which small-block engine has more potential ford or Chevy?

Question

which one can you do the most with

Answer 1

Chevys are cheaper but you can always get more HP from a Ford.Go with the ford!!!!!

Answer 2

It depends on what you're intended use is for it, and which small blocks from Ford and Chevy you're asking about. The most commonly hot-rodded engine from Chevy is the 350. It does have good potential, but it has some drawbacks, also (weak oiling on number 8 cam lobe, less than ideal valve lay-out, etc.) As most people answered, parts are always cheapest and most available for the Chevy small block family. This engine will fairly easily build one horsepower per cubic inch, and with even hotter cam, intake and heads can easily approach 400 horsepower. Without major work, better limit RPM to about 5500 on this engine.

The most commonly hot-rodded smalll block Ford is the 289/302. It has tremendous potential for its displacement. It has one of the better oiling systems of all the engines produced of this general time and type. It also has a very oversquare configuration, meaning the piston diameter measures considerably greater than does the length of the stroke (piston travel.) Also, the stroke is just inherently very short. This makes for a very high revving engine, bone stock. This engine will also easily make one horsepower per cubic inch, or more. With aftermarket heads, and some valvetrain work, this engine is a screamer! I had a '67 302, with a stock bottom end, and a Ford Motorsports cam, with stiffer single valve springs, and I routinely ran this engine up to 6,500 RPM. A few times to 7,000. The valves floated at 7,500 RPM and it wouldn't rev higher. I drove this car like this for several years, and never blew it up.

The best size comparison is the Chevy 350 versus the Ford 351W (W meaning Winsor engine family.) The 289 and 302 are also Windsors. The Boss 302 is a Windsor engine with 351 Cleveland heads and special intake. The 351W does not share the short stroke, and oversquare design of the 289/302 engines. For the most part, it is essentially a bigger version of these two. It is 1" wider, and longer. It also has bigger main bearing journals, which makes for much faster bearing speed, which equals less durability compared to the 289/302...especially when run hard. It will accept the same aftermarket performance heads as its smaller bothers. Overall, the Chevy 350 and the Ford 351W share similar performance potential, but there are vastly more parts for the Chevy, and they are cheaper and far more readily available.

Unless you have a specific reason for the Ford 289/302 (like in a street rod--it is much narrower than the Chevy,) or you love the sound of the Ford (I do,) then the Chevy really makes much more sense. I hope this helps.

Answer 3

If you mean old engines, you can get way more parts (headers, intakes, heads, etc) for Chevy for less and it's always been that way. But you can still do very similar things to a Ford, just it's not as common so a little more expensive and little more difficult to get help if you need it.


If you mean new engines, the Chevy all the way. Even though the clean-hands press likes to rag on the Chevy because it has pushrods, every "modular" engined Ford I've driven lately (in trucks) was gutless.

I was all excited when I got behind the wheel of a 3-valve V10 but it wasn't too exciting for long. The 5.4 in the Excursion feels really weak. Of course these are heavy vehicles, but the 5.3 liter Chevy has balls and likes to rev. Seems to me that the pushrod chevy revs higher than the overhead-cam Ford, which kind of negates the complexity and expense of OHC.

I guess the fact that a 400HP pushrod base-model Corvette (breathing nothing more than atmospheric pressure) will spank the hell out of a 500HP Mustang, that is DOUBLE overhead cam (32 valve), SUPERCHARGED and INTERCOOLED tells you what you need to know about the newer engines.

Answer 4

For the Average buget the Chevy. Chevy is cheaper than any car to make fast. But if you have enough money and want to be different I would play with the Ford.

Why? Like a Mustang for example is lots of fun to Hot rod, lighter, shorter, good handling and good HP to weight ratio. Much more competative against Japanese cars.

Chevy? Unless you get an old Camaro or Corvette what else is there?? The Camero is a gas hog, heavy, not as good handling. And if your a guy hard to make out in. The Mustang has relining seats lol! And if you want that body style I would get a Trans Am lots more goodys, gauges, body styling etc.

Corvette? Well, its in a class by itself.

Best advice? Buy a car already fixed up! Why? Because someone else spent all there credit cards doing the work and they will never get that money back. They lose thousands of dallors and hours and hours of time trying to get this and that. And when you drive it, you like it or not. When you buy this and buy that, there is too much trial and error. If you like that then do that.

Me, if I could afford it I would buy the GT-500 Shelby Mustang New one. And forget about it. No worrys except where to park it lol!

Answer 5

The Ford has more potential , the chevy cost a lot less . The boss 302 was an awesome engine the 351 C. has a lot of potential. With the parts to make a 351W into a 427cid with after market heads is great.

Answer 6

You want to stay away from ford V-8s. They have a lot of problems as they get older. the Hemi is awsome and if you are looking to put an engine in a dodge or plymoth you HAVE to go with the Hemi. But for any other application Chevy engines simply cant be beat. Best small block and big blocks ever. hands down.

Answer 7

Chevy

Answer 8

there's a lot more stuff being sold for the chevy small block that for the ford. the ford does fit better in narrow spaces since its a 60 degree block but other that that the chevy is the best choice.

Answer 9

They have nearly equal potential. It really depends on what heads you are using though for breathing. Chevy parts are consistantly cheaper though, so rebuilding one for power will be cheaper.

Answer 10

You mean the LS1 and the 4.6 i'm assuming....you may as well bang your head against a wall and just whatever answer comes out wins.
Here is what you get from that question.
http://www.reklessracing.net/forums/showthread.php3?t=2183