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Old 04-18-2011, 12:47 PM   #1
curleeman
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Cool Ford Flathead vs small block chevy debate!

I've got a debate for everybody out there that needs some input..I recently read an article in Street Rodder magazine that was debating why people put a regular old small block chevy in their FORD hot rod?? I must say that it sucks that everytime I go to a car show 9 times out if 10 the hot rods all have some combination of the small block chevy.Don't get me wrong, I think the small block 350 is a monumental motor and deservers respect.But my big question is, how come a person will spend thousands and thousands of dollars on their 32 FORD roadster and have a beautiful car only to ruin it by throwing in a regular chevy 350 small block?Why not go the distance and at least put a ford motor in it,to me it's a hybrid at that point, part ford part chevy. I know that budget and availablity of parts dictates what motor someone may use but a ford motor is not that much more than a chevy,especially if your'e already spending the amount of a small house on the vehicle...Or when someone is building a traditional hot rod and they throw in a 80's model chevy motor,doesn't make since to me. There are plenty of old classic motors out there just begging to be brought back to life, Flatheads,Hemis,cadillacs etc...What do yall think about the hot rod community being overrun with chevy small blocks???
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Old 04-18-2011, 12:50 PM   #2
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Default Re: Ford Flathead vs small block chevy debate!

To tell you the truth I don't want to talk about a sbc on a flathead ford site.
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Old 04-18-2011, 01:03 PM   #3
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Default Re: Ford Flathead vs small block chevy debate!

Again. Really?
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Old 04-18-2011, 01:09 PM   #4
Vic Piano
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Default Re: Ford Flathead vs small block chevy debate!

My opinion on this subject is simply this; to each his own. I like Flatheads and they are what I run in each of our originally Flathead powered cars. We also have two Studebakers and they run the Studebaker V8's that came with them from the factory. If I owned a Chevy, it would have a Chevy engine in it. Vic
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Old 04-18-2011, 01:11 PM   #5
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Default Re: Ford Flathead vs small block chevy debate!

Ho hum!!

WON'T BITE.

Ronnie
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Old 04-18-2011, 01:21 PM   #6
TomT/Williamsburg
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Default Re: Ford Flathead vs small block chevy debate!

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Some people build a car with their heart, some build it in keeping with their pocketbook, and others build it via their checkbook/charge card, with a healthy mix of any/all 3 for most builds. The debate on this can and will go on forever - lets just keep this site to flatheads and old Fords, IMHO, and leave this debate to places outside of this arena.
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Old 04-18-2011, 01:25 PM   #7
curleeman
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Default Re: Ford Flathead vs small block chevy debate!

10-4 ford friends.....I'm a flathead lover myself...long live the flathead
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Old 04-18-2011, 02:20 PM   #8
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Default Re: Ford Flathead vs small block chevy debate!

the reason its done if for cost and availabilty, chevy parts can be bought at any parts store,, im usually ok with the sreet rod post on here, but this is one that should be on the hamb
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Old 04-18-2011, 02:45 PM   #9
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Default Re: Ford Flathead vs small block chevy debate!

[QUOTE=ford1;194828]the reason its done if for cost and availabilty, chevy parts can be bought at any parts store,, im usually ok with the sreet rod post on here, but this is one that should be on the hamb[/QUOT]

Concur with you ford1. Take it to the HAMB to discuss.
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Old 04-18-2011, 04:36 PM   #10
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Default Re: Ford Flathead vs small block chevy debate!

Quote:
Originally Posted by ford1 View Post
the reason its done if for cost and availabilty, chevy parts can be bought at any parts store,, im usually ok with the sreet rod post on here, but this is one that should be on the hamb
So can sbf parts be bought at any parts store.
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Old 04-18-2011, 05:17 PM   #11
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Default Re: Ford Flathead vs small block chevy debate!

Please DONT take it to the Hamb to discuss.... it's been done to death and back again, and you'll get your arse kicked for bringing it up again.
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Old 04-18-2011, 06:36 PM   #12
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Default Re: Ford Flathead vs small block chevy debate!

Just remember we all love old FORDS....When we see one on the road its exciting regardless what's under the hood....
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Old 04-18-2011, 02:51 PM   #13
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Default Re: Ford Flathead vs small block chevy debate!

If you are posting on this website....early ford v8 then it should be for that.....got nothin a gainst CHEVY's used to own a 67 rs ss stocker.....there is a website for it also!
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Old 04-18-2011, 02:52 PM   #14
Scott De Shields
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Default Re: Ford Flathead vs small block chevy debate!

As an owner of a 40 Ford that was rodded by my grandfather in the 50's with a SBC. I will be having an 8BA with a 4 speed toploader replacing my grandfathers hard work done some 40 years ago. I will be selling the SBC along with a propane conversion and my Indian motorcycle to help fianance the build. I have been running and building late model V8s since I was a teenager but now want to experiance the Ford V8 flathead. I intend for this to be the last car I will build and will hand it down to my son (he's biting at the bit) just like my dad and my grandfather did.
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Old 04-18-2011, 03:07 PM   #15
Ol' Ron
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Default Re: Ford Flathead vs small block chevy debate!

Small block chebbys were designed for the poor stupid people that can't afford, or are not smart enough to build a Flathead
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Old 04-18-2011, 03:39 PM   #16
FL&WVMIKE
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Default Re: Ford Flathead vs small block chevy debate!

Installing a SBC in an old flathead, does not involve cutting the firewall. Installing a newer Ford engine, calls for the firewall to be cut and altered. I would never do either.
MIKE
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Old 04-18-2011, 08:05 PM   #17
BrianCT
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Default Re: Ford Flathead vs small block chevy debate!

Quote:
Originally Posted by FL&WVMIKE View Post
Installing a SBC in an old flathead, does not involve cutting the firewall. Installing a newer Ford engine, calls for the firewall to be cut and altered. I would never do either.
MIKE
I will never do it again , but I did put a 1965 289 in a 34 in1966 and did not have to cut the firewall. Ran an early 50's 3 speed .
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Old 04-18-2011, 08:36 PM   #18
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Default Re: Ford Flathead vs small block chevy debate!

I don't know where this myth of having to cut the firewall to put a sbf into an old Ford came from! In '64 I bought a '40 Ford and put a sbc in it. Drove it till '67 when the 289's were kicking butt! Had to have one of them 289's! Trouble was back then you couldn't get anything for Fords. I got a 289, souped it up and put it into the '40 WITHOUT cutting anything! Made my own oil pan, headers and many other things! That was HOT RODDING! That car ran so good with that little Ford motor that I have had nothing but Fords ever since. Even put open drive in and used the old Ford suspension. Worked great!
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Old 04-18-2011, 08:39 PM   #19
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Default Re: Ford Flathead vs small block chevy debate!

Forgot to say that I now have a "48 F-1 with a hopped up '50 Merc fh.
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Old 04-18-2011, 11:56 PM   #20
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Default Re: Ford Flathead vs small block chevy debate!

And neither do you have to cut the X-member or split the wishbone to put a SBC with an auto trans in a 46 Ford either
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