Engines to use in your musclecar part 2.

In the last post I made recommendations on the most plentiful engines that offered the most bang for the buck for Chevy,Pontiac,Mopar and Oldsmobile. Today I'll focus on Ford, AMC and Buick.  #1. Small-block Ford. Unless your restoring an early 1963 AC Cobra model ( some had 260s before Shelby started using 289s) I can't think of a single reason to use a 260 V8. If you have a 289 in your 64-68 Mustang then go ahead and use it unless your swapping in something bigger. There's a lot performance parts out there-anything that fits a 302 will usually fit a 289. The 302 was introduced in 1968 and is still in use today-(Ford Racing crate motors). Ford Racing, Edelbrock, Trick Flow and Holley all offer heads, cams, intakes, even fuel-injection hop up parts. There are stroker cranks to make a 302 into a 347. These are a great engine for a light car-a '23 T-bucket, Cobra replica, or a Mustang. Like a small-block Chevy the power potential of these engines is almost unlimited. However in a heavier car like a Torino or Fairlane or Cougar or Montego that you want to drive on the street you'll want something bigger. The 351Windsor was used from 1969 to the present day. There's a myriad of performance parts for these engines. Ford Racing offers stroker kits and complete engines up to 427 cubes based on this platform. The 351 Cleveland was only used from 1970-74. If you have one in a Mustang or Cougar by all means use it; there's still good aftermarket support. But I wouldn't kill myself trying to find one. As for the 351 / 400M used from 1975-82, I wouldn't use them unless it was already in the car, and I didn't have much money. In stock trim, they have like 7.9:1 compression, and their 2bbl carb,lazy cam and huge "Cleveland" style heads kill whatever performance they might have had. They can be made to run with the usual hot rod tricks-compression, cam, intake and exhaust-but their so big and heavy and would cost so much to build that you'd be better off with a 429 or 460 which shares the same bellhousing bolt-pattern. # 2. Big-Block Ford. Unless your restoring a '55-'57 T-Bird I would forget the 292 and 312 "Y-Block". They are obsolete, big, heavy, and don't make any real power. I also wouldn't mess with a 352 "FE" engine. Their only 352 cubes, but their as big and heavy as a 390,427 or 428. You won't find a 427 anywhere, and unless your an NBA star restoring a Cobra you can't afford it, and it's not worth it. If you have one in the car already or can buy a 428 cheap theat's great, but their pretty scarce. However the 390 was used in millions of cars from 1963-71 and trucks until 1976. Edelbrock makes aluminum heads for them, and there are stroker cranks out there to turn a 390 into a 415, 428 or 447. The downside of these engines is their really heavy. The 429 / 460 are a much more modern design than the "FE" series. In fact, unless your restoring a 390 GT Mustang or Fairlane, I'd use a 429 or 460. There's a ton of speed equipment for these engines and Ford racing offers a 514 inch 460-based stroker. # 3. AMC. American Motors V8s range anywhere from 290 to 401 cubic inches. Forget the 290, their rare and don't have enough cubes to make any power. If you have a 304 in a really light car like a Gremlin or Hornet they can really run with a little hopping up. In a heavier car your going to want a bigger motor however. Unless your restoring a 68-70 Javelin to the nth degree, then I'd forget about a 343 or a 390. There's nothing wrong with them, if your car has one, by all means use it. I wouldn't actively search for one because their pretty rare, and usually overpriced; and a 360 or 401 is going to be cheaper and make more power. A 401 is great if you can find one. Besides Javelins, Ambassadors and Matadors, they were used in Jeep pickups, Cherokees and Wagoneers until 1978. The 360 is your best bet. They were used in Jeep Waggoneers up until 1992 so their plentiful in junkyards. Edelbrock make performance heads and intakes for these engines, and there is a fair amount of cams, headers, etc available.  # 4. Buick. Forget the 300 and 340 inch small-blocks from the early to mid-'60's. Their rare, there's hardly any parts available and they don't make any power. Your much better off with the 350 that was used from 1968-77. Kenne-Bell and T/A performance specialize in Buick performance parts. They make cams, intakes, etc. Unless your restoring a '63-65 Riviera forget the 401. Don't get me wrong, anything 400 cubes is going to run pretty good; but these are the old "Nailhead" design that dates back to 1949. The later 400, 430 and 455 engines are a modern design and make way more power. If your car has a 400 or 430 then use it. But I wouldn't kill myself searching for one, as there aren't many left-they've been out of production for 42 years. The 455 used from 1970-76 is pretty plentiful. Again, T/A performance and Kenne-Bell can help you hop these up, and Edelbrock does make intakes for them. Hope these tips save you from throwing good money away on an obsolete engine that will cost more and make less power than the recommended ones! Mastermind