Projects Which Motor? Poll: And The HAMB says

Which Motor? Poll: And The HAMB says.
Hope this works.Not sure how to post a poll.

So I got this 1931 coupe and I'm not sure what direction to take it.
Before I even got a project car I was preping a 59ab so my idea was for a earley 50s hot rod with flathead power and skinny Firestones all around, but the car I found has a full new box tube chassis and links with coil overs in the rear(not classic or old school) but it has a cool "Milner" feel to it and thats why I think "it" wants a small block chevy and some fats and skinny's up front on it.
Then another wrinkle.The car came with a 400 poncho and trans in it now.
I kinda think that the poncho motor and three duces and white walls would be kinda cool too.
So I have no clear vision yet. Let me hear what you think.
And dont write "oh do what you want' dont follow the crowd" Bull shit. Seriously.
I am more of a craftsman than an artist and I'm having a hard time "seeing" the end results.I have all three of these motors in the garage.
What do you think?
Post or Poll
Give me some detailed thoughts

1) 59ab Ford power

2)406 smallblock

3)400 Pontiac

 

pontiac-but i'm prejudice. 15-40 rotella t oil

 

After seeing A Bone's model A at the HAMB drags, I say stick with the Poncho, and make it fast.

 

400 for sure, fendrless headers 700r o.d. and a thin electric fan.

 

Pontiac 400 with Tri-Power.

Pontiac used the 'Tri-Power' name starting in '57 and all the way through '66 for thier top passenger car engine option, definitely HAMB friendly.

You don't ever use '3-deuces' or 'six pack' to describe a Tri-Power Pontiac, it just ain't right. I might call an aftermarket 3-carb setup on a Pontiac something other than 'Tri-Power', but never a factory setup.

 

Wow!
Didn't expect to become a Pontiac man.
What a support staff Pontiac has on the HAMB

 

You have the Pontiac 400 in there already.
Seems to me the "choice" is already made...

 

What's wrong with a SBF 289 or 302 ? How about a 460 ?
Do you want power or an old skool mill ?
Old skool , I am for a flathead or a hemi .
Power I am for a 460 .
A good running , reliable engine with lots of torques and sound great , then a 289 or 302 .
I am a Ford guy so you know what I like the best !

Retro Jim

 

Leave the Poncho mill in there and enjoy the torque...for some reason the name Rainmaker comes to mind for that car...now hurry up and finish so you can boil some tires doing your rain dance...

 

"Hail to the Chief, baby!"(Bruce Cambell) Pontiacs usually get a bad reputation, but it's from people that never ran one.

 

Retro Jim'

In the post:

"I have all three of these motors in the garage."

Give me some detailed thoughts

1) 59ab Ford power

2)406 smallblock

3)400 Pontiac <!-- / message --><!-- attachments -->

 

Use the tin indian-save the Chevy for a really cool project

 

My first reaction was flathead, but your explanation of the car made me turn to the Poncho.

 

If you want the muscle,PONTIAC,If you want to tool around the flathead,If you want descent power the Chevy.

 

use the Pontiac for sure, with tri-power set up of course.

 

good ideal sell the flathead put the cash in the indian or sbc

 

From a stuborn chevy man.....................USE THE PONTIAC and be sure it has the tripower. Oh yea, gotta have a 4 spd also. How can you resist the notion that you might just own the very first GTO?

Frank

 

HUH? A.B.C. go with the Pontiac!

 

I voted Ponitac, but I am going to have to say instead of headers why not a set of reproduction RamAir exhaust manifolds. I even thing you can get the long runner type from the Early SD cars.

 

1)Well the flathead will cost the most to rebuild !
2)The sbc is just like a ton more out there !
3)I drove a Firebird with a stock 400 w/bbl and 4 speed . That was one very quick car !

I just prefer to use Ford engines ! You could sell all 3 and build a Ford engine , right ? You can rebuild one , have a good engine with lots of torque and sound great for about $2000 or less . They are not hard at all to rebuild ! I have done many of them !
Just my opinion !

Retro Jim

 

did ya really asked what engine to use ?
sell the ford (sucks) & go SMALL BLOCK
now was that really hard to figure out ?

 

Their ins't much room between the block and the frame, tubes ? I'm going try to work a set in my truck hood on.
The ram air are fat and the SD are way to long.
You can always leave the sides of the hood off.

 

Of course Flathead

 

No hood.
No fenders.
Whats so special about the Pontiac 400 that it seems to be an overwhelming favorite?

 

KEEP IT FORD. 59ab ALL THE WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Do a search for 400 Pontiac cam recommendations...that thread has some awesome Poncho engine info, and a LOT of reasons why you'll be happy with that motor...

 

"It just ain't right"?????

"3 deuces and a 4-speed, and a 389........"

I like Pontiacs and currently have a GTO, but I vote a Ford engine in a Ford car.

Jon.

 

Pump jack. 4 speed and some tall gears. Lot of low end.

 

"Tri-Power, a 4-speed and a 389........" would have been much better song lyrics.

Yep, it just ain't right.

 

I'm a Ford guy but I think I'd go with the Pancho with 3-2s. Torquey engine in a light car.