Poll: Would you ever swap a ford engine into a chevy?

[The Outsider]

We've all seen the ubiquitous SBC swapped into any number of Ford bodies. And we've seen controversial LS-into-Ford swaps.

But what about swapping a Ford engine into a Chevy? Back in the '60s, Ed Roth infamously swapped a 406 Ford wedge into a '55 Chevy. And sometimes the occassional "Powered by Ford" Camaro shows up at the strip. And I read somewhere that Billy Glidden's GTO had a wild Blue Oval plant under the hood.

So what say you? Would you ever transplant a Ford "heart" into the "Heartbreak of America"?

[groucho]

It'd have to be an old school Ford V-8 and be one bad SOB...but, yes, I'd do it. I'd put a 427 2x4 in my Vette to really screw with the "Vette guys". Hell, they already hate me

[milner351]

My Dad's first car was a 32 chevy roadster with a rumble seat - someday I'd love to have one - and I'd have to swap in a Cleveland or something, anything but an SBC or LS.

[oletrux4evr]

My Dad's first car was a 32 chevy roadster with a rumble seat - someday I'd love to have one - and I'd have to swap in a Cleveland or something, anything but an SBC or LS.


BBC......:ha:

[Bob Holmes]

The only thing I'd think of cross breeding with is a vintage mill.

[dieselgeek]

Speedy decided there wasn't enough trash talk on BS.com today!


I can see swapping a Clevr-or ford into just about anything, because those tend to be the best street engines for the displacement. We had one in the mustang at Spectre, that engine killed all the 383 chevies in camaros there. Crazy midrange torque and powerband, plus look how well they've done at EMC. The power you can get for cheap out of one of these seems a good reason to swap it into anything...

[The Outsider]

Speedy decided there wasn't enough trash talk on BS.com today!

Now TC can't be far behind . . . .



I see swapping a Clevr-or ford into just about anything, because those tend to be the best street engines for the displacement. We had one in the mustang at Spectre, that engine killed all the 383 chevies in camaros there. Crazy midrange torque and powerband, plus look how well they've done at EMC. The power you can get for cheap out of one of these seems a good reason to swap it into anything...

Now that ought to get the party started.

[boxer3main]

I would if it was rare enough.
sohc, or a cleveland.

shelby hacked into an english roadster. I am about that stupid.

I found a sunbird, 1976..its like a vega. putting gm all together is not hard to do.. I have wondered what the little chassis would do with anything. bop mounts have to moved around anyway.

[Scott Liggett]

I want to swap a stroked Cleveland and a top loader into a 69 Camaro. Anyone know where Chad keeps his? Muhuhuhahaha!

[BluLightning]

I'm more of a purist. Keep a Chevy powered by Chevy and Ford powered by Ford. There are always exceptions though.............

[The Outsider]

I'm more of a purist. Keep a Chevy powered by Chevy and Ford powered by Ford. There are always exceptions though.............

Aw come on, Blu! You don't think that a tricked-out 427 SOHC, Boss 429, or a 5.8 GT500 with a honkin' polished Roots would look bitchin in Goodguy Jr. Meadors' new . . . yawn . . . zzzzzzzzz . . . '69 Camaro?

Or maybe a hopped Lightning grinder towering out of the hood of DF's body-wrapped '67 Impala drop-top?

Or some twin-turbo Coyote goodness rocketing Buford T. Justice to its next rendezvous with frag city?

[The Outsider]

I would if it was rare enough.
sohc, or a cleveland.

shelby hacked into an english roadster. I am about that stupid.

Probably still too soon criticize Ol' Shel. But he did miss a big one when he didn't figure out that kit car Cobras were a great way to beat USDOT and the EPA.


I found a sunbird, 1976..its like a vega. putting gm all together is not hard to do.. I have wondered what the little chassis would do with anything. bop mounts have to moved around anyway.
Those things used to be the stuff of Joel Rosen's Motion and Don Hardy. Whatever happened?

My guess is about 550 to 600 h.p. is when you'll want to rely upon more than a 36-year-old unibody and step it up to Da Grump's "ship-in-a-bottle" tube-style chassis. But then Cars Illustrated ran a story back when on a Motion-Built tunnel rammed BBC Vega that used little more than a six-point cage and a set of motor mounts! So maybe the limit is higher than most speculate. Of course those pesky SFI safety rules and lack of traction will put a stop to the stock-unibody fun quicker than structural failure.

