History >>>Proof is in the Pudding:Early Chevy V8 Hot Rods!!!!<<<

teddyp · Jan 8, 2010

much love for the chevy v-8 one of hot rodding great motors

cactus1 · Jan 8, 2010

Perfection!

SlamIam · Jan 8, 2010

Von Franco said: ↑

Nothing sounds better than a 327 winning out at the drags ,likes I dig em...............
Click to expand...

A warm summer night, 1965 on piss road, the name we gave the narrow lane beside the canal where our 2 cops didn't bother us when we were running whatever relic we could cobble together. In our rural San Joaquin Valley town a chorus of crickets chirped in the background and the air was heavy with the smell of ripening grapes.

Muscle cars and big blocks were unknown then, just things seen in magazines. Here there were only a collection of ancient farm trucks and hand-me-down cars with flathead V8s, stovebolt 6s, a small hemi in an old blue Studebaker truck, and some big family cars that Mom and Dad didn't know were there. Only what boys earning summer money could afford to run. They were slow, but racing them was the only excitement in a town where the nearest theater was 20 miles away, driveins closed by 10, and girls had to be home by 11.

The narrow road was dimly lit by headlights. It was an average night, just one of many until a stranger showed up in a new Mustang. We had never seen one in the flesh, it sounded pretty good, and he said he wanted to run it agains the fastest car in town. "Call Tommy!" someone shouted. In a few minutes the wail of a 327 was heard in the distance as it appoached town from the other side of the river. A split-window Vette appeared at the end of the lane, the sight a treat because this car was rarely seen, and then only at night when something interesting to run showed up. This was one of those nights. Tommy was older and had a real job, a modified Vette and a pickup to drive during the day.

Tommy was cool and we all knew it. He didn't speak a word as he rolled up, nodded at Fat Curtis and the driver of the Mustang, and moved to the line. Fat Curtis lifted his chubby arms and the crowd fell silent. RPMs began to rise and all hell broke loose when Curtis could hold his arms no longer. The road was barely wide enough for 2 cars, and the space between them shrank even further as both began to slip sideways. Then only a cloud of smoke was visible with 16 cylinders screaming insde. A Vette fender began to emerge from the cloud, then the Mustang, and sparks flew as both accelerated through some loose rubble on the road. The Vette quickly began to build a lead that would reach several car lengths before they crossed the finish line in the distance. The Mustang returned, but the Vette did not. The victor took another road back to his barn - another challenger downed, and another night of racing done.

And the sound of Tommy's 327 wound tight is still fondly remembered.

Undercover Customs · Jan 8, 2010

reldridgejr1969 said: ↑

People who say they aren't traditional are not playing with a full deck...
Click to expand...

I would agree as long as it's a 265, 283 or 327 and what the definition of traditional is. Most say that pre 1964 is traditional and argue that a 350 (produced from 68 on ) is traditional because it is a SBC.

It takes skill and knowledge to build a 283/327 to run against a 350/400. It's easy to put a 350 crate motor on you credit card and have a stout running rod. It's a whole different ball game to build a 301 out of a 283 and have to really put in some hours putting it together to come close to the crate motor's performance. There's nothing like a high winding 301 to raise an eyebrow, they sound sweet.

gasserjohn · Jan 8, 2010

BUILT65-67 STILL HAVE IT........
327 mondello heads 13.75 comp
b/mhydrostick...olds rear summers spoolaxles 5.86geared
weiand tunnel 3barrel...hidden nitrous

Dirty2 · Jan 8, 2010

Tried the caddy , looked cool but back to the trad chevy !

Payne · Jan 9, 2010

I love, late fifties and early sixties sbc powered hot hods. I wanted to share a couple of old photos of my '32 Ford roadster, taken at the Deer Park Dragstrip in the late fifties. The roadster was originally built by Jack Henderson in 1957, and ran a 56 small block Chevy mated to a 39 transmission with Zephyr gears with a 46 ford rear end. In it's day, it was one of the fastest roadster's at the strip or on the street, in the Inland Empire.

<link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CTHEEBI%7E1%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><link rel="themeData" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CTHEEBI%7E1%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx"><link rel="colorSchemeMapping" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CTHEEBI%7E1%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml"><style>  </style>

OL 55 · Jan 9, 2010

Don't forget our own Dean Lowe.........

JeffreyJames · Jan 12, 2010

Payne said: ↑

<link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CTHEEBI%7E1%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><link rel="themeData" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CTHEEBI%7E1%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx"><link rel="colorSchemeMapping" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CTHEEBI%7E1%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml"><style>  </style>
Click to expand...

Payne, this car is awesome!!! Thanks for sharing.

SlamIam said: ↑

A warm summer night, 1965 on piss road, the name we gave the narrow lane beside the canal where our 2 cops didn't bother us when we were running whatever relic we could cobble together. In our rural San Joaquin Valley town a chorus of crickets chirped in the background and the air was heavy with the smell of ripening grapes.

