Thread: What's the best street rod engine?

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I know there are alot of them out there, but I'm looking for your opion on what is the best STOCK street rod engine be it chevy, ford, chrysler, etc. Mine would be the reliable 327. You could get a nice running 300 HP or up to I think 365 with great torque as these engine would really rev. My second choice would be the ford 302.

for oooohs and aaaahs yu got to have the HEMI

In my opinion, there is no "best" because the engine is
part of the theme.....most builders have no theme but the
really good cars are built with a consistency in mind....the
engine, paint, wheels/tires, plating, upholstery, etc work
together to make the statement that was intended.

Too many cars have mixed themes which make them look
awkward. An early 50's style roadster would look kinda
strange with a blown LS motor while a late model
Camaro would seem strange with a flathead....

We all recognize the billet mirror on a period rod but the
other stuff is equally important....gotta have a theme
a you gotta stick to it. Like mixing chrome and polished
aluminum, mixed themes are hard to pull off.

mike in tucson

Very well said Mike. To that I might also add extra points for same brand (or at least same corporation) swaps in in non-chevy streeet rods.

Mike, IMO, came about as close as possible with his response. If I were to build an early Ford personally I would use a SB Ford. Of course with that said, there are thousands with that optional engine, a SB Chebbie which is also a great choice. But that doesn't make either of them "right" for the next guy. A MoPar hemi was also mentioned, but there are challenges to installing that engine that many could not handle. Since I'm about done with my current car, I'm "considering" something different and out of the ordinary for the next (hope the wife wont read this)

IC2 HE! HE! HE! Ithought I was the only one that felt like that about the wife!!!
Kurt

Originally Posted by vara4

IC2 HE! HE! HE! Ithought I was the only one that felt like that about the wife!!!
Kurt

Something like that shout I heard yesterday "YOU JUST GOT SOME MORE CAR PARTS" when the UPS guy dropped off a Summit box.

As much as we car nuts rag on the other guys because they like Ford, or Chevy, or Mopar, etc, etc, the fact is every American car manufacturer has turned out some really fantastic products over the years. To say one is better than another is pretty tough. Even companies like American Motors, which is out of the mainstream compared to Ford and Chevy, has built some very impressive engines and cars.

Another factor in a hot rod engine is "prettiness." Some engines are just prettier and have less components hanging off of them than others. One example would be the 430-455 Buick motors, very good engines but not very pretty in a hoodless car. Things like oil pumps hanging off that make them not only difficult to fit into an early chassis, but also that make them kind of spread out cosmetically. That is a subjective observation, but I think everyone will agree that the Chevy sb and Ford sb are "tighter" in their appearance and doll up better.

But just when you make a statement like that someone builds a car with one of the less attractive engines and blows everyone away.

Don

Well I like my SB Chevy (early '80's 350 with triple carbs) for the simple reason that was in the car when purchased with a Quadjet on it. I am rebuilding the car to a '60's looking bucket and ideally would of loved a Buick Nailhead with multi carbs. but they are very rare down here and probably very costly to rebuild too. I must be getting older and wiser because I have a burning desire to own an old style flat head.gearbox back to an old banjo diff in an old style Model A roadster ,but NOT a rat rod look.

I like some of the V8 quad cam engines that have been developed in the last 15 or so years. Most of them look pretty cool if you can junk the plastic covers that hide them.

Thers the Caddy Northstar, the Ford 5.4 engine (ex Australia) the Old Aurora? and then theres the Japanese engines and theres a bunch out of Europe too including offerings from Jaguar, BMW, Mercedes, and Audi.

I probably wouldnt have them in a traditional looking hot rod, but think they would be fine in a street rod.

SB Chevy 350

A question like that is like asking me which of my children that I love the most?

It's hard for me to justify the words best, always or never in Rodding and I also believe that the type of car helps dictate the motor!

My plans are for 33 roadster, quick change rear with a 392 hemi and a ford flathead that I switch back and forth every so often----only one parking spot, one paint and upholstery.

I built my wife a 34 3 window with an 96 LT1 and 4l60 and 9 inch ford----good performance on whatever you put in the tank and milage in the mid 20s!!!!

Oh and I forgot---cabrilet for younger son with 4.6 quad cam Lincoln Mk 8 and 5 speed--something he can drive to high school( well now he's married, 27 years old, etc,etc,etc!!!!

And if you want wow-----look at the 32 5w I built for a customer in my gallery