A hot Clevor in an old RWD Sunbird would really drive some folks around the bend.

[Schtauffer]

I would not go out of my way to do it, but if I had a Ford engine without a home and a Chevy that needed an engine the two would probably meet.

[BluLightning]

Aw come on, Blu! You don't think that a tricked-out 427 SOHC, Boss 429, or a 5.8 GT500 with a honkin' polished Roots would look bitchin in Goodguy Jr. Meadors' new . . . yawn . . . zzzzzzzzz . . . '69 Camaro?

Or maybe a hopped Lightning grinder towering out of the hood of DF's body-wrapped '67 Impala drop-top?

Or some twin-turbo Coyote goodness rocketing Buford T. Justice to its next rendezvous with frag city?Actually I was thinking the other direction. I always thought my old wagon would be badass with old hemi in it! I will say though, no SBC has any business in t-bucket or Model A.

[oldsman71]

if the engine was a good enough! I love all engines the same!!! im a poor peice of crap, I run what I get.
I dont mess up "good cars" with cross breeding but beeters, race cars, and demo cars are free game :)

[68scott385]

I tend to be more pure in the engine/body mating but ANYTHING is game in a street rod.
SBC in a street rod is SOOOOO overdone that it makes a Chevy guy sick.

[Monk]

I've seen some cool street rod set ups.......Chevy's with Ford mills and they looked cool.....and were done right.

I tend to lean towards engines staying with their pedigrees in later models.

[bulletproof]

dont they make a kit to put a sbf in a fiero?

[HoosierL98GTA]

It's not that I don't think ford makes a good engine, I just don't want one . They made and make plenty of perfectly good bodys that even a chevy nut would put a chevy motor in . Me being one of them. Right now I have a buddy with a clean Fairmount Futura that I have been tempted to buy for $500. If I just didn't have such a hankering to do my forth V8 S10.

[Deaf Bob]

Before I figured out I could make the SBC sing relatively easily, I measured SBF for swapping into LUV's and Datsuns, they measure out better.. But all the parts for ANYTHING swapped into.. The winner is the SBC... Can get front sump SBC's.. Fords can be converted if needed.. But not quite so easily..

We run SBC's in our derby cars because we have a stockpile of parts that grew rather fast... Fords just did not accumulate and do not seem to take the heat..
I have heard of 292's and FE Fords glowing red and refusing to shut off, dieseling away untill they cooled down.. I think that is a myth..
Got a 390 with a cam, alum. After market intake and adjustable rockers in a 51 IH.. Smoke fest right there..
But my heart is with the HEARTBEAT... 6 of 10 running cars/trucks powered by SBC, one by BBC, BBB, one V-6 chevy and one V-6 Buick.. Oh yeah. Shhh one V-6 tojo..

If I had a good ford that would fit easily, like into. a Fiero.. Sure...if the chevy won't fit..

[Lon_H]

I'm guilty. I put a Chevy in a 53 Ford truck. But it also had a Dodge front suspension.

Why a SBC? It was what I had. I bought the motor before I bought the truck. If I could do it again I'd use a 302 with a top loader 4 speed.

During mock up, as I was pulling the motor out, the chain broke, dropping the back of the motor. The tail shaft of my trans hit the floor and broke the trans at the bell housing. I think Henry Ford's spirit was with me that night and paid me back for putting a Chevy motor in his truck.

[boxer3main]

Probably still too soon criticize Ol' Shel. But he did miss a big one when he didn't figure out that kit car Cobras were a great way to beat USDOT and the EPA.


Those things used to be the stuff of Joel Rosen's Motion and Don Hardy. Whatever happened?

My guess is about 550 to 600 h.p. is when you'll want to rely upon more than a 36-year-old unibody and step it up to Da Grump's "ship-in-a-bottle" tube-style chassis. But then Cars Illustrated ran a story back when on a Motion-Built tunnel rammed BBC Vega that used little more than a six-point cage and a set of motor mounts! So maybe the limit is higher than most speculate. Of course those pesky SFI safety rules and lack of traction will put a stop to the stock-unibody fun quicker than structural failure.

