The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Flathead F*rd V8 in 51 3100??? Anyone done it?

I'm seriously considering putting one of my built flatheads in my truck. Has anyone successfully done this? How big a deal is it?

Thanks in advance

Bob

Bob...you should lay off the tequila.

Do the whole drivetrain- - - -transmission, torque tube, and a Columbia 2-speed rear end, if possible! You might solve the problem of the old stovebolts not being able to get out of their own way!

Jerry

I have never seen it done, but doing engine swaps always present challenges that you can't see until the engine is in the hole. I always preferred to do what Hotrod Lincoln is suggesting, and that is to swap engine, tranny, and rearend.
The most likely area for problems will be the steering box, clutch linkage, and shift linkage. You have to ask yourself do you want to put in a floor mounted shifter? You will probably need to make up your own headers. You will have to swap in the Ford rad or convert the Chev rad to the Ford configuration.
You would probably be money ahead swapping in a SBC because it is a common swap and it wouldn't be hard to find one to see how they solved the problems.
If you are looking for an easy way to get more power, why not a big 6, they are easy to come by and are basically a bolt in.
I guess what I am saying is, are you just doing this for the challenge?
Bob

That flat head is going to be mighty heavy, sure the truck can hold it up? Joe

Hey, Tequila Bob, I've thought about doing the same thing with one of mine, . . . but I don't have a donor FHV8.

The engine is about the same size as a 235, as far as cubic inches go, but it should not have as much torque. Keep in mind that a late model 292 has about the same torque as a late model 350. With the FHV8, I would suspect that you would either have to build for high RPMs, or live with a dog. :o

I guess the reason I'm asking that I've got a few of the flatheads in my shop. One is a 4" stroke Mercury with the oldest Hilborn fuel injection unit still alive. #16 from 1950. It also has a magneto and a hell of alot of machine work done on it. It was in 1931 Ford Roadster salt flats car and it may go back in.

Here is my truck:
http://picasaweb.google.com/rjdenton479/1951Chevy3100PickupTruck

I personally would never put a FH ford in anything it did not come in. I just don't care much for them, in my opinion they are a poor design, so many parts are hard to work on or not very well thought out.

Ever try to adjust the valves? If you do it according to the book it takes a good day, remove the intake and both heads, grind valve stems or cut seats.... Even with the new adjustable lifters it's no fun, and you still have to remove the intake.

Don't get me wrong now, I'll drive anything that runs, but a FH ford is an engine I'll never spend my money on.

Leave the FH in the race car, it probably looks swell there, and get a real engine for your truck.

Grigg

I would either put it in a lakes roadster or sell it. I think it's kind of a shame to put it in a truck where nobody will be able to see it peeking out from under some louvers.

I respect the flathead. But I think its a bad choice for a Chevy truck.

I,ll agree it is a highly impractical swap but it shure would be nostalgic & cool at the shows & cruise nights. There never was a sharper looking engine then a flathead with aluminum heads & 2-3 carbs.

A flathead with all those goodies just screams to be showcased in a nice roadster! My first car was a 47 Mercury convertible with all the leftover parts from the family dirt tracker, a 34 3-window coupe. Offenhauser heads, headers, dual exhausts, mild cam, and a few other go-fast options. I chose to do most of the internal engine modifications like a 4" stroker, 80 overbore, porting/polishing, etc., but I stayed with a slightly oversized single 2 barrel carb. (55 Ford 272) The car had awesome low end torque because I didn't over-carburete it. If you're running the Hillborn and you do decide to put the engine in a stovebolt, find a really low rear end gear and keep the engine wound up. The truck will probably be too heavy to take advantage of the performance potential of the engine.

Flatheads ran rings around stovebolts when they were new, and some things never change. You just need to let the engine wind up, and keep it cool. There's a reason the valves are hard to adjust- - - -once they're right, they never need another adjustment for the life of the engine!
Jerry

I've had several flatheads in my time, and personally think they were the best sounding engines ever with headers and Smithys. They were state of the art in their day, and had plenty of torque and power for the cars and trucks we were building then. I have a complete 59AB in my shop just quietely waiting for a ride.

As far as your project....I think I'd put the flatmotor back in the '31 and preserve a piece of history, then find a 292 to hotrod and put it in your ride. A warmed over 292 with proper gearing can be a real sweetheart. If you get a chance, check out "Chevrolet Inline Six-Cylinder Power Manual" by Leo Santucci.

Just my $.02

I'm old enough to remember the last of the Flathead V-8's in the 1950's.Nice looking engine all dressed up with aluminum heads and all those chromed covers on the head bolt.
A stock flattie could whip a Chevy 6 in a drag race,but when both where modified,the Chevy could be the winner,just ask Frank McGurk or Bill Fisher,if they were still alive .And if you ran a serious 270 or 302 GMC 6,those Flatties couldn't stay with you even on a tow chain :p .

hi all i am still very new and love the site, i am trying to find a different intake and exhaust set and also an hei distibuter for the 292 i put in my 42 g506. any help would be appreciated

T Bob, why not jut buy a fifties F@#@ truck? Then you could put a stovebolt in it.

I think it's a cool idea. Even though I'm an inline type of guy I have a soft spot for the old flatheads.