273, or 318?

toolmanmike said

I like to see the old street rods with correct brand engines. A model A with a Flattie or even a 289/302 is a good choice. Mopars get a Mopar engine. A friend built a 38 Dodge coupe and used a B body Cordoba as a donor car. Everything he could use including the power windows went in the old sedan.

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As do I. I took friends to a Show and Shine. One was looking under the hoods and the number of SBC installed in Ford cars. The one guy called them transvestites. Dad bought a 36 Plymouth Coupe with a 350 SBC installed. Now it has shifted to LS Chev engines. I do understand why the SBC was used previously. Everyone said they were cheaper to build. That was one factor, but the big one for most guys was the rear distributor and sump. They fit easier in the old chassis.
For Fords that could be overcome simply when the original Bronco 289 oil pan and pickup tube were available. The introduction of the 5.0 SBF cured the cost differential there. Mopars are still a bit pricier, depending which one. 318's parts must be fairly inexpensive considering the millions built.