They were used in military equipment from WW11 into the 60's.
I worked on many vehicles that used them so there is no question in my mind of their durability.
If you were able to find every single component from a donor vehicle to match your application it may be a good conversion.
However, they are old technology and finding someone to work on them can be a challenge. There are so many later versions that perform well, are easier to install, and cheaper.
Fred
They also saw use in many drag cars during the '50s and '60s, mostly Gas Coupe class, though some guys used in Modified Production in '57 Chevies through rule loophole (in other words, they were cheating).
