Ford Flathead vs small block chevy debate!

Wow, how some people are so ‘touchy’ when mentioning anything other that a Ford flathead. I have a great passion for them, working on them and love the discussions here on the barn. BUT, since I am never a ‘politically correct’ person, dare I mention that besides my 5 ‘Old Fords’ and two ’51 Mercs, I also love my ’49 Cadillac fastback, my ’47. ’49 & ’50 Buick fastbacks with straight 8’s, how about my wife’s ’54 Lincoln, not to mention my ’55 Lincoln ( nope, not flatheads )…… I love them all…I’m a car nut and fortunate to have so many different cars…..my tow car is a Dodge Magnum Hemi, my wife’s daily driver is a Cadillac, my new toy is a Camaro, my truck is a F350 dually, V10 ( hate diesels )……cheeeese, I’ll be banned from the Barn. The reason we give our personal opinions is part of the process of sharing what we love, our ‘Ole Fords’ in a way that is manageable for each individual. Great Post…..Robert
 
Robert Dip-I will help you by taking that Cadillac fastback off your hands and a few of those other non-flatheads as well.
 
'37 P-U......I hope my wife does not see your request.....she's been giving me the evil eye for quite a while.....too many cars, and in the last few years, it's only the flatmotor Fords that has had my attention.....gone full circle and back to what was then.
 
its simple guys. i built an early 50s 32 and used a flathead, great, but a flathead just didnt seem to go with my mag wheeled big slicks and flame 32 60s hot rod. so i used a sbc. gee how old must a sbc be to become the nostalgic thing to do? the flathead was built for nearly 20 years. how long did the 265-350 last? this sbc engine is nostalgic to those cars of the 50s culture. build what you like from the culture you like.
 
In June 1954 Hot Rod Magazine staffers watched my street legal, full fendered flathead powered coupe run 104 MPH at the Orange, MA drags. They said that if the California hot rodders had flatties as fast as mine, they would never have changed over to the OHV Chryslers and Olds V8's.

Almost 60 years later I'm building a 32 highboy roadster to street drive and occasionally race in SCCA hill climbs. I don't ask any favors from the modern race cars with their turbos and ground effects; so the deuce will employ a tunable suspension and a 700 HP SBC -- with a hidden nitrous shot of 250 or so.This will make it competitive with a certain turbocharged Lola Indy car. Can you imagine the uproar when spectators see an 81 yr old hot rod challenge an exotic racer that lapped the brickyard at over 220 MPH?

Flatheads: been there, done that. I love them too, but don't bring a knife to a gun fight.
 
just saw a 67 Camaro with a Flathead... did not look "right"! I think in a traditional Ford belongs a traditional Ford engine...but that's just my opinion and I respect everybody's (ok, nearly everybody's) taste.
 
Talk here is of flathead powered, stock bodied, and stock suspended old Ford vehicles - period. If you discuss/talk about anything non-stock, expect to get flamed! :)
 
Just to fan the fire a little more. These fokes are thinking way outside the box
 

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It's possible to appreciate the engineering without liking the finished product ..

All the common reasons have been stated. My Dad started me turning wrenches when I was eight and said several times
"If the Flathead had more that three mains, Ford would still be making them":D
 
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