Hot Rods Engine choice for my '57 Chevy Gasser?

I'm in the process of putting a 454 BBC in my wagon right now. Always thought an Olds 371 / 394 or early 60's Poncho would be KooL and a little different between the fenders though...
If money was no object, early HEMI or even a 413 / 426 / 440 Mopar would be cool in a gasser styled tri-five.

 

I have been pondering the same question, for my own '57 gasser project. I originally was going with a 327 from my original high school '57 hardtop (still have it), and the 4 speed that is in the same car (Super T-10), but have since decided that I will go with a big block, probably a 540. It will "look" vintage to most people (and I'll go to some great effort to make it look like an old 396). The trans won't be "right"...going with a built T56, since I want to spend my time driving rather than changing out pumpkins.
Ultimately, all that matters is what YOU want!

 

Thanks! I knew some guys would see it my way....

 

If it were mine I'd be droppin a screamin BBC in it.

Just my .02

 

How about a .125 over 283 to 301 with power pack heads and the right cam. It would be vintage hot rod.

 

Big blocks are muscle car stuff. Go with the small block or the W motor.

 

I might go with a 2x4 olds. But I am a chebby guy and a real high winding short stroke small block might also fill the bill.

My current gasser build is looking at a high winding small block but my total vehicle weight is only going to be @ 2800 lbs.

Go with the olds it is a real old school answer to the gasser equation.

For the same reason you would put a Caddy in a Ford I suppose. Because you can.

 

I'de put the 427 in it and put it back in the race configurartion that was in but make it street legal.

 

I'd go with the Olds or Buick to be different. Blower and/or multiple carbs. Or how about a big block Caddy? All those would be different. If you stick with a SBC, I'd go 301 with either the blower set up or a crossram manifold. Just my thoughts.

 

this is what i would do!! O, i already have one!!

 

If it was mine , 409 block, .060 over with a 454 crank is good for 481 cid. Lots of goodies for the W motor these days. But if you want to put a 421 Poncho in there it wouldn't hurt my feelings.

 

I like the thoughts of a small cube Chevy with Hilborn on top, but its all in how much money you want to spend and how fast you want to go. I hate cars that have huge cubes and dont run the numbers but love little cube motors that just scream and lay down some great times.

Jon

 

Hmmmm.......I think I have made up your mind. I have a new Dz 302 I bought in the crate and had it in a show car back in the day. I think it has about 50 miles on it. Top it off with some Hilborns and it could be a cool match-up. I also Pm'd you on the 69 427. .

 

I'm doing a Hilborn injected 392 hemi in my 57

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Man, I'm gonna tell you straight what you need to do. Slap a Ford 200 in that puppy and light it up. Mill the intake for 3x1 Holley 1904's (Glass bowl of course). All these times some Chevy guy has come along and put a Chevy in an old Ford, it's time to retaliate! Put the Ford in the Chevy! The L6 will rise again!......
That's just my 2 ¢.

 

injected period correct stacks or a 6-71 gmc with a 4 port

 

Old thread. I built a 327 for my wagon. have a 400 small block with a 350 crank. also a 401uick with 2 fours I even have some big block chevys. However Ive decided that I will put a Pontiac tin indian mill in the old wagon.

 

427 Ford with a lot of squeeze and a lot of stick would do nicely

 

Your car looks the part-60s street/strip car. SBC with a tunnel ram and fender well headers would be the easiest and cheapest.

 

427

 

what was the out come on the build did I miss it?

 

9 years is a long time.....

 

My opinion, (And what I'm doing myself) is to put another big block Chevy in it. Nothing against small blocks but no matter what you do to one, it will never pack the visual impact of a big block Chevy.

 

If you really want to enjoy the car, build it with a nostalgia look and put a 427 small block in it by using a block from an aftermarket supplier. Build it with a low compression and a mild cam that makes it enjoyable street able. Then add a Tremec five or six speed behind it and a turbo.
Yes turbos were available in the sixties. A blower requires HP to drive it and you have to burn additional gas to drive it. A turbo uses almost no HP yet will really wake your engine up.....both on the road and at the strip. You should be able to get reasonable gas mileage on the street because of the mild (turbo spec) cam and overdrive trans. The turbo doesn't have to be huge and dominate the engine compartment, but you can probably get an easy 550-600 HP while still having an affordable street/race machine.

 

Small block Chev, may be not as fast as a Big Block, but can be a lot of fun & very traditional.

 

The OP hasn't been on here in months. Possibly busy building an engine for his '57. A big block.

 

OK dago 88 don't think I have ever seen a intake manifold quite like that, what is it?

 

I think it's an Offy...

 

I think so too

 

He probably put an FE in it and is afraid to show it. I remember a 58 vette back in 67-68 that owned B/Gas at Miami-Hollywood . Motor came straight out of wrecked Thunder Bolt Fairlane.