I'm not real sure what a "Blog" is but think its a way to express opinions. If thats right, then here is my opinion (one of many) about hotrods, custom cars, muscle cars, etc.  As some of you know, I write for a "car magazine", in that capacity I attend MANY car/truck/bike shows in the Texas/Oklahoma area. I've seen & taken pictures of many, many vehicles & submitted hundreds of articles (most of which have been published).  I love to see unique and creative thinking in the construction of vehicles, so I have a "bone to pick" with those who follow the cookie-cutter-crowd and just stick a Chebby 350/350 in everything they are working on!

 

Common, guys & gals...custom cars, hotrods & muscle cars should be a way to show your own unique creativity. If you have a 33 Chevy Coupe/Roadster/Sedan/or Truck, sure go ahead and install a Chebby engine & tranny (but why not a Stovebolt 6 with two carbs or a new 6-liter FI versions with the new computerized O.D. Automatic or better yet a 6-speed)! I've seen enough 350 dual-center exhaust port engines to last me the rest of my life! Unless they have some VERY unique features, I won't take pictures of them anymore...just TOO COMMON, doesn't show ANY immagination!  For owners of Fords, PLEASE DON'T STUFF a 350 Chebby under that hood...PLEASE!!  Ford now makes VERY FINE crate motors and if you REALLY want to show some creativity use a MODULAR 4.6/5.4/or one of the new Modular 5.0's (have you seen the new version that comes with the Eight-Injectors Tubes that stick up...WOW!!) PUT THAT in your engine BAY and I'll try to get it on the MAGAZINE COVER!!

 

I've even seen (and have pictures of) a 35 CHEBBY SEDAN with a 429 FORD Engine! I love to stand off to the side & watch people walk by, glancing at the engine, I'll then ask them if they know what engine is in there?  That gets them to turn and look again...and again...and they rarely can identify it (after all, this area REALLY IS CHEBBY COUNTRY)! When I tell 'em the Chebby is powered by a 429 Cobra Jet FORD w/C-6 Tranny...they look like they expect the World to start spinning in reverse!! Like the commercial says, "Attending the Car Show - $10,...Watching folks look at the 35 Chebby Sedan - free,...Seeing the look on their faces when they find out it has a FORD ENGINE - PRICELESS!

 

Now I'm NOT saying I want to see all Camaros with 460 Ford Engines (although one would sure be a show-stopper), but as I've said before...lets be a little bit creative when building something and not just blindly go along with what EVERYONE ELSE has already done! I've seen a really fine 34 Ford Sedan that had a stroked 5.8 Fuel Injected Ford Crate Engine, that was rare enough around here, but one that was also done with F.I. was REAL UNCOMMON!

 

I love to see Ford Powerplants in Ford and Chrysler Powerplants in Chrysler products or if folks just have to go with a different make of engine, a 426 Hemi looks good in a 32 Ford Roadster (but so does a 4.6 or 5.4 4V). I've often thought of using a Supercharged Studebaker engine in a Ford Sedan, something I'm not going to see at every show (I'm not against engine swaps, just want some creativity)! This is just my opinion, but maybe it will generate some thought!