Thanks, I'm really into closed hoods, open ones mess up the lines. SBC is bought and paid for along with what I believe is a NV3500 five speed, bought a set of original Oldsmobile Rocket valve covers, so I'm good to go. Need to track down the HAMB guy that built the '53? Chevy pickup the combo came out of. Bob
View attachment 3725559 Always wonder what is the least number of wires needed for a running registered vehicle.
Given the choice of those 2, I'd go chevy. Given any other choice, I may say different. Sent from my LGLS992 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
I'am not brand loyal Ford in a Ford, however I have always felt if you're going to build a S.B.C. it should look like a S.B.C. After all they are every bit as traditional as a 324 Olds.
I would go with your gut Ford in a Ford . My 32 Ply Pa coupe I built in High School has had a SBF in it since 1976. when my brother drove it ten years before me it had a 265 chevy and a powerglide before that it had a studebaker champion 6 ( my dads favorite engine of all the swaps. ) I plan on rebuild when I retire, in the back of my mind always wanted to build it all mopar, thinking hemi this time around.
im a chebbie guy, please no hate mail! i have always had access to lots of chevy parts, so thats what ive have done over the years. i have put 3 chevys in forty fords. if you cant decide, i will send you my therapist ph number.
Read that you were thinking about putting a ford engine in a '39 pickup. I have a ford in my '40 coupe. It's a 302 with automatic tranny. Appears that part of the firewall is trimmed a little. If you want to see a picture of it, I can take one or come look at it.
My 39 is getting a sbc, too. In my opinion the sbf will NEVER look as traditional as a smallblock chevy no matter how you dress it. My original plan was a y block, but that motor needs a go through. Then I saw a red 40 at the early ford store with an old sbc. I can't even describe it. It's as if Henry built that car knowing sbcs would be available someday. Gorgeous! Sent from my LGLS992 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
You mention in your post about a 38-39 club. How do you access this. I'm building a 38 PU and I'm sure this would be a great resource.
I'm a Ford guy, and other than the 2" extra length in the water pump, the SBF and SBC are almost exactly the same size. And having the distributor in the front means you can 'cheat' the engine back further without having to worry about distributor clearance. Plus the Ford is 100 lbs (221-302) or 50 lbs (351W) lighter... before you add aluminum heads/intakes. I'll agree that 'dressing' one to look vintage is much harder on a SBF, but it can be done. There a fairly wide variety of intakes available for the 289-302 including 3-2s and 2-4s, tunnel rams, plus Webers. The 351W not quite so much, there's two 2-4 intakes available (Edelbrock, but it only accepts Edelbrock carbs) and the Price Motorsport unit that uses 'Ford traditional' Holleys, as well as a Weber set-up.
About cutting the firewall. Many years ago I watched as a died in the wool Ford purest (Moose Marion) put a SBF in his 34 Vicky without cutting the firewall, always wondered how he did that?
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