Hot Rods So, what do you think is the coolest hot rod engine ever?

Well if I was going to go mildly exotic and wanted to go banger power I would look for one of these:


1974 Cosworth Vega motor. But they are not and never will be considered to be a hot rod motor or cool by anyone that I know of other than some old dork like me.

 

I love early olds and caddys have both a 303 rocket in my 46 merc im building a 331 caddy when I get my hands on a 40 ford pickup that where it will go

 

Okay, maybe a little predjudiced but built this for my '40 Ford.

 

401 we've built using our new 4-71 blower manifold and drive assemblie

 

I've never really been much of a 50's period correct kind of guy but the first time I laid eyes on the Caddy in Jim Busbys' 5W, I kind of softened my stance a bit.

 

Anything but a sbc.

 

Phtttttt

this is anything but an SBC



I think he is looking for ideas other then SBC although he is an SBC guy by nature.

This heap is powered by a pure traditional SBC by the way and is probably the reason that so many don't like them. Its a small journal 283 as I recall but it could be a 265.

 

So there's enough Chevy guys and I don't have to be one? Good.

 

Seems like we just had a thread like this one. My answer is the same as in that thread.

In order:

1. Flattie
2. Hemi
3. Nail Head
4. early SBC (with the right parts)
5. 348 - 409 Chevy

I may flip 4 & 5, maybe not. After that would be the various Cad, Olds, Pontiac and Ford OHV engines.

Really it depends on how any of them are set up. Almost any of them can look like dogs. Finned aluminum and various shiny chrome or SS pieces make a world of difference. Oh, and more than 1 carb!

 

This is not directed directly at you.^^^^

Every time one of these threads comes up someone throws out the OMG NO SBC statement. Its tired and worn and wasn't really cool the first time it was mentioned. All it really shows is that the poster knows very little about hot rod history.

You like what you like everyone gets that but the statement is just lame and ads nothing to the conversation.

 

...and Sonny Dixie.

 

not lame.

 

also not lame.

 

Mmmm, engine porn.....

 

For my money, nothing says hot rod like a flathead Ford.

That said, I've always dug a dressed out straight six for a little different appearance and attitude.

 

I'm kinda partial to my 259 Stude motor. looks awesome and you hardly ever see them.

 

In the library at my junior high school, there was one of those old "how to build a hot rod" books from about 1956 or so, and in it there was a chapter on engine swaps. They beamed about the then 'new' Nailheads, and ever since I have always seen that as the hot rod motor.

Read that book cover to cover many times before I even got behind the wheel of a car...

 

Yeah, It's been hashed out before, but I kinda wanted to get an idea for my 36.
I am leaning towards either a 425 Nailhead or a 327 with Tripower and a 5 speed. Cadillacs are very elegant though.

I have a built 265 out of the Fly that I could detune for the street, but it is a 55 block and I wouldn't have an oil filter provision. Not sure how that would work out.

I have some original Cal Custom stuff and it would be dressed very traditional, circa 1964ish. I would run the 2G setup in lieu of the 97's.

Some things aren't even an option, due to size, like Boss 429's, Hemis etc.

 

Lotsa cars are run without oil filters, my driver included. Just more oil changes.

Or you could get one of the factory, or aftermarket, filter that mounts to the top of the '55 motors. Using what you've got is pretty much Hot Rodding 101.

 

Yeah, I know. The bypass filters are really pretty worthless. I figured if I ran it, I would just run synthetic and change it more often.

 

In a Cobra? No. In a hot rod? Meh.

In anti anti-sbc mode I'd rather see a well detailed period Small block:

 

Wane 12 Port Chevrolet or G.M.C.

 

Howard head GMC As near as I can tell Beaner just likes engines. He is right.

 

Good for you.

 

There's so many kool engines, and this thread is enough to make anyone rethink their favorites. I sort of need a reason for the build before I'd pick the power. For all out in-your-face "fuck you!" HP my hands down favorite is the MK IV BBC. Just looking at it said "...oh shit..." if you plan to race against it. Make mine a 427. It could look like this and still raise hell:


Now I'd prefer some vintage "calliope" injection stacks and the sweet smell of methanol, but frankly that above would do just fine. But some folks are just Chevy'd out. They'd rather see anything but the invincible Bowtie in any form, although the old 'W' motor has been gettin a pass lately.
Still, this is about what to drop into a 36 Ford, and what would help peg the Kool-O-Meter, or at least make it dance, right? Well the nailhead isn't a bad choice. Doesn't eat a lot of real estate under there, looks uber kool, dressed right it's welcome to any party. Hell even stock it makes a statement. The big ones are a bit pricey, make the most power, but even a light rebuild will thin someone's wallet in a big hurry. Same with high zoot flathead Ford. Wanna go even a little fast? Speed costs money, how fast do you wanna spend? Make no mistake, a budget is a truly important aspect. Makes you want to figure out what some of the big engines are out there with the most longevity , look kool, fit a small space, make enough power to maybe scare you just a wee bit. Well kids, your ol uncle Highlander says C A D I L L A C. Those things will go 100K miles and still drag a trailered Packard up a long hill passing traffic. I know, I've done it. The old term "Fordillac" was born for a reason. You could go 331, 354, 390, and I think all that lovely dress fits em all. Finding a 50-70 K mile old Caddy that still runs and drives isn't impossible. Sticking it against the early trans, well Mr. Moriarity shared one of the finest examples, yes? I mean really, hundreds of shine runners couldn't have been wrong. If you find the right deal on a 63 you'd get the updated 390, and again from experience, a wicked fast engine. It's next of kin, the 429? Better fit that turbo hydro to it. Enough big TQ to tuck your sack up your, well, you get the idea.
At the end of the day, or the build, what lurks beneath the hood after you scared the bejeezus outta your passenger almost doesn't matter. It's the scare that did it, right? I think the biggest issue is what to support all this TQ you stuff in there. Is sticking a 9" under it okay? 3 pedals, or would you be fine with just 2? Suspension? Kool is one thing. It's use is it's own chapter. I feel a bit of kinship toward the old Caddy engines. I wonder why? Ya think this might be one of the reasons? 36 Dodge pickup, dual quad Cad and automatic, all under the hood when I was just a little shit:


Just sayin, carry on...

 

Guys,Guys,not one mention of an MEL?

 

Put me down in the "lover of 427 chevys" column. My guess is, anyone who has ever actually built one falls into that column.