Using a Chevy small block in an engine swap is so common for several reasons: Chevy small blocks are about the cheapest V8's to rebuild; There is more Chevy small block speed equipment around than for any other engine, period; Chevy small blocks are really common--they made them more or less the same for about 40 years; Chevy small blocks made good power inexpensively; Chevy small blocks fit in lots of chassis easier than many other V8's; Chevy small blocks tend to be durable and easy to work on; Everybody has several!
Years ago, the Flathead Ford V8 was what the hot rodders messed with. In the early 50's several companies brought out overhead valve V8's, and all or nearly all of them were tried in engine swaps. The Cadillac and Olds engines and the Chrysler hemis made good power, but were very heavy compared to the Flathead. Then Ford and Chevy brought out their OHV V8's, which were lighter and fit light chassis better. But the Chevy, in general, made much better power than the Y-block Ford, and Chevy swaps got very popular.
When I was a kid, my older brother had a friend who had a 49 Plymouth which had an Olds V8 in it. It went pretty good, but handled poorly, and as I remember it, the swap was not at all easy to perform. Another friend of his had an Austin Healey with a Corvette small block in it, which looked like it was done at the factory. The Healey was wicked quick and handled like a super powerful sports car.
I liked Chrysler products growing up and messed with various small block V8's. In my experience, the Chryslers could be made to give good power, but cost lots more than a Chevy small block to get the same power.
Within reason, you can put almost any engine in any chassis, if you want to spend the money to do so. But in most cases, using a Chevy small block is the easiest and least expensive way to go, and the way the most people have experience.
If someone wants to put a 350 Chevy in THEIR vehicle, it's THEIR business. If you don't like their decision, don't look.
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Today's Featured Article - Listening to Your Tractor - by Curtis Von Fange. Years ago there was a TV show about a talking car. Unless you are from another planet, physically or otherwise, I don’t think our internal combustion buddies will talk and tell us their problems. But, on the other hand, there is a secret language that our mechanical companions readily do speak. It is an interesting form of communication that involves all the senses of the listener. In this series we are going to investigate and learn the basic rudimentary skills of understanding this lingo.
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