Art & Inspiration Is there an engine you just love?

Flathead Fords and my 351 Cleveland!!

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Y-block or hemi.

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Hello,

For me, it is the SBC that did the trick for getting the feeling of a hot rod. Our friends had SBC motors of all kinds from single carbs to multiple carbs. They were small enough to fit in just about any hot rod.

Our first try at building a motor was the 283 with 6 Strombergs, then upgrading it to a 292 with a 671 plus the 6 Strombergs. That motor will forever stay in my mind whenever I think of a drag race motor that could have been used on the street.
B. Balogh Oct. 1960:

This is the closest photo to our exact set up on our 292 C.I. SBC in June 1960.

But, when I got my 1958 Impala 348/280 HP, I had already been working on that motor, to keep it running perfectly for the drags and the street. That 348 motor was unusual and powerful. At the time, it wasn’t the most powerful, but with the way the car was set up, it gave the 315 HP motors a run for their money, every time. It was powerful and tame all at the same time.

At idle, it was fairly quiet, but when those two extra carbs kicked in, it was a whole new ball game. That motor gave every one (a neck snapping power, coupled with my fast shifts,) a surge that was not felt by any other car on the street. It was impressive.

Jnaki

This 348 ci motor was big in physical dimensions, so installing it in other hot rods was more difficult than with an SBC. At the time, there were plenty of adapters and mounts to make the SBC fit in any car. So, an SBC is my choice for the best all-around motor for any car, from mild to wild. IMHO

Going to different photo shoots was fun. First we would drive the 40 Ford Sedan Delivery to car shoots. Then, we would ride the Harley Sportster for bike shoots and sometimes "closer (local So Cal) area" car shoots. Wait, have you ever been next to a hot, Harley Davidson motor at idle? Well, I forgot this would be number two. At idle, or even accelerating, the 88 db twin, individual pipes would make this bike sound go up your arm and give you a feeling like no other.

When sitting at a stop light and a person in the car next to you hears your motor, gives you the thumbs up and smiles, then that is a moment you cannot forget. Those long rides were unforgettable. Accelerating and going through the gears…Wow…

So, an SBC is #1 and this Harley motor is a close #2. The 348? Well, it is in third place, but very close to my heart for #1 in memories.

 

Daily driving: 327 Chevy
Weekend fun time burning the hides screw the gas mileage: 396 Chevy
Wish list: SOHC 427 Ford that I would beat like a rented mule just to irritate my Ford friends

 

I hope your also including the 455 version too . take off the smogger stuff and crank a little timing and tuning in it and it was a powerhouse ... and low compression too 8.0:1 . (do a little welding to the heads to bump it up and it wakes up . )

the other motors I thought we cool were the FE's my Dad had in his Marauders and the T-birds . all I remember was wheel to wheel dark blue and chrome .

 

426 HEMI. Legend.

 

test your ID skills and name it

 

Cad 12

 

Anything built way before I was born. I'm very partial to the nailheads and the flatheads as I've got a few. I'll probably get flack for it but I do have a small place in my heart for a 1600cc VW and a Detroit diesel because that's what I cut my teeth on.


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Nailhead for me please.

 

Great thread.

Sometimes when I go to the garage to do some work......I instead grab a beer....take a seat...and stare at this whale in the corner dreaming of future things to come!

 

It would be so fine to have a 409

 

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Endless potential, and a whole bunch of fun!
Had and built several 327 Chevys, street and race.

 

327 / 365

 

This is always one of my favorites....

 

327's. Too much fun... a unique sound and 6500 rpms all day long.

 

Ohsmobile

 

Look to the left, Olds gets me going

 

I love FE and flatheads


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Just about any internal combustion engine can trip my trigger but I've got a soft spot for early hemis. Growing up reading my Dads 50's and 60's Hot Rod mags the hemi was king. Still is in my mind.

 

https://video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/...44f941c5325920258a3057fd6fa47e87&action=click

 

I've seen so much chrome that I'm sick of it. Polished enough aluminum for this lifetime but I'm still a sucker for anything with a blower and zoomies. My current project........just a few more details, then fire in the hole.

 

3 and a half liter XK Jag, overhead cams, twin SU's, split exhaust, from the factory in 1952. Sounds sweeeet with straight pipe.

 

Here's another good one.

 

H ave you ever heard a GMC 6 cylinder with a wayne head with 6 straight pipes in old open wheel modified come off the corner and just kick a flathead's ass down the straight stretch. Heard it when I wasn't old enough to drive and never forgot that sound.

 

My fav is the 153 chevy 4 cyl that was in my '62 Chevy II.
I got the car for free in 1973 with 43,000 miles.
I drove it for a while an realized the original owner old lady never reved it over 2000 rpm. I broke the ring lands when I wound it out. A rebuild with replacement pistons made it a really sweet motor. It could keep up on th highway and the Hurst shifter made it fun to drive.
Sold it in '76 for $500.
I bought a '70 153 in 1986 to keep in stock just in case.

 

@mkebaird , so true, really the best sounding six-cylinders there are come from Jaguar.

 

I would have easily outrun that 440 cuda. We raced for money and took it .