Art & Inspiration Is there an engine you just love?

Well number 1) would be 392 Hemi my 40 Ford 2) 440 in my Dodge 3) 350 in the Chevelle but 396 would be a plus
Also 409 chevy and 427 FE would make my list.

 

Ones that run and stay running-L79 near top of list, but of topic ls power by a long shot.

 

What? Nobody wants to stand up for the 351? Fully skirted crank, shrouded T/chain, high nickle content and forged cranks. A simple fix to the oil system and you have a block that is virtually bullet proof, and with the right heads capable of producing some serious power at high RPM. Since I'm in the mood... the derivative '400' delivers torque by the bucket load with its long arm architecture. Don't believe it? Check out the "Engine Masters" series.

 

I'll get back with you after I finally get to drive my '50 Ford w/t a 351 more than just in and out of the shop, I sounds great I just need to finish the brakes. HRP

 

Right there with ya!

 

Hello,
Back in May, I wrote about the 283 and the 348 because we were involved with both motors in the height of our hot rod years. But, recently, I sent a friend a movie copy of my favorite race car from Lions Dragstrip from 1958 to 60. There was this unusual sound coming from a very sleek dragster. But it was coming from the rear, not the front.

This race car and team was one of our favorites during that time. That chain drive and big Hemi sound was something to see and hear, especially up close.

original sidewinder 1958-59

The aluminum formed body panels glistened in the sun and the motor was one of Joe Mailliard’s powerful creations. It was the silvery, sleek, Sidewinder from the stables of Paul Nicolini and Joe Mailliard. (A So Cal local racer, builder and machinist.)

The fun thing (and maybe that is why we loved this race car) was that it was usually located near our Long Beach house. Joe Mailliard’s Machine Shop/Speed Shop was just a short bicycle pedal away. We saw all kinds of racers with their race cars here at the shop during the week. It was “home” for them.

But, the “one thing” was the tell tale sign that the Sidewinder was firing up and rolling towards the starting line. The sound… Here is the actual sound of the 1959 Sidewinder blown hemi, firing up, rolling to the line and making final adjustments prior to blasting down the strip. This is just not an ordinary strong blown Hemi motor. Add in everything about the race car and it is very impressive, while it stays with you forever. The sound brings back everything from back then, in time.

Sidewinder sound, blown Hemi start and run. 1959 film at Lions and sound from 1959 months later at the Detroit Nationals.

Jnaki

Excerpts from earlier posts.

 

My favorite is the tall deck 427 chevy, the truck motor. It was the 'modern' equivalent of the old hemi, heavyduty internals, forged crank, 4bolt mains. Just throw a set of heads, cam and whatever you wanted on top from carb to blower and go racin. Them motors had heart.
My current favorite is this little V8-60 motor I got sittin here, its just the neatest little thing!

 

Ford Y-blocks and FE's at the top of the list. Followed by big block Mopars, early Cads and Olds. Hmm, never thought about it before but they all have shaft-type rocker arms... don't like those engines that have the "other" types.

 

Boutlaw, excellent choice! Where did you get that killer front FEMount?



Bones

 

312 Thunderbird Special
289 271 HiPo
428 Cobra Jet
That’s the order I owned them........still do.



Bones

 

My 392 Hemi!

 

How about a high winding small block or an L-88????

 

Rat on!

 

Love the torque, puts you in the seat, sings a great love song!

 

You mention L-88, the heads are 69 pair of L-88/ZL1 3946074 castings! Rat on!

 

Jaguar are awesome........

 

My favorites are: 327 Chevy, 331 Cad, 303 Olds, 383/440 Mopar. But the one that I really love is the 283 Chevy.

Of course there is the Merlin engine in a P-51 but that is a little OT.

 

My trusty old 350 horse 396 was also great for outrunning cars with bigger engines, but I was running 4:57 gears in the rear end and big street tires. However, I love any engine that makes over 400 hp. I have a couple of cars with 454s, and a couple with FEs, and I love them all.
I also ran Olds and Buick engines, and found them to be reliable. I love the 392, 426, and 440 engines, but I have never owned anything MOPAR.
Bob

 

Just something about the Chrysler HEMI's but I also like the B/ RB big block Chrysler engine's .

 

Big Block Chevrolet with orange painted valve covers....

 

And I thought that I was the odd man out for feeling this way. The 383 was the most common Mopar big block encountered on the street back in the day. As such, it's responsible for a great deal of Chrysler's legendary status among street racers. The 383 (and the 400) make for fearsome stroker engines that will hunt down and best most 440 cars.

Hot Rod magazine did a fantastic feature a few years ago, pitting a Chevy 383 stroker against a Chrysler 383 that Steve Dulcich put together in a few hours, mostly from used parts sitting on a shelf. Most of the crew sat around waiting for the Chevy to vanquish the Chrysler B engine and collect their winnings from the bets placed. They even referred to the Mopar engine as "garbage". Dulcich's little junkyard big block smoked the Chevy. Chrysler's B motor gets my vote.

Hot Rod:
https://www.motortrendondemand.com/detail/383-chevy-vs-383-mopar/0_gyezfgtn/

 

X2 On the 383 B..... But I still would take a well tuned LA 340 MOPAR ! & of course can't forget the LA 318..Toughest little V8 made.. (I grew up in dad's 69 383 4spd. Roadrunner... "Fastest car in town" ..according to him) (Ps: I just Happen to have a "Built" 340 sitting on a dolly just waiting ....I hope to have it running & driving by May....
as a birthday present to myself )

 

I like lots of them, and I like mine. Sometimes .

 

This One Turns My Crank...

 

My current favorite is the Model A banger. Mostly because it's what I'm currently working on, but also because of the history, and it's primitive, honest nature. Mine's no showpiece, but It's mine.

 

B/Gas 57 Pontiac 347CID bored to 370CID . Spaulding Flamethrower, #10 McKellar heads and cam kit with 1.65 rocker arms, Jahns pistons. 2.20 low Corvette three speed, 5.13 posi 56 Chevy rear end. 115mph and 12.7 ET. Raced in Arkansas and Tennessee 1961 and 1962. I still have it.