Ways to disguise a sbc

If you want to disguise your 'Chevy shame' you chose the wrong engine. If you bought the car and it has a SBC you either have to learn to live with it, keep the hood closed or change the engine - which is not a cheap proposition. The headers or exhaust manifolds almost always give the game away and the only way you can really change this is to swap in some exotic aftermarket heads which have different exhaust port spacing. You could also convert to a front mount distributor to try and confuse the illiterati. Faux 'other brand' valve covers on a SBC are about as convincing as a strap-on on a dyke....

 

run what you got- this what I put together, if I had SBF 289 or Hemi, a flat head, I would do that-

 

Why bother?
No matter how you disguise a SBC, an observant person will spot it for what it really is; water pump, exhaust port spacing, distributor or starter location are all dead giveaways.
Ive adapted early offset bolt pattern valve covers to standard pattern heads and standard valve covers to later center bolt heads to give the illusion of an earlier engine, but they are still SBC's.

 

Take note.

First notice the extreme distractionary tactics employed to take the focus off the engine.

Then the one-two punch of the hemi covers and fake injection stacks.

Game. Set. Match.

 

^^^ yep, never ever be ashamed of what you got. If you are ashamed of it then buy something different.


But in answer to the question I have seen some pretty lame assed stuff done, Rocket valve covefrs, hemi looking valve covers, flathead looking valves covers. I even saw one that was dressed to look like an ardun, all the way to a front dizzy drive conversion.

The front dizzy conversion is a good idea by the way, but not to make it look ford.

 

58 years later the SBC is still used as a standard of performance. Conceived as a inexpensive power plant that without a doubt is the mouse that roared.

 

I'd say "engine denial" is the least of this guys problems.

So, there are guys who hate the look of a SBC, but buy and install one in their car anyway. Then, try to make it look like something else? They must be REALLY stupid.

 

Damn glad I skipped breakfast this morning...

 

Very convincing

 

I still like a Ford in a Ford but I understand why people run Chevys you break one you just buy another one they are cheap and everywhere

 

Now THAT's lame....

 

To a 5 year old.... maybe.

 

That's that super trick Ardun mod.
2 plugs per cylinder. One in the valve cover & another next to exhaust.

 

Paint FORD on the valve covers....

 

so very true i agree 2 times

 

There's a whole bunch of "WTF was I thinkin" going on right there!

 

Not to change ths subject, but is that radius rod bending downward or is that an optical illusion?

That said, he must have pulled the drivetrain out of his mini truck to build this masterwork.

 

And yet, his buddies came over, popped open some brews and said, "Man, you ARE a bad mutha fu*ka!"

 

I have a warm 383 stroker that I usually just say is a 350. That is what the block is and it ends questions.

Not that I am hiding the fact it is a sbc, just what it really is.

 

Wouldn't kick this out of my garage or try & make it something it's not.

 

My pal Teddy DeMello had the 'deepest black Nitrocellulose Lacquered' '33 Tudor in town... finished car. LOOOW in front, a 'knockout'! Engine was a nice running '53 Merc flattie, single Stromberg 94.

For a lark, we stuck some 331" Chrysler hemi valve covers on it, bailing wired...removed the hood sides, bolted a large chrome Hellings bonnet on top...

Cruised the perimeter loop in John's Drive In, (San Jose) Everybody, unanamous: "Wow, it's got a Chrysler in it!"
We just cruised downtown for the night, took it to my house and removed the stuff, replaced the hood panels...

For weeks after, "Teddy's '33 has a Chrysler in it!"

That was fun. But not 'over-stayed'.

 

Cal Custom valve covers, a trio of 94's and cast aluminum scoops from burt21 on here worked for mine.

 

Or this one

 

Or this

 

Niiiiice... Great shot.

 

Must be a hell of a crowd to not know the sound difference between a Hemi and a Flathead.

 

Another belly button.
Soooooooooooooooo boring.

 

To paraphrase Chickenshift from a few years back...

Putting different valve covers on a Chevy is "a disgrace and and a slap in the face to" the heritage of both motors.

If you have a Chevy motor in your ride, be proud of it. If you want a different motor, put a different motor in. Stop playing pretend.