A hot Clevor in an old RWD Sunbird would really drive some folks around the bend.

Not sure of your age, but you do have some opinons.

the sunbird came with a 305 chevy as an option. the 4 speed tranny is the same one screaming to each and every slam popping wheelie in chevelles.

growing up with reality..the stories are sad for the die hard fans.

after a 302 (chevy) breaks a camaro, it was snug as a bug in an an unmolested vega.

I could tell you about an 87 subaru chassis being stronger and lighter than both the vega and sunbird..why bother. (I would put a ford in that too, whatever a good deal is)
:wink:

I do not believe in superleggera, (but ended up with one with welding chores of necessity)...and neither does the vega or sunbird for that matter. they are real enough to take cast heavy v8s of its generations. if they came v6? no mods at all needed. swap some mounts.

[Deaf Bob]

Not sure of your age, but you do have some opinons.

the sunbird came with a 305 chevy as an option. the 4 speed tranny is the same one screaming to each and every slam popping wheelie in chevelles.

growing up with reality..the stories are sad for the die hard fans.

after a 302 (chevy) breaks a camaro, it was snug as a bug in an an unmolested vega.

I could tell you about an 87 subaru chassis being stronger and lighter than both the vega and sunbird..why bother. (I would put a ford in that too, whatever a good deal is)
:wink:

I do not believe in superleggera, (but ended up with one with welding chores of necessity)...and neither does the vega or sunbird for that matter. they are real enough to take cast heavy v8s of its generations. if they came v6? no mods at all needed. swap some mounts.

Just think... 355 or 406 SBC with aluminum heads and intake, go as far as adding aluminum water pump.. Think how awesome they would be without the weight up front!
Had a Monza 4 speed 4 banger "Iron Duke" .. That car was fun/fastish.. Had better suspension too.. Same 4 speed that is put in full sized cars Good cars. Just under powered by smog laws of the time... Remove that stuff, gain some noticeable power..

[Bob Holmes]

Actually I was thinking the other direction. I always thought my old wagon would be badass with old hemi in it! I will say though, no SBC has any business in t-bucket or Model A.

I like you, I like you a lot. LOL

[Huskinhano]

If it's a worthwhile swap not just for the sake of doing it. I've seen a 289 in a 67 Camaro running 13's. Apparently the 5.0 is a great swap into a S10 http://www.s10forum.com/forum/f10/mustang-5-0-into-a-s10-410159/

[Turbo Regal]

With time being so valuable, why would you want to spend it figuring out how to Ford into a GM chassis or vice versa when it won't make you go any faster?

[Gary 351C]

I don't like bastards. The only exceptions are oddball cars like Willy's or Henry J's that never had a decent engine to begin with. 60 years ago there weren't alot of options to get to the next stoplight before the other guy so you had to find the best engine you could regardless of make. Now there are no excuses since there are so many aftermarket parts available for any V8.

[catchmeblue70]

NEVER! I'd put a SBC in my Mustang, but a day will not come when Ford goes into any Chevy I own. Now, a Cummins...yes...

[The Outsider]

NEVER! I'd put a SBC in my Mustang, but a day will not come when Ford goes into any Chevy I own. Now, a Cummins...yes...

Why the inconsistency?

Hypothetical: Let's say that you win in a contest a state-of-the-art Jon Kaase-built, CHI-head "Clevor" Ford with all the good stuff -- a bulletproof, high-powered street/strip engine. And you have an old Chevy with a worn-out, smoking 267-cube smogger SBC (Yes, Virginia, there's something even worse than a 305). You still wouldn't be tempted to swap the Ford engine into the Chevy?

[ratty]

i'm not militantly brand loyal... i thought that was always pretty ridiculous and childish when people hate on another brand for no other reason than it's 'the other brand'... if you're a real gearhead, you'll love any good piece of machinery, any good engine, any car if you like its looks... i'd love to get my hands on a Ford 427 SOHC and put it in my 66 Biscayne, that would be worth it just to see the look on people's faces when i pop the hood... and that is one sweet engine... always thought about putting a Gen II 426 Hemi in it too, but a 427 SOHC would be a lot more original, though i would suspect finding one would be a bitch,,, or how 'bout an Olds 4-valve W-43? ok now i'm going off into fantasy land... hah

[Ron Ward]

I have always had a hankering to drop a 2.3L from an early Pinto into a Vega with a later model 5-speed transmission...



