Thread: selecting motor- SBC or SBF

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I just picked up a 1951 Ford sedan. The car will have a M-II front clip. The guy who is installing it for me has asked me what motor + trans I plan to put in it. I was debating between a small block chevy (350 probably) or a small block ford (5.0 or 4.6). I was thinking also about going with a fuel injected motor (maybe out of a newer mustang or camaro). Any reason I should go one way or the other? Or is it just personal preference at this point? Any way easier or cheaper? Does one brand have a better tranny to choose from (auto)?

Chevy's are cheaper to overhaul and hop up. That said, I wouldn't put one in a Ford. My choice would be (surprise!) a 351 Windsor!

I would go with a stroked 5-0 but thats JMO.

Yep 302 or Windsor.

Good question and just in time. I'm building a 30 Ford coupe and had planned on putting my 350 w/700r4 in it but I just found out a friend of mine has a 70's something 302 w/auto in a van. The van is trash but the engine runs good. I've always been a GM man but thought the Ford tradition would stay alive with the 302 and also break away from the mainstream by going with the 302. I like the fact that the distributor is up front on the 302 so it's easy to get to. I think, as a result, there is more junk on the front of the engine setting it back further...I think, like I say I'm not a Ford man. The tranny would be a 3 speed as opposed to my 4 speed 700r4. If you run a high gear 8 or 9 inch Ford rearend, then that would change driveability quite a bit. Any other ideas?

Well IMO I like to keep Ford in a Ford and Chevy in a Chevy. Chevy are much cheap to build in the end. If you want to go with a 302 then a 302 and a nicely built C4 tranny is a good choice. The C6's in a 302 are way to big and heavy and not needed. If you have a heavy car then a 351 Windsor is a better choice because I have a 302 in a 66 F100 and I have to push that motor hard to get it going real good. I mean, yeah it will smoke the tires, etc but if I had a 351 I wouldn't have to push it as hard and get the same results. So if you want a 351 then get a C6 behind it. They even have stroker kits for a 351 to make a 427 if wanted as well.

Originally posted by Aster
Good question and just in time. I'm building a 30 Ford coupe and had planned on putting my 350 w/700r4 in it but I just found out a friend of mine has a 70's something 302 w/auto in a van. The van is trash but the engine runs good. I've always been a GM man but thought the Ford tradition would stay alive with the 302 and also break away from the mainstream by going with the 302. I like the fact that the distributor is up front on the 302 so it's easy to get to. I think, as a result, there is more junk on the front of the engine setting it back further...I think, like I say I'm not a Ford man. The tranny would be a 3 speed as opposed to my 4 speed 700r4. If you run a high gear 8 or 9 inch Ford rearend, then that would change driveability quite a bit. Any other ideas?

Aster, I have not done this myself but hear good things.... Stroke a 302 to a 347 street fighter stroker kit. I have a book on small block ford strokers and it gives TONS of good info on them. I talked to some people that used to have a 302 and drove it and then later stroked it and put it back in the same car/truck and it made a HUGE difference they said. Some people swear by the 347's and would rather have one of them than a 351W. I thought about just stroking mine and leaving it in my 66 in about 2 years but thinking of going with a 351W now and a built C6. The 347 with my C4 would be pretty nice in a T bucket though.

Put a Ford in your Ford. I'd go with a 4.6L, a 351W or a 460. 460 are cheap and have a variety of parts for them. If you go the 4.6L route, get a DOHC.

Stock cubes are much cheaper than stroker kits. A 302 has the same bore as a 351W, so what possible advantage would there be to a 347? Unless you're trying to fool someone into thinking its still a 302.

Well, if I go GM, its no cost because I already have it. 350/700r4. The Ford stuff I would have to buy.....hummmmm. The Ford thing sounds good but the bank account is already stretched thinner than a nats ear over a rain barrel. Oh well, unless the 302 guy makes me a hell of a deal, I think I better stay with the GM stuff. Thanks for the creative ideas. Makes for a good mind build.

Noone ever said you couldn't out the GM stuff in it for now and start slowly building a Ford motor and tranny on a stand in the meantime as money and time allows. That is what I am going to do with the 351W and C6 tranny I want to put in this 66 one day in about 2 years or less.

I'm building a t-bucket with a stoked, blown 302 and a t-5 and have to agree with the Ford in a Ford motto. Having said that, Rodding is all about doing what seems right to you. On a comparison note, the Ford small block is about 50 pounds lighter than a GM. Does that outweigh the cost differences in a buildup? Not likely. If you're looking for something a little different, think about a double overhead cam 4.6.... Say out of a Lincoln Mark VIII. The 92's came stock at about 265hp and the later years picked up somewhere around 25-30hp over that. Really wind it up and stroke IT (I've seen some new stroker kits for them). I have a Mark VIII and can't wait for the wife to tire of it so I can steal that motor..... It's WAY too much fun!

Have any pictures of your T Bucket? Sounds awsome.

Originally posted by Aster
Well, if I go GM, its no cost because I already have it. 350/700r4. The Ford stuff I would have to buy.....hummmmm. The Ford thing sounds good but the bank account is already stretched thinner than a nats ear over a rain barrel. Oh well, unless the 302 guy makes me a hell of a deal, I think I better stay with the GM stuff. Thanks for the creative ideas. Makes for a good mind build.

In my Ford 50F1 I put in a 327 vette motor with a 700r4 the rear is ford 9". Cheaper and simpler but you live with the truest being upset and I like that. I have extra chevey and and interchageabel part laying around cheap again. easier to get the oil pan around the mustangII crossmember. do what you want not what others want Ed ke6bnl

One more thing to consider is that the Ford 5.0 is couple of inches narrower than the SBC. Depending on what steering box setup you end up with you will have more clearance with the Ford motor and thus more options for headers. Im putting a 351W in my '49 with MII.