Great automotive journalism... guess chevy wins

[mk11]

http://www.rodauthority.com/news/we-clarify-why-chevys-302-cubic-inch-engine-is-better-than-fords/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=we-clarify-why-chevys-302-cubic-inch-engine-is-better-than-fords

perhaps this one slipped by the editors... or not

 

mike

[Ace-Garageguy]

So much for the "Rod Authority" being any kind of authority. No real facts, no engineering references, no hard data about anything. It's just another kinda "'cause I said so" blathering by someone who's probably never had any grease...Chevy OR Ford...under his fingernails.

Both the Chebby and The Ford smallblock engines have strengths and weaknesses. The overwhelming popularity of the Chevy IS in part due to the fact it's a very good engine indeed, but it also got its start in 1955...a full 7 YEARS before the Windsor engines from Ford made the scene. In those 7 years, it became the go-to engine for hot-rodding because of its high power-to-weight ratio and small size. The aftermarket manufacturers were quick to jump on the Chebby bandwagon, and by '62, when the little Ford hit the streets (an engine that IS better in some ways, with more advanced thin-wall-casting techniques making it lighter) there was just no catching up.

The small Ford and Chebby are BOTH exceptionally good engines.

[tim boyd]

So much for the "Rod Authority" being any kind of authority. No real facts, no engineering references, no hard data about anything. It's just another kinda "'cause I said so" blathering by someone who's probably never had any grease...Chevy OR Ford...under his fingernails.

Both the Chebby and The Ford smallblock engines have strengths and weaknesses. The overwhelming popularity of the Chevy IS in part due to the fact it's a very good engine indeed, but it also got its start in 1955...a full 7 YEARS before the Windsor engines from Ford made the scene. In those 7 years, it became the go-to engine for hot-rodding because of its high power-to-weight ratio and small size. The aftermarket manufacturers were quick to jump on the Chebby bandwagon, and by '62, when the little Ford hit the streets (an engine that IS better in some ways, with more advanced thin-wall-casting techniques making it lighter) there was just no catching up.

The small Ford and Chebby are BOTH exceptionally good engines.

Wow.  Excellent analysis Bill.  YOU should have written that article instead of the author.  

Talk about comparing apples and oranges....comparing the very narrowly focused Z-28 302 SBC vs the mainstream 302 Windsor.  Seriously?  How about the equally focused Cleveland head Boss 302 V8 vs. the Z-28 V8?   That comparison would be far more precise, and oh by the way, would also show both engines as being highly competent and mostly equal adversaries (some would even say Ford would win that one).  

I'm amazed something like that could even be put in print...err...online.  

TB  

 

[Crazy Ed]

    After reading the article it sure seems like he was fishing for reactions, and given the listed comments he got 'em. Kinda like one sayin' I like @ and * sucks. Seems anymore it's all about hit count not content.

[Bill J]

A lot of the popularity of the small block Chevy came from the cost of speed parts for a Chevy. Back in the day when every guy tried to make his car go faster you had to be a Chevy lover. It cost so much more to add speed to the Ford and Mopar engines. Manifolds, cams, headers, ignition, and valve train parts were all much less expensive for a small block Chevy. It was also why the engine was popular on local race tracks and drag strips. Design wise, I think the Boss 302 Ford is an excellent engine but there are not many of them around. The Windsor, I had one that was new in 69 drop a rod cap off while idling in the driveway. The factory had not put on lock nuts.

[oldcarfan]

It was not the best cheap V8, but it was the first cheap V8. While the Chevy small block was a good engine, it had many issues that made it less than ideal. What it did have were relatively narrow proportions allowing it to fit into Model T frames without a lot of work, a whole lot of corporate support to get it into the hot rod community and to get aftermarket support. The Duntov letter really gave Chevrolet a lead on everyone else. http://www.hotrod.com/features/history/the-duntov-letter/