Iron piston/splash lubed Chevys were quick off-line but max about 4000rpm ie 80 MPH with stock 4:11 axle.
Flathead V-8 Ford or Plymouth 6 would easily top-end any stock Chevys before they rec'd alum pistons, inserts, and pressure lube.(1953 Powerglide,'54 /stick.).Ford had optional overdrive and their 6cyl flat-head arguably fast as their V-8.
.
After blowing rod my '48 Chevy engine I replaced with a '54 block. Added Fenton headers, 2 carb manifold (Stromberg 97's),1/8" off head and port work, plus a 3/4 grind cam. It would really scoot easily beating all OHV '54-56 V-8 Fords and many Chevy V-8's at informal OK A&M Saturday quarter-mile runs Stillwater OK airport 1954-56. (those races were essentially unsupervised ---hard to imagine such freedom today but we had fun and none got hurt).