Ron

[skullbucket]

I wouldn't put a free Ferd engine in the bed of a pickup truck and turn it in for scrape.

[TheSilverBuick]

I wouldn't own a Chevy car, and the truck is utilitarian. I can't see putting a Ford in anything but a Ford, I'd want something else pretty much every time. I'd take a Nailhead before a Flat Head on the real old stuff, and keeping make with make on majority after that.

I can't see swapping in any late model Ford mill into anything but maybe a late model Ford, and I like overly complex systems on expensive to build engines, I got two of 'em.

[SpiderGearsMan]

too hard to find a BOSS 429

[Beagle]

too hard to find a BOSS 429


especially with the current trade rates - they want the kids on top of the arm and leg. Plus - that mother is BIG -
http://www.jonkaaseracingengines.com/component/content/article/217-jon-kaase-custom-built-boss-nine-and-p-51-engines.html

http://www.jonkaaseracingengines.com/images/stories/blownb.jpg

[HoosierL98GTA]

i'm not militantly brand loyal... i thought that was always pretty ridiculous and childish when people hate on another brand for no other reason than it's 'the other brand'... if you're a real gearhead, you'll love any good piece of machinery, any good engine, any car if you like its looks... i'd love to get my hands on a Ford 427 SOHC and put it in my 66 Biscayne, that would be worth it just to see the look on people's faces when i pop the hood... and that is one sweet engine... always thought about putting a Gen II 426 Hemi in it too, but a 427 SOHC would be a lot more original, though i would suspect finding one would be a bitch,,, or how 'bout an Olds 4-valve W-43? ok now i'm going off into fantasy land... hah I'd sell it to someone that could really appreciate it then build a chevy.

[tardis454]

This 57 Chevy looks great with a 392 Hemi in it...

http://www.hotrod.com/featuredvehicles/113_0704_1957_chevrolet_bel_air/viewall.html

I'd put an old school 5.0L Ford motor in anything, they are badass motors. (and I'm a Chevy guy) :ha:

An AMC motor in a Chrysler would be cool too. :)

[Loren]

Ford V8s don't go into Chevy chassis because Ford put the oil pump/sump the same place where Chevy put a crossmember and steering link. Basic. Any swap that would clear is going to have lots of fabrication, or a compromised engine position such as with the S-10 linked to above. Exceptions would include an early Chevy II, or '63-up Corvette where the stock position is so far behind the axle c/l that there'd be no interference. In fact I recall a mag article years ago w/ a SBF in a sixties Vette...white with weird blue striping, I think.

[QUOTE=Speedzzter.blogspot;662916]Cars Illustrated ran a story back when on a Motion-Built tunnel rammed BBC Vega that used little more than a six-point cage and a set of motor mounts! So maybe the limit is higher than most speculate. QUOTE]

Having personally torn up Vega chassis pretty badly with just an aluminum F-85 motor, I'd lay money down that the Motion BBC Vega barely outlasted it's testing. My "frame" spotwelds pulled apart, lower a-arm mounts tore, and the whole a-arm support structures twisted inward on each side. This w/ perhaps 200 hp and only a tad more weight than stock. (Perhaps the usage was a bit vigorous.) I believe the Motion BB scheme also involved notching the flimsy little bolt-in crossmember, which was really one of that chassis only hopes, (the notches being for header clearance) until there was barely enough metal left to bridge the gap.

The H-body got a little tougher w/ the Monza (and Sunbird etc) in '75 and up w/ additional bracing.

That being said, I'd put a Ford motor into a Chevy if it made sense.

[Thumpin455]

Might not stick a Ford in one, but I will sure as hell stuff Pontiac engines in chevys. Had a 400 in my 76 C10 for a few years, that little 400 would pull the 454 it has now all over the yard. I kinda want to get a Vette and stuff my 467 in it. If there was room for a Cleveland in something GM, and I didnt want to put a Pontiac in it or I was limited by cubes, then it would get a 351C 4V.

