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Flat head swap... Input?

Discussion in 'Flat Fender Tech' started by w3srl, Jul 1, 2005.

  1. Jul 1, 2005
    w3srl

    w3srl All-around swell dude Staff Member

    Port Orange, FL
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    Ok guys. Bearing in mind that I have a fresh L-134 in my '2A and it just purrrrrrs, I just came upon the idea tonight of mebbe doing a flathead Ford V-8 swap somewhere down the road. Blame Dr. vern and his wagon project, but I've got the bug now.

    Aside from the fact that there is absolutely nothing wrong with my Jeep's powertrain the way it is, I was just thinking that a flathead V-8 in a flattie would be the epitome of cool, especially with a set of aftermarket aluminum heads and a 2x2 or a 3x2 intake perched on top of it. Maybe even a set of vintage Fenton headers added for effect.

    Anyone have any idea as to what the torque output of a flathead V-8 is, and at what rpm? Adaptors? Weight?

    <Putting down Dan's crack pipe and walking away now....>
     
  2. Jul 1, 2005
    Grinsha

    Grinsha minimally sufficient

    Montana
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    I have a '38-'41 221" Flathead i plan on putting in one someday. I have an Offenhauser Bellhousing for it that will bolt to a T-90. Got it off Ebay a couple years ago for $50.00.
     
  3. Jul 1, 2005
    DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    Lexington, South...
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    I would actually kep the Lhead. Maybe consider a tranny swap and low gear kit for teh Tcase. I really like the way John (michigan pinstripes) jeep is setup. It is great to see an Lhead go places these toyotsa or rock buggies go up in tellico. And this is from a person who swaps out everything ;) When the day comes and i am blessed with a flatfender again i will keep the little lhead :)
     
  4. Jul 1, 2005
    oldjeep

    oldjeep Sisyphus at work

    Victoria, MN
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    I pulled a 239 flathead out of my 53 Ford truck. They weigh 570lbs, a real pig considering the 455 olds I replaced it with only weights 600lbs.

    I doubt that the flathead would fit in the 2a without a whole lot of work. They are physically huge.


    http://www.carnut.com/specs/engdim.html
     
  5. Jul 1, 2005
    blevisay

    blevisay Oh Noooooooooooooooo! Staff Member

    Portland Tn.
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    Somebody correct me but isn't the bellhousing part of the block on a flathead ford?
     
  6. Jul 1, 2005
    blevisay

    blevisay Oh Noooooooooooooooo! Staff Member

    Portland Tn.
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  7. Jul 1, 2005
    oldjeep

    oldjeep Sisyphus at work

    Victoria, MN
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    Only on the early ones (up to 1948 ). The latter model flatheads have a separate bellhousing.
     
  8. Jul 1, 2005
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    I'm with Chuck P. here. I wouldn't consider one for a Utility Wagon/Truck unless it were already there. Plus they're hard to keep cool: "The Ford flathead is a notoriously hot running motor", Ron Bishop, Rebuilding the Famous Ford Flathead"... probably be a lot of trouble in the long run.
     
  9. Jul 1, 2005
    w3srl

    w3srl All-around swell dude Staff Member

    Port Orange, FL
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    Yeah, all good points. Guess I just got carried away with the nostalgia thing after seeing the other post about the aluminum Hickey head.

    570 lbs, huh? I knew that they were heavy, but I didn't think they were that heavy! :shock:

    I have no complaints about the L-head at all, I really like how it chugs along on the rocks.
     
  10. Jul 1, 2005
    Mark W.

    Mark W. Banned

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    Another thing to consider is the Torque! If you are running stock axles as in a 10 spline 41 etc. you could easily jump on it and twist the axle. It was very common back in the 60's to dump a 283 chev or 289 ford into a flat fender. I remember a number of the guys in Dad Jeep club doing it it seams they were always fixing axles after that. While a Flat head ford V8 ain't no 283 it does have much more torque then the origional axles were designed to take.

    That is why there is a Low range lock out in Two wheel drive so you can't multiple the torque up to the point you can twist a shaft.
     
  11. Jul 1, 2005
    oldjeep

    oldjeep Sisyphus at work

    Victoria, MN
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    Not much to worry about in terms of torque. More likely it would fold the front axle in half from the weight ;)

    L-134 HP 60 Torque 106
    Flathead 239 HP 100 Torque 187
    Buick 225 HP 160 Torque 265
     
  12. Jul 1, 2005
    jd7

    jd7 Sponsor

    Nacogdoches,Texas
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    I like the idea, just not in that nice yellow flattie of yours. Maybe in a Jeepster of the same era that'd be neat, for just the sound alone. I've had a flathead or two always ran too warm, prone to vapor lock if you weren't careful how you ran your fuel lines and they're just plain heavy. Oh but that sound.......nothing else like it. ;)
     
  13. Jul 1, 2005
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    I know you're half-joking about the weight, but the L4 is no lightweight either. Just like the Hurricane, there's a lot of iron in that block. Casting tech has greatly improved over the years, and modern blocks are way thinner and lighter than the 40s-era engines, cast more accurately, and of better alloys. Look at the chart that CHuck P. posted, or this one, http://www.241computers.com/ford/ContentExpress20-30-38.html , and you'll see that all the 1st generation V8s were heavy.
     
  14. Jul 1, 2005
    oldjeep

    oldjeep Sisyphus at work

    Victoria, MN
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    The L head is supposed to be somewhere around 450 lbs - not a lightweight either considering my 225 V6 weighs around 410lbs
     
  15. Jul 1, 2005
    BillW

    BillW New Member

    Lebanon, OR
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    I have a '45 MB that someone put a '59 Lark flat head 6 in. Buggered the motor mounts, but that 6 is really stuffed in there.

    Will an 8 cylinder really fit?

    Bill W
    '75 CJ5, '45 MB, '41 Slat Grill MB
     
  16. Jul 1, 2005
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    I think the Studebaker motors were once a popular swap. Studebaker used the T-90 in some cars, so with the right bell and input shaft, they would bolt in. I've seen pictures of a few, and they all had I6s and cut-back firewalls.

    The 283 used to be a popular swap for flatties. Look at Chuck P.'s chart (shouldn't it be 265/400?) and you'll see that the Ford flathead is both wide and long. Even the Ford small block is a tight fit. Of course, the V6s fits a lot better than any V8.
     
  17. Jul 1, 2005
    jd7

    jd7 Sponsor

    Nacogdoches,Texas
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    Several years back I weighed a L head and trans IIRC it was mid six hundred # range maybe more I can't recall now. At that point I figured a v6 and auto was as light or lighter than the origional.
     
  18. Jul 1, 2005
    Grinsha

    Grinsha minimally sufficient

    Montana
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