I did the trade- flattie for a big block

[maddog]

I traded my flattie for a rebuilt 454, mild cam, lakes, aluminum intake, and tranny. The 454 is in his 29 roadster and he wants to go nostalgic. I get everything from the radiator to the u-joint.

I know some of you have advised me against it, but its done.

That means the whole deal cost me $200.

Thats what I'm talking about!!

That was the last major component needed to start the build on the Topolino.

 

[Gastrick]

Good deal Maddog. I think you made a good trade unless you had a specific use in mind for the flattie. I don't think you would have been happy with approx 90 hp in the Topo

 

[joehalford01]

i agree, flatties are neato and look cool. but the 454 is much more appropriate if you prefer something a little.... besides, you only had 200 bucks in it. not bad.

 

[Tripper]

Good trade!

Dog,
I think it's a great trade. HP rules!!!

BoB

 

[maddog]

Thanks for confirming what I was thinking.
After I shook on the deal I was having buyers remorse and Dons words were ringing in my ears, "If you get rid of that motor you will be kicking yourself in the butt someday."
Then I remembered I dont have a lot of extra money and the big block is the right motor for the Topolino and I know even Don would agree with that.
So I am stoked.
The final major piece for the build.
I am gonna build another stand with wheels and put a radiator on it for the 454.
It amazed my shop neighbors, dazzled my hotrod friends and was just too cool when I would just reach down and fire up the flattie.
I cant wait till its a 454 with open headers.

Any good sites about big blocks any of you know of?
Any advice?

This is only the 2nd BBC I have owned. The other was in a crew cab duelley truck. All it did was drink gas.

 

[joehalford01]

www.67-72chevytrucks.com

it's a truck site, but then again, lots of trucks came with 454's. plenty of info in the engine section.

 

[donsrods]

No, you did good. We all do the same thing, sell stuff off to raise money to do some other project. While it would have been nice to store the flathead, who knows when if ever you would use it for something, and the BBC gets your Topo one step closer.

I'm going to redo and sell off my '27 somewhere down the road because it will free up some of the money I have been dumping into the '23, and also, who needs two roadsters????

Sounds like you came out fine on the deal Maddog, and I do love those BBC. They sure do look impressive and run like stink.

Don

 

[R Pope]

I'm a flattie fan myself, and even I would take that 454 in trade! I have several 255's, has your buddy got any more 454's? Haha.

 

[Tripper]

Be kool!

Any advice?

This is only the 2nd BBC I have owned. The other was in a crew cab duelley truck. All it did was drink gas.

Dog,
Just be kool hoppin' that motor up. They have plenty of power & can pull a high gear easily. Really, all depends on what u will use the car for. I put a *lot* of miles on my cars so I try to be reasonable with final drive ratios.

BoB

 

[maddog]

Dog,
Just be kool hoppin' that motor up. They have plenty of power & can pull a high gear easily. Really, all depends on what u will use the car for. I put a *lot* of miles on my cars so I try to be reasonable with final drive ratios.

BoB

Yeah I know what you mean. Not building a racecar and wont be driving it that way. Need to spend some time on the freeway comfortably. I have a sneaking suspicion that the bbc in this little light car is going to do just fine.

You raise a good point.
How is the final drive ratio established?
Just pick one and live with it?

 

[Tripper]

Oh yeah!!!

Yeah I know what you mean. Not building a racecar and wont be driving it that way. Need to spend some time on the freeway comfortably. I have a sneaking suspicion that the bbc in this little light car is going to do just fine.

You raise a good point.
How is the final drive ratio established?
Just pick one and live with it?

Dog,
I'm sure u will wind up scaring u're self more than once. On my SBC's I use a 700R4 tranny & 3.73:1 rear. Low 1st gear & high 4th. With a BB u could get away with 3.5:1 or higher easily. R u going auto or standard tranny?

BoB

 

[maddog]

Update- this just in-

The kid with the big block came by today with some paperwork, reciepts and stuff.
I got the feeling he would rather have money than my flathead as his family financial situation had changed.
Not being one to take advantage of a bad situation I threw it out that if he would rather, I would give him cash for the BBC and tranny and keep the flattie.
He said that would be nice, but a deal is a deal so it was up to me.
I said OK.
We settled on a cash price of $1500 and he threw in a tunnel ram intake he had at home.

I like this deal better. I realy didnt want to give up the flat head and he realy needed the money.
In the mean time I scored Offenhouser heads and a 2 carb intake from a club member in tade for some wheel skirts I had given him and had intended to give them to the kid that was taking the flathead.

So now I have a cool looking flathead that is missing one carb and a BBC.

I feel rich.

 

[joehalford01]

you are surrounded by good karma.....

 

[donsrods]

Yep, it was meant to be, and you were a stand up guy to think of the other guys problems and not try to take advantage of him. Good show Maddog.


BTW, my Kid was just telling me he saw a really cool '32 Ford roadster at a redlight the other day. Black, fenderless, only a hood top, red wheels, flathead with two carbs, and all the traditional stuff. Maybe someday you will decide to do something oldtimey with the flathead you have.

Don

 

[maddog]

Thanks for the nice words.

The little wheels in my head are already turning.
I picked up another complete front end assembly. Wishbone, axle, spring, shocks, hubs, brakes, wheels and tires. It is from the same car the flathead came from. I will be getting the enclosed drive shaft, rearend, steering box and pedal assembly as well. The guy is just about throwing the stuff away.
A friend looked at the front end and it has the later brakes on it.
I think a nostalgic little hotrod would be cool.

The property manager where my shop is called yesterday and told me that they have another shop and its available at the end of the month. I have been 1st on the list to get one for 8 months now.
I am gonna deticate it to cars. Its already starting to look like your place Don. Cool car stuff everywhere.

I think I'll get a shop cat.

 

[gassersgarage]

Check out www.speedomotive.com

There's a rundown on their crate engines with some dyno sheets, heads and cam specs. You can get an idea of torque and horsepower ratings. I got one of their 500 hp 454s. Great motor but it was 10-1 compression. Had to use octane booster. If I had kept the car, I woulda gone with aluminum heads.

 

[donsrods]

Thanks for the nice words.

T
I think I'll get a shop cat.

If you do, get one that doesn't just sit around and criticize your work.


Don

 

[Rat33pickmup]

those are some BIG PHAT Kitties, they look bigger than my JRT.

Jim