2015 Shelby GT350 Mustang

Lessmore wrote:

nevadanick wrote:
$ per horsepower

A lot of rodders get their engines, nowadays, out of wrecked trucks, at the salvage/junk yard. The cost should be similar whether it's a Ford, a Chevy or a Dodge, when it's out of a junker or a parts vehicle.

If anything the Ford engine should be the cheapest. Doesn't Ford crank out the most pickup trucks ? Volume...volume,,volume...equals less cost. More produced= more in accidents....just due to the higher numbers on the road.

The engines that more more expensive...are usually those with less miles on them. When you buy an engine out of a write off...you're buying unused, future miles.

Rodders also usually want the most powerful V8 engine they can get...high performance after all.

I have had a hot rod shop for over 30 years and can't recall ever looking for a truck motor for a car. You are partly correct in the fact everyone wants more power but the biggest bang for the buck is crate motors. You can buy these cheaper than finding a good used motor and rebuilding with high po parts. Back in the old days when we were doing mostly rods every one knew the Ford small block was just a little larger than the Chevy and thanks to Ford with their tight aftermarket restraints there were far far more parts available for the Chevys. Ford shot themselves in the foot in this market for years.
Looking back, I do remember looking for a specific truck motor in junk yards in the old days. Chev. used 427 tall blocks in some of their school buss's.