Muscle cars and big blocks were unknown then, just things seen in magazines. Here there were only a collection of ancient farm trucks and hand-me-down cars with flathead V8s, stovebolt 6s, a small hemi in an old blue Studebaker truck, and some big family cars that Mom and Dad didn't know were there. Only what boys earning summer money could afford to run. They were slow, but racing them was the only excitement in a town where the nearest theater was 20 miles away, driveins closed by 10, and girls had to be home by 11.

The narrow road was dimly lit by headlights. It was an average night, just one of many until a stranger showed up in a new Mustang. We had never seen one in the flesh, it sounded pretty good, and he said he wanted to run it agains the fastest car in town. "Call Tommy!" someone shouted. In a few minutes the wail of a 327 was heard in the distance as it appoached town from the other side of the river. A split-window Vette appeared at the end of the lane, the sight a treat because this car was rarely seen, and then only at night when something interesting to run showed up. This was one of those nights. Tommy was older and had a real job, a modified Vette and a pickup to drive during the day.

Tommy was cool and we all knew it. He didn't speak a word as he rolled up, nodded at Fat Curtis and the driver of the Mustang, and moved to the line. Fat Curtis lifted his chubby arms and the crowd fell silent. RPMs began to rise and all hell broke loose when Curtis could hold his arms no longer. The road was barely wide enough for 2 cars, and the space between them shrank even further as both began to slip sideways. Then only a cloud of smoke was visible with 16 cylinders screaming insde. A Vette fender began to emerge from the cloud, then the Mustang, and sparks flew as both accelerated through some loose rubble on the road. The Vette quickly began to build a lead that would reach several car lengths before they crossed the finish line in the distance. The Mustang returned, but the Vette did not. The victor took another road back to his barn - another challenger downed, and another night of racing done.

And the sound of Tommy's 327 wound tight is still fondly remembered.
Click to expand...

Nice!!!

OL 55 said: ↑

Don't forget our own Dean Lowe.........

Click to expand...

I could never forget Dean's truck, it's probably one of my favorites ever!!! I would like to find that issues soon.

magsnubby · Jan 12, 2010

That's a sweet little T.

hotrod56cars · Jan 12, 2010

To say that a 283 or a 327 is traditional and a 350/400 is not traditional is completely retarded. The engines look identical (except the Vortec). If you have to check casting numbers to decide if something is traditional or not then you need to get some new medication because the sh!t your on isn't working for you.

JeffreyJames · Jan 12, 2010

hotrod56cars said: ↑

To say that a 283 or a 327 is traditional and a 350/400 is not traditional is completely retarded.
Click to expand...

Or completely correct. Anyways, the thread is for EARLY CHEVY V8's and the old hot rods they used to power. Let's keep this about the posted images and not about whether what size Chevy is incorrect.

magsnubby · Jan 12, 2010

JeffreyJames said: ↑

...the thread is for EARLY CHEVY V8's and the old hot rods they used to power.
Click to expand...

.........

62 1934 · Feb 2, 2010

IM building a 34 ford 3 window i want it to look like it rolled out of 1962. my choice of engine is a home brew 301 sbc nothing against flatheads buicks or caddys its just i have several extra 283 complete engines and know what it feels like to twist one till it sounds like the pistons are gonna swap holes

terd ferguson · Feb 2, 2010

It's not a hot rod, but a truck. And Jeffrey, I know you've seen these, but I'm gonna post them anyway. I get a funny feeling when I see them.

My dad's Chevy V8

He didn't call it "relampago" for nothin'...

I LOVE this thread! Thanks Jeffrey, you know how much I love the SBC. I'm glad you're into it, and not too cool for school. I'm always amazed at the disdain generated for such a great engine. That sound of a proper 327 or 283 revved up to about 5,000rpm is just plain music. To hear tell from those that were there like my dad, once the Chevy V8 came out it was game over. You had to have one. And if you didn't, you wish you did. How these engines somehow became "not traditional" and "bellybutton" is beyond me.

JeffreyJames · Feb 2, 2010

Cool thanks Terd!! You know I love your pappy's truck so I think it's completely fitting for the thread.

I have another quote from a TRJ that I picked up at the GNRS this year. It's about a 3 window 32 and how a kid in 55-58 got rid of the most bad ass 310" Flatty for one...pretty cool shit for sure!!!

Speaking of TRJ and GNRS, the baby blue full fendered '32 from a couple issues came rolling up to breakfast on Saturday morning with it's 327 blazing and it was awesom!!! Definitely love the sound of a nasty early Chevy V8!

kelzweld · Feb 2, 2010

Good thread JJ. Sure is nice to see tributes instead of knocking. Long live the mighty mouse............

