bypass and settle these discussions most Friday or Satuday nights in the summer. Let me know if you're gonna be in the neigborhood !!!!!!!

Oh yeah, one other thing. Sure have seen a lot of sb chebbies with a flat cam after about 40k miles. Maybe I was just hallucinating.

thats a good one on the cam! NEXT ? how many fords have you found a piece of the plastic timing gear in the oil pump after you blow the motor up from a broke pump shaft ?

Hey, forgot about the plastic fantastic timing gear!!!!! A few decades back I worked in a repair shop, we used to call them plastic cam gears "job security"!!!!................I'll quit now.

Originally posted by Dave Severson
Hey, forgot about the plastic fantastic timing gear!!!!! A few decades back I worked in a repair shop, we used to call them plastic cam gears "job security"!!!!................I'll quit now.

at one time i made a living putting in SBC cams to.

Been there, done that Mike. And I might add I would imagine you made a pretty good living at it!!!!! Lord knows there was plenty of opportunity to practice your trade!!!!!!!!!!!