Thread: Questions about a new build

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Another 350/350?? YAWN Find something more original,it's really getting boring seeing nothing but SBC's.I notice at a lot of shows and cruises people are just walking away from them 'cause there are just too many of them, "once you've seen one, you've seen 'em all"

Originally Posted by JeffB2

Another 350/350?? YAWN Find something more original,it's really getting boring seeing nothing but SBC's.I notice at a lot of shows and cruises people are just walking away from them 'cause there are just too many of them, "once you've seen one, you've seen 'em all"

What would you like to see?
A blown Fiat four cylinder??

Originally Posted by JeffB2

Another 350/350?? YAWN Find something more original,it's really getting boring seeing nothing but SBC's.I notice at a lot of shows and cruises people are just walking away from them 'cause there are just too many of them, "once you've seen one, you've seen 'em all"

OK, I'll make sure that I'll choose my next project based on whether or not you'd be bored with it. The heck with what I want. I just want to make sure you're entertained.

Originally Posted by JeffB2

Another 350/350?? YAWN Find something more original,it's really getting boring seeing nothing but SBC's.I notice at a lot of shows and cruises people are just walking away from them 'cause there are just too many of them, "once you've seen one, you've seen 'em all"

Yawwwn.... Another 54 ford customline,.....once youve seen one ,you have seen em all.

Originally Posted by erik erikson

What would you like to see?
A blown Fiat four cylinder??

Don't know about the Fiat, but I keep looking at the Triton V-10 I have in the corner... as for the chebbie guys, think if I were building something that I wanted something other then the 350/350 I'd look at the 5.3 and 6.0 engines... and then there's that new hemi..... I've also seen a couple of Lexus engines destined for Hot Rods recently.... The thought has crossed my mind a couple times to try one of the Taurus SHO engines, not sure how one would go about making it rear wheel drive but I'm sure it could be done.

In the beginning of all this Hot Rod stuff, if you didn't run a flathead, you probably had a Caddy or Olds engine. That Northstar engine would sure look sweet with a bunch of that aluminum either anodized or polished!!!! A guy here locally runs a 'glass 28 highboy with the hood top only, and underneath it (and sticking out the sides) is a Ford 4.6 DOHC complete with a 5 speed. He's talking about a supercharger for it this winter!!!! Anothe guy runs a '37 chebbie humback with a Supercharged 3.8 Pontiac engine and 700 R4 tranny.

I know, allegedly the sbc is the cheapest engine to build for performance..... Used to be by a considerable amount of $$$$$ but not so much anymore. The introduction of the 5.0 Mustang has brought out a ton of reasonably priced components for it.... and if all out axle snapping chebbie power was all I wanted, I'd certainly be talking to Eric or Pat and get one of their mega-cube torque monsters ordered!!!! If you want a non chebbie big block, the Ford's, Mopar's, Caddies, Pontiac's, and Olds engines can all be built to deliver in excess of 400 ft pounds of very streetable torque.

I don't know that I'm bored seeing a sbc powering most everything, but I certainly do look a car over a lot closer when it has a more unique form of motivation.... So many choices these days with most all the manufacturers having an engine in their inventory that exceeds 300 horsepower... If a sbc is what you want, then build it. If you think you have to run a 350/350 cuz everyone else does, then you're mistaken. Lots of options, no reason to be afraid to try something else!!!!

good advice Henry

Originally Posted by JeffB2

Another 350/350?? YAWN Find something more original,it's really getting boring seeing nothing but SBC's.I notice at a lot of shows and cruises people are just walking away from them 'cause there are just too many of them, "once you've seen one, you've seen 'em all"

I guess I'll sell my 350 tomorrow, and I suppose the evo motor in my bike is uncool. So sorry what we want makes you unhappy.

Ron

Originally Posted by Ron B.

I guess I'll sell my 350 tomorrow, and I suppose the evo motor in my bike is uncool. So sorry what we want makes you unhappy.

Ron

Geez, The guy just expressed his opinion..... Seems to have struck a nerve or two or three!!!!! I don't even like chebbies in chebbies, so there!!!! And not only that, I think Harley quit making engines when they quit building the shovelhead!!!!!

The new 11th commandment: Thou shalt not be bored (or at least not express it) by 350/350 combo's.....

I mean, what are folks supposed to do who DO NOT like chebbies, apologize to those of you who do????

Dave,

It just sounded more like an instruction than an opinion. Can't let something like that sit without taking a poke or two.

