"Run what you brung!!"

Magazine writers, myself included- often pontificate on what gives the most "Bang for the Buck". When were giving this advice we have the best of intentions and are thinking that the average joe is going to have to buy the parts. If that's the case and you want to build a Rat-motored Camaro or Chevelle- then-yes a 454 Chevy is the way to go. However-if you already have a 396 in the car, wouldn't it be a lot cheaper to just build that?  And-yes if you build apples to apples-same cam carb, etc-a 454 will have more power because of the extra cubes-but not THAT much more. Certainly not enough to justify the extra expense of buying, building and swapping in a different engine!!  If your a Mopar fan don't throw away a perfectly good 383 and then spend an additional 5 grand buying and rebuilding a junk 440!!  On the other hand-I wouldn't spend a nickel on a 305 Chevy-a 350 makes way more power stock or modified and costs no more to buy or build. Ditto for an AMC fan-don't waste money trying to hop up a 304-a 360 or 401 will make twice the power and costs no more to buy or build. You have to use common sense. Anyway-here's a list of engines that I would keep if it came in the car, and some that I wouldn't mess with under any circumstances. # 1. Chevrolet. Unless you are restoring a 1955-57 Chevy to the nth degree for Concours showing, a 265 or 283 is only useful as a doorstop. My dad's friends talk about high-winding 301s ( a 283 bored 1/8 over, '58 and later blocks are thick enough ) that kicked butt in the '50's and early '60's, but they are just too small for serious performance work. A 350 or 383 stroker with the same equipment will make tons more power and torque. The same goes for a 307-( an economy motor built by putting a 327 crank in a 283 block ) used from 1968-73 and the 305 ( which uses a small bore and a 350 crank ) used from 1976-1995. Their just too small to make any serious power-you can't even put "2.02" heads on them-the valves will hit the block. The only small-block Chevy to use other than a 350 or 400 is a 327. They were used in millions of cars and trucks from 1962-69.  If you have a 327 or can buy one cheap by all means use it. With the right cam heads, etc they can really rock. A 350 or 383 might make a little more power with the same equipment-but again not enough to justify not using a perfectly good engine and spending thousands more to gain 30 hp. See what I'm saying?  As for big-blocks-If you have a 396 or a 402 or 427, by all means use it!!  If you have to go buy one cold-turkey, then 454's are more plentiful and easier to find. But again-all other things being equal-a 454 will make about 25 hp more than a 427, and maybe 40 more than a 396.  # 2. Pontiac. If you have or want to buy any Pontiac model built from 1959-66, chances are it has a 389 V8. And there's nothing wrong with that. 389s make tons of low-end torque, and as we know powered the early, legendary GTOs. The major reason 400s and 455s make more power ( besides the cubes ) is that Pontiac drastically improved their head design in 1967. !967 and later heads flow way more than the '59-66 "bathtub" chamber style. If you have or want to build a car with a 389, by all means use it. If you want one to really rock, you can use later factory heads or aftermarket Edelbrocks, and Butler performance offers a stroker crank kit to turn a 389 / 400 into a 455.  As for the other Pontiac V8s-the 400 and 455s are the most desirable. However-if you have or can buy one cheap-usually in a "big" car-i.e.- Catalina, Bonneville, etc-the 421 and 428s are strong performers too. As for the smaller engines-don't waste your time on a 326 or 350. A 389 / 400 costs no more to buy or build and will make way more power for the same money. The one exception is if you have a 1968-77 Firebird or LeMans, or a 1971-77 Ventura that has a 350 Poncho in it. The car will really "Wake up" with minor mods like a 4bbl carb and intake, dual exhaust and a shift kit in the trans. It will also give you a nice "driver" engine while you build that killer 400 or 455. As for the 301 that was used from 77-81-it's a useless "economy" motor that has virtually nothing in common with it's bigger brothers. # 3. Mopar. Forget a 273, their just too small for serious performance work. The same goes for a 318, unless it's in a Duster or a Dart. These cars are light enough, that they can really haul with minor mods. In the heavier B and E bodies you need a 340 or a 360. As for B / RB engines-if you have a 383 or a 413 or non-Hemi 426-by all means use it. Otherwise the 400 and 440 are much easier to find. # 4. Oldsmobile. Unless your restoring a 1964 442 to the nth degree, forget a 330. A 350 or 403 will make way more power for the same money. If your car has a 400 or 425, you should definitely use it. Otherwise the 455 is the most desirable. The 260 and 307 V8s are "economy" motors and have nothing in common with the 330 / 350 / 403.  # 5. Ford. A 289 is fine if you have a Mustang , Comet, or Fairlane, but they are really too small for performance work in the heavier models. If you have a 60's Ford with a 390 in it, there's plenty of aftermarket support, including Edelbrock aluminum heads. For '70's models on up-a 302 is great for a Mustang, or Maverick or other light car. If you have a Torino or Cougar, Mustang etc with a 351W or 351C, there's a ton of speed equipment available. I wouldn't search for one, but If your '70's Ford has a 351 / 400M, they can be hopped up-theres cams, intakes, etc. Obviously the 429 / 460 is desirable. Forget the 255 V8 that was used from 1980-82 it has nothing in common with the 289 / 302.  Forget a 352, or the 360 truck motor-they are an "FE" design like a 390 / 428-but they are just as big and heavy and don't make near as much power as the bigger motors, and still get crappy gas mileage and leak oil.  Anyhow, these guidelines will help keep you from throwing good money  away on an engine that would better serve as a boat anchor than the heart of a musclecar.  Mastermind