[1965COMET]

HELL YES!!! Would love to put an old greasy 292 Y-Block in a tri-five chevy just so i could here them all cry there eyes out!!!!My next favorite would be a Falcon,200 straight six and 3 speed in a 69 camaro,would be worth the price just to hear them all bitch!!!!! ROY.

[HoosierL98GTA]

This 57 Chevy looks great with a 392 Hemi in it...

http://www.hotrod.com/featuredvehicles/113_0704_1957_chevrolet_bel_air/viewall.html

I'd put an old school 5.0L Ford motor in anything, they are badass motors. (and I'm a Chevy guy) :ha:

An AMC motor in a Chrysler would be cool too. :). Sounds like the old Chevy didn't't swallow it very well. Should went with the 409.

[Loren]

HELL YES!!! Would love to put an old greasy 292 Y-Block in a tri-five chevy just so i could here them all cry there eyes out!!!!My next favorite would be a Falcon,200 straight six and 3 speed in a 69 camaro,would be worth the price just to hear them all bitch!!!!! ROY.

You wanna hear bitching, just put anthing other than a Chrysler motor in a 60s-70s Mopar. Or, just pull into a Chrysler show using a Chevy pickup. :)

[mopower58]

That is one reason I drive Mopars....we have plenty of Mopar engines to go around and the packaging is so much better looking!!!...lol...just sayin!

http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa53/mopower58/hemi2-1.jpg

[BKBridges]

It depends...
I put a ford straight six in my 52 Willys pickup truck when the stock 4 banger stopped working. It was a give-away motor, and it worked great except for the lack of passenger floor boards ( and firewall) when we "got er done" to allow the falcon header to "fit". Made a great cab heater for cold Santa Cruz nights. Never liked the integral intake manifold though. That was a long time ago...
BKB

[skullbucket]

I think anyone who cross breeds a chevy in a ford or reverse is just an attention seeker good or bad and probably does other stuff to get attention also. I don't like those kinds of people.

[Deaf Bob]

I think anyone who cross breeds a chevy in a ford or reverse is just an attention seeker good or bad and probably does other stuff to get attention also. I don't like those kinds of people.

No.. I disagree.. We have a good derby motor..Chevy.. 64 down Fords make good derby cars.. Allows extreme setback over Ford engines.. With Ford motors, you end up replacing the water pump, harm balncer and dizzy too often from hitting with the front of the motor...

[The Outsider]

Good discussions . . . thanks to everyone who voted!

[skullbucket]

No.. I disagree..
No....... I disagree.

[jjames1967]

http://jeffs1952chevytruck.webs.com/apps/photos/album?albumid=13428353

[SpiderGearsMan]

Roth got the ford lump for free '
I work on several fords with sbc ..frank sr shoebox 1950 - frank jr 50 merc - richie's 50 merc - tony pisano's 32 ford -tony pisano's 47 ford with bbc eddie's 39 ford -46 ford
there was one guy around here with a 51 chevy with a lo po 351 ford
yeah 1

[SpiderGearsMan]

It'd have to be an old school Ford V-8 and be one bad SOB...but, yes, I'd do it. I'd put a 427 2x4 in my Vette to really screw with the "Vette guys". Hell, they already hate me

huge power cut

[Whelk]

I don't "get" brand loyalty. I'd swap an engine into a car regardless of makes or models.

[Turbo Regal]

Only if Mad Max and I were trying to get across the desert during the apocalypse.

[egoman]

Not only would I do it, I have done it. A 429 4v in a 73 chev pickup. It was the only way that chev was ever going to be any good. With the Saginaw steering pump and a quick mod to the gm alternator it was a easy swap. Never had a speedo, just used the tach and other traffic to guage my speed.

[yellomalibu]

If I had a 302 or something ready to go, and a light weight small Chevy car (Chevette or something) ... yeah, I'd do it.
A. It's about a hundred pounds lighter.
B. Dare to be different... listen to people's responses when they see it.

[silver_bullet]

Blown BOSS NINE in a corvair(Mid engine of course)

[Bamfster]

Nope!....Never! .... Ford SUX!!!

[SpiderGearsMan]

there he goes again bump