Hot Rods Best Ford power for your Model A, circa 1961?

[FrozenMerc]

In '61, Both the Flathead and Y-block would have been Cheap, Easy, and Reliable. But for pure smoke the tires, go way to fast fun, unlimited budget, the 1958 400 HP Super Marauder (430 MEL) would be the way to go.

Fun Poll and thought experiment though.

[scrapiron]

Move up a couple years and go with a SBF, most bang for moderate weight gain, if any.

[Bruce Lancaster]

Are we talking a Model A with basically stock layout or one that can have extra wheelbase?
FE and MEL are heavy and large, with extra length added in front casing. Length would make them a hard install in a Model A of stock wheelbase, and they may even be too wide to recess into the wall.
Lincoln FH is also heavy and bulky and not all that powerful. Practically no one was interested in that route then.
Y block is closest modernish Ford fit, but is a worse fit than the older and usually bigger displacement/more power potential Cad and Olds choices. Those engines are not bad in length and overall fit and might even leave you room to bring your feet with you when you get into car. Older versions of these were the cheap choice for modern power in '61 too, newer versions are same bulk with lots more power and displacement. Ever notice that by '55 the soup your Y articles disappear from magazines and are replaced with swap your Y for anything GM or Chrysler articles???
The hot and actually expensive choice in '61 would have been the SBC...it had been recognized as the perfect replacement for the flathead, and was still expensive because every one that hit the junkyard was IMMEDIATELY sold to a rodder...yes, 283's and even 265's were still actually scarce used in '61 because demand was practically infinite. The later and the more Vette goodies the more expensive; a good running takeout fronm a wreck was almost as expensive as a crate one from the dealer!

[Fenders]

Originally Posted by need louvers ?

None of the above... small block Chevy! Heh Heh...

That is the last motor I would put in my ride today (too belly button) but although you may have said that in fun, I believe in 1961 that would have been the most popular motor of choice.

[Bigcheese327]

Originally Posted by Bruce Lancaster

Y block is closest modernish Ford fit, but is a worse fit than the older and usually bigger displacement/more power potential Cad and Olds choices. Those engines are not bad in length and overall fit and might even leave you room to bring your feet with you when you get into car. Older versions of these were the cheap choice for modern power in '61 too, newer versions are same bulk with lots more power and displacement. Ever notice that by '55 the soup your Y articles disappear from magazines and are replaced with swap your Y for anything GM or Chrysler articles???

It must be a cultural artifact that if I had a '52-'53 Ford I'd want to install a Cadillac V8. That and Fordillac is fun to say.

How do the dimensions on an Olds 371 or Cadillac 365 line up against the SBC?

[Bruce Lancaster]

A bit wider, only a little longer with simple front accessories. Very compact for basic designs that can go way beyond 400CI

(PS...both are heavier than SBC, the Olds by the most. Good and bad...heavy but has room for massive overbores and has very strong block webbing)
(Best Olds parts and interchange guide was pubished in Popular Hot Rodding, circa early 1960's)

[flatheadz-forever]

tri power flathead
tri power 390 hp
tri power 312 with thunderbird valve covers
cant go wrong with any of the above a ford belongs in a ford and a mopar in a mopar chevy in a chevy glad to see your pole doesnt include sbc I compare guys who put sbc's in their hot rods with yankee fans they get on the bandwagon just because everyone else is doing it doesnt mean you have to good luck keep a ford in it