If I happen to do another rod, it won't be powered by a 350 Chevy. I've done big block, then small block. This is actually the ONLY rod I've ever done with a 350.

The only engine I won't put in a Ford hot rod is a Ford engine. It's overdone . . . No flatheads either. Low HP for big $$$ isn't my idea of fun.

I'd like to do Buick, Pontiac, Cadillac, Olds, or a Chev 348/409. I'd love to do a nailhead, or a repro of a J-2 Olds in a sedan. So many engines, so little time.

But I've got to undo all of Kyle's bleepups on this '34 first.

Jack,
- Besides, mine isn't a 350/350 . . . it's a 350/700.



Oh . . . you know I'm pulling your chain, don't you?

The comment about "another" 350/350 is to be expected. I will admit that I don't pay as much attention to a rod with a small block chevy as something a little more unique (by the smallest of margins), but for my money and for the usage this car is intended for, like my hour long commute , an injected SBC is what I have my heart set on Both for reliability and because I know my way around a chevy more than anything. Besides, that ram jet is too cool!

I'll just leave the hood down on my 55 so the 327 doesn't put you to sleep! (kidding here )

Jake

I don't have a boring 350/350 combo, I have a little less boring 350/400 combo. Even though it is boring, I like being able to get parts for it at any auto parts store in the US, and probably in many other countries as well.

You want exciting? Then you need the power train that's in my 57 Olds. It has the original 371 big block with the J2 option (3 2brl Rochesters sitting on an Offie intake) and a Hydramatic trans. Now that's excitememt!

Especially when something breaks and you need parts! Not usually something you find at your local NAPA or Autozone store. Getting harder and harder to find a lot of parts for that one, especially items like a crank.

I say build and drive what you want. Even old "boring" 350's can be spruced up to be interesting.

Originally Posted by mopar34

I don't have a boring 350/350 combo, I have a little less boring 350/400 combo. Even though it is boring, I like being able to get parts for it at any auto parts store in the US, and probably in many other countries as well.

You want exciting? Then you need the power train that's in my 57 Olds. It has the original 371 big block with the J2 option (3 2brl Rochesters sitting on an Offie intake) and a Hydramatic trans. Now that's excitememt!

Especially when something breaks and you need parts! Not usually something you find at your local NAPA or Autozone store. Getting harder and harder to find a lot of parts for that one, especially items like a crank.

I say build and drive what you want. Even old "boring" 350's can be spruced up to be interesting.

I guess I stirred up a Hornets' nest picking on Chevy's,but the point is there are a lot of other ways to go besides the norm.I have owned and built my share of SBC's too,so if you like it,do it! They now make Olds Rocket valve covers to fit SBC's By the way you have one of the coolest rides ever,back in '63 one of my best Bud's in High School had a '57 Olds black 2Dr hardtop J-2 those will hall serious butt!Don't ever let that go!

Originally Posted by shawnlee28

Yawwwn.... Another 54 ford customline,.....once youve seen one ,you have seen em all.

Actually to get the '54 Ford I traded off a '65 C-10 350/700R4 I had for 13 years,kinda miss the old gal but time to move on!

SBC under the hood are not really boring but are common and very identicle to the last one you just looked at. The ease of parts availibility has made made it #1 in choice. Very common belt drives are a pic you just seen is what happens.

New ideas on belt drives will change the norm . The newer 5.0 has alot of options but there not in a book . This is where you have to figure it all out as you go .

As a kid growing up in the '50's, I remember looking at all the car magazines (My older sisters' boyfriends used to give them to me to keep me out of the way ) and almost everything was Flathead powered. At the time they were plentiful, cheap, and parts (new and used) were readily available. Also, they were a bolt-in swap for any old Ford, the dominant choice of body/chassis for 99% of all hotrods. They were so common that they were boring. If something had an Olds, Cadillac, Chrysler (Hemi), or some other engine, it got your attention.

It wasn't until the small block Chevy came along in October of 1954 that the Flathead was seriously challenged. What made the little Chevy so instantly popular? (1)It was physically small compared to the other OHV V-8's of the day and it was lighter than the Flathead, so it could be installed wherever a Flathead fit without major frame reinforcement. (2)Even in its lowest power option, it put out more horsepower than any stock flathead and would reliably turn more RPM's. (3) It was immensely easier to work on.

Other engines are becoming more common in hotrods now and that's probably a good thing for variety's sake, but I suspect the small Chevy will still be with us as the engine of choice for quite a while yet. Why? Plentiful, cheap, and parts (new and used) are readily available... Hmmm, that sounds familiar...