Engine Choices- Another ?

[gn7]

If you are looking at a flat, you really only have 2 choices. If its a earlier retro flat like Wheeler's Mandella above, then it can be a Ford FE (390/406/427/428) or it can have been updated to a later BB Chevy. Or a newer flat with a BB Chevy.
You CAN have a newer Ford 429/460, but they aren't the most popular V drive engine, and not very common. Much more common is jets. They are actually very decent engines, but you have to know them. They aren't the iron ball the Chevy is without some modifications.
Pontiacs will usually only show up in either a unmolested Stevens OR something done by somebody using what ever was laying around. A unmolested Pontiac Stevens is VERY cool, but any other boat with a Pontiac....RUN FORREST RUN,

FORGET THE OLDS ENTIRELY! Erase the idea from your head and never admit you even considered it. They SUCK as a low RPM jet boat engine, and have business what so ever in a V drive...PERIOD. Unless of course you are talking a Pro Stock Olds headed DRCE, but that's another story,

Bottom line: Stick to Ford FEs in ORIGINAL mid to late 60s flats, may be early 70s, or Chevy in anything.