most popular hot rod motor

what do you all think the most popular motor for an era specific hot rod is?

 

well depends on what era

 

Flathead,Flathead, Flathead

 

pre and post WWII - flathead V8 - 51 to 60 - BOP V8s, Hemis - sbcs started to blend themselves in around 55/56 almost as soon as they were introduced - big draw was the power-pack stuff...heads, cams, 4bbl, dual quads, and their smaller (relatively speaking) size as compared to the giant BOP/Mopar engines. Since the 60s, there have been more sbc powered streetrods/hot rods than any other. As someone whose first swap was a 331 Cad into a 50 shoebox ragtop, I'm appreciative of the 'old school' movement we are seeing. I like to see the 'vintage' engines used and it's fun to watch the old speed equipment show up periodically.

dj

 

"Black&Decker aquarium pump", Said Brian Edison in movie "Hot Rod".

 

agree with propwash........... but you seem to have forgotten the venerable OFFY fourbanger

 

most common, 350/350/9"

 

no no no, y'all got it wrong. it's a diesel that runs on vegetable oil.

 

Small Block Chevy, of course! Everyone has one. They're like belly buttons! Mine's an outie.

 

The one that works hands down for me.

 

I would have to say the Hemi.......if they were not so hard to get and expensive to build everyone would have one. You just can't say no to a Hemi.

 

i would say the flat head or the oldsmobile rocket,
since the oldsmobile 88 was considered the first muscle car so engine swaps were common

 

flathead, early Caddy, Olds Rocket, Y block (Ford, Lincoln, Merc), Hemi, small block chevy, GMC six. A lot of guys in the 50's ran Olds Rocket's

 

What era?
1910 to 1927, the Ford Model-T
1928 to 1931, the Ford Model-A
1932 to 1949, the Ford V-8 Flathead
1949 to 1955, the Cadillac, Oldsmobile, and Hemi OHV V-8's
1955 to present, the Chevrolet V-8's

My opinion.

JG

 

Well if you are Canadian and talking about todays hotrods, its all about the Hemi's!!! When we have the Good guys show, it seems every hemi in the place has canadian plate and every Canadian plate has a Hemi!!! I dont get where they get them all!!

 

Desirable? Yes...definitely. Popular...nuh!




I'l just do a quick inventory in my garage...hm lets see

1 x SBC
1 x nailhead
1 x I6 Holden
1 x flathead
1 x Cad 390

No clear winner here but I reckon I might have something for every era

Pete

 

We ran about 4 pages on this not that long ago, I remember the thread.

The consensus was pretty well the Ford Flathead was the first king, was slightly displaced by the Caddy, Olds and Buick V8s, and they were all knocked off the throne by the small block Chevy as they became cheap and readily available in the late '50s.

 

Chevy the most easy engine to install for its size dimensions . Now if you want a challenge go with something different .

 

i agree with magoo after 55 it was a small block chevy.......before that it was olds buick....before that it was a flattie......

 

s.b.c.

 

From the sea of trailers and tow vehicles I see at major event's I'd have to agree. Most popular motor to move a street rod is diesel.

 

FLATHEAD of course .and what the hell is a 16 holden ?

 

That's an I 6 Holden. That would be "inline".

 

the question was the most popular (flattie--88--nailhead) not the most common and cheapest (sbc).

 

What's free?

 

flatty,olds,hemi

 

From Merriam-Webster:

pop·u·lar

1 : of or relating to the general public

2 : suitable to the majority: as a :...................................
b : suited to the means of the majority : inexpensive <sold at popular prices>

3 : frequently encountered or widely accepted

4 : commonly liked or approved



Sure looks like SBC to me.
Larry T

 

Only on the HAMB can you start a thread about motor oil and have it go (in a few posts) to your favorite toilet paper. Anyone remember the topic of this one? It was MOST POPULAR HOT ROD MOTOR. Sheer numbers make it the most popular (DUH!!) which make the flathead and SBC the winners. Anyone have any data (real, not emotional) to contradict that statement?

Frank

 

I hate to break it to ya, but Common and cheapest have a lot to do with popularity, just ask walmart.

 

Nuff said.