Whats under your hood?

[JesseSimon]

I am just starting out on a 65/66 Short Stepper project. I have this uncontrollable urge to put an odd motor in it. Not talking Ford in a Chevy odd but maybe Caddy, Buick, Olds etc.....

When I get asked what motor is in the truck I just wanna be able to say somethin other than 350. I just like being a little weird I guess, but lets hear it....whats under your hood?

And if anyone has a favorite non-SBC motor tell me about it....

[65Gregg]

I vote for 500 CI Caddy.

[JesseSimon]

My buddy suggested that, I really like the idea. Haven't been able to find one. My issue is I really would like to start with a running motor and a running 500 Caddy doesnt seem to come cheap...but how awesome would that be? Especially in a shortie

[steverino66]

I went with Chevy 454 in mine, but I've seen quite a few 472 Caddies with TH400, rear wheel drive, on craigslist, (ugly) entire cars with good drivelines for less than a couple grand.
I've wondered how the front-wheel drive setup would complicate issues on the Eldorados?

[JesseSimon]

I have a friend trying to sell his father's old car. Its a '77 Buick Electra. Bout 120K original miles on it, Buick 350 motor and a good OD trans. Runs excellent. I can get it for a grand. I am thinking of this option too but The car is more or less perfect so I'd feel bad pulling its guts out.....

[S-31]

Originally Posted by JesseSimon

I have a friend trying to sell his father's old car. Its a '77 Buick Electra. Bout 120K original miles on it, Buick 350 motor and a good OD trans. Runs excellent. I can get it for a grand. I am thinking of this option too but The car is more or less perfect so I'd feel bad pulling its guts out.....

I just pulled a Buick 350 and 400 trans from my 62 this week to replace it with a small block chevy engine. I wouldn't recommend the Buick because there is very little aftermarket support as far as performance parts like intakes and headers, and whats out there is very expensive in comparison to the SBC.

[66redw/white]

i love my little straight six 250. but i think if i was goin for an odd motor id go with a cummins.

[markeb01]

If I were just starting out and had the budget, my first choice would be a Tri-Power 389 Pontiac. Second choice would be a 401 Buick loaded with finned aluminum. The cool factor would be tops with either engine. In reality I built mine 20 years ago with a jelly bean 350, and a shortage of expendable income will keep it there.

[vin63]

Originally Posted by markeb01

If I were just starting out and had the budget, my first choice would be a Tri-Power 389 Pontiac. Second choice would be a 401 Buick loaded with finned aluminum. The cool factor would be tops with either engine. In reality I built mine 20 years ago with a jelly bean 350, and a shortage of expendable income will keep it there.

markeb01 and I are balancing the GM truck scales. I couldn't find a 1963 GMC to build, so I ended up with a '63 Chevy C-10, but, being a lifelong GMC/Pontiac person, I built a Pontiac for mine. 400 block, 455 crank and 462 ci.

Mock up:


Motorplate template:

[jocko]

it's not odd, but my pretty much favorite motor in ANYthing is an old 283 dual quad vette motor

[JesseSimon]

Keep em comin! Maybe I will get lucky and barn find one of these dudes! Lord knows there are plenty of barns around here

[LSXTravis]

I've got a great idea for you....the 3.8 twin turbo that they put in the buick grand nationals in the mid 80s...how about that odd motor for a C10 short stepside pickup? Or what I am going to do with the pickup I am going to start building soon is a 4.8 or 5.3L the new chevy LS series of motors...they are now plentiful and cheap in most bone yards. The 3.8L twin turbo GNX motor...probably hard to find and very expensive but very cool to have in a truck like yours.

[Turkey]

straight six. you can trick 'em out. simple and easy to maintain and get parts for especially if your on a budget..

[66redw/white]

a straight 8 would be pretty cool!

[JesseSimon]

Straight 8? That exists?

[pdxhall]

Originally Posted by 66redw/white

a straight 8 would be pretty cool!

Maybe like this one?

[JesseSimon]

I looked up that straight 8, it LOOKS AWESOME!

IS that 3.8 a fuel injected motor?

[LSXTravis]

Not for certain so please don't quote me on this but I think they started the fuel injection with the twin turbos on the Buick grand nationals and GNX in 1986. I have a friend with a 1986 buick t type and I will email him to find out. He is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to the grand national GNX buicks from the mid to late 80s. But 400hp with a twin turbo 3.8L V6 motor....wow you would wow them at the car shows and burn em at the strip on friday and saturday night.

[Rich 5150 69]

Not under mine but here`s 401 buick nailhead

[jonzcustomshop]

I have a 64 gmc with a 472 caddy, they had to notch the firewall and frame to get it to fit....
I put a pontiac 455/th350 in my wifes 63... pretty much a bolt in.

[66redw/white]

nail heads are so cool lookin!

[shrunken66stroker]

I've never seen a 426 Hemi in one.

[66redw/white]

oooohhh that reminds me. they make a hemi head for the ls engines nowadays! probably dont really flow that better than the normal ones but... wait this was a budget build. they are crazy expensive heads. still cool though


and one of the straight 8

[Rich 5150 69]

Or if your lucky to fnd a 426 wedge...

[Rich 5150 69]

413 cross ram dodge...