JeffreyJames · Feb 5, 2010

I am pulling these pics from the Garage website. The Pierson coupe ran a Early Chevy V8 configuration at one point too!!! What more do you need????

JeffreyJames · Feb 22, 2010

I thought I would bring this thread back for anyone that like cool old pics of Hot Rods!!!

Old-Soul · Aug 20, 2010

Bump?

Atwater Mike · Aug 20, 2010

oldebob said: ↑

. I think early small blocks are cool. However I doubt that many people on here will be pulling out a Flathead, Hemi, Olds, Pont, Stude and putting one in.
Click to expand...

Hmmm, don't be too sure. My '27 tub is coming along too slowly to document, and its DeSoto Hemi is still in the box. (my new building is coming in 2 more weeks. Then concrete, then the building goes up.)

My bud Stormin' Norman gave me a pair of 265 heads & Corvette valve covers, just so I could throw my nice 283 together and get running! ...And I was 'bad-mouthin' small block Chevies.
Slap mah mouth!

tomcantdoit · Aug 20, 2010

Tudor said: ↑

awesome thread Jeffrey! viva the cool small block! just got done on the dyno with this one - it made 716 HP

Click to expand...

WW... are you planning on flying to the moon???

bonesy · Aug 20, 2010

3wLarry said: ↑

My tastes are changing when it comes to the chevy. These pics are the look I'm going for in my new '32 truck project...

I've rounded up all the parts now to have one look like I just pulled it out of a new 1957 Chevy...a 283 4 bbl.

And those period parts ain't cheap!
Click to expand...

I'm so on board with this concept. I love it.

str8axle55 · Aug 20, 2010

Nothing wrong with a SBC, always loved them, my engine of choice. They can easily be dressed to be period correct, sound great, cheap and easy to maintain. inda like the bread and butter of hot rodding. I`d love to build a screamin` 301 for my 55.

JeffreyJames · Aug 20, 2010

str8axle55 said: ↑

I`d love to build a screamin` 301 for my 55.
Click to expand...

I've been thinking the same for my '54 one day. That would be killer!!!

I'm heading to Autofair next weekend with $50 to buy some more old magazines. Once I find the Chevy powered cars I'll scan them again and post. Until then post your vintage articles up!!!

Candy-Man · Aug 20, 2010

If anyone has ever watched / heard Gene Schwartz launch his injected SBC in his '53 Chev drag car, it is a beautiful noise you will never forget...

10,000 RPM lauch..... He broke the engine this year at Lancaster N.Y., first motor problem I have witnessed with Gene in over 10 years of watching him. He's a very interested cat, blues bass guitarist....

As you usually hear the screams out of his mouse motor shortly after he stages, he lauches the beast, standing his car on the back bumper bending his wheelie bars then breaking his motor. Due to breaking his motor, the front end came down hard, bending the front axle.

In the lane beside Gene, the famous Canadian drag car; the "James Boys" '33 Willys sedan runnuing an injected rat motor. On this pass, the James Boys sheered six bolts off the ATI balancer which bolted onto the hub, their fastest pass ever, not knowing they lost the balancer.

theHIGHLANDER · Aug 20, 2010

I hope some local small block fans can chime in and help out with this story and add more fact. When Dad ran circle track cars one their "gang" built one with a 180 crank and a 4" stroke. He called it "4X4". The story was how awesomw it sounded and how fast it was (in it's day) but the custom parts that were made for it were too costly to replace when it broke. Everybody knew about it and I was questioning the "real estate" needed for a 4" stroker crank in a 327 block. Those were details Dad and the other old timers couldn't answer. I guess they also bumped him out in tech at some tracks. How 'bout it Motown veterans? Any info? I wanna say the car was run by the guys from Arrow Wrecking (a demolition firm) in S.W. Detroit, or?

Seepwater · Aug 20, 2010

I'm wrenching a 283 now, tripower, Mallory dual point, power pack heads but may switch to 416s since I have em. Have a set of ramshorns but using blockhuggers to help it's breathing. A nod to high RPMs and using a gear drive up front....

Will go in a trampy old T bucket....

scrap metal 48 · Aug 20, 2010

I buy my tune up parts at the local super market..........

blt2go · Aug 20, 2010

never understood the sbc hater. they make great power, are cheap to build, and are period correct for what most of us love. there is a reason they are plentiful; they work. i have a mechanic friend that has over 300 of them sitting and waiting. he was told iron prices were up and he needed to get rid of them but he said "they (gm) don't make them anymore so i'm keeping them, i'll find a home for them before i sell them to be recycled into replacement parts for this new crap".

History >>>Proof is in the Pudding:Early Chevy V8 Hot Rods!!!!<<<

teddyp Member from hillside n.j.

cactus1 Member from Beautiful Kansas City! (And beyond!!)

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SlamIam Member from Kingsburg California

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