Hot Rods Replacing SBC with a Flathead ??

Always glad to welcome a new member to the " flatheads forever" club. Or if you are returning to the club after losing your way, we welcome you back to the best sounding, best looking motor of all time.

 

If that price for an engine was a stopper, there would be a whole lot of people on here with engineless hot rods.

 

The most productive course of action is to sell what you have, build the motor then build a vehicle around it. The truth is, if you try to adapt the car you have to the motor you want, to make it look right you'll end up replacing the majority of the vehicle, besides, we love build threads.

 

Yeah those aren’t staying, I have nice frogmouth scoops, those junk filters where on the motor when I bought it last week.

 

In my eyes the current build style of the whole car suits the SBC.

If I were to swap in a FH, I'd probably want to change out the wheels (at least the meaty rears) to a more earlier period style. That would likely lead on to other parts.............

You don't mention what transmission you currently have? more additional work there

If manual, there's clutch work, possibly brake master relocation.

Seems a whooooooole can 'o' worms to me.

Of course it is your car, but you asked for opinions

 

Flathead eh?


I'd just buy some boards, fenders and put skinnies on the back but that's just me.

 

^^^^^^^
These comments really have merit. Think about it, really think about it.
The easiest and by far the cheapest way into a flathead is to buy a running beater/stockish sedan or coupe 1941-1951.

 

The car looks good with the 327, maybe get someone to photoshop in a dressed FH to give you an idea if it’s right for the car or not.

 

Looking for an engine? Might want to check this out if it's not too far from you. 8BA in Ohio.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplac...7bc865-95cf-4d60-801f-c9f360585741&__tn__=!:D

 

You gotta do you but that car is really kool just like it is. Getting a flatty to the existing drivetrain is doable but not a cheap date. Personally I think the vibe would suffer, it wouldn't be an upgrade. Has a "nailed it" look rt now. This is just my opinion, you gotta do you like I said at the start.

 

Step one, before you do anything else; possess a flathead that's rebuildable. Easier said than done these days.

 

Maybe one outa ten is rebuildable,
cracks, rusted out inners.
may require pinning and should be pressure tested
I would find one that is running
like it’s been said it ain’t cheap

 

Yeah, but that is what started the Hot Rod thing

Ben

 

Hello,

What a very nicely done sedan. It is set up quite well and the look says “hot rod.” Well, it is your choice. But, if the sedan is your daily driver, unless you spend enough money to make the Flathead have as much power as the SBC, you will feel as if others will leave you behind. It takes little to make the SBC have more power. Parts are here and most backyard mechanics can do the work. Unless you spend the money to make the Flathead more powerful, looks just does not get it done.

When I saw a 1940 Ford Sedan Delivery that a friend had just put together, I/we were all in awe. The rumbling sound started as soon as he drove into the driveway of the restaurant parking lot and we all whipped our heads around to see. It was an Red/Orange 1940 Ford Sedan Delivery, black wheels, a simple look, but powerful sound. We all could not wait until he stopped in a parking spot.

He rumbled through the parking lot, giving all of us “the Look.” Then we all chuckled as we identified the driver/owner, but were impressed that it was a new build for him. No one had ever seen a sedan delivery, let alone a 40 Ford one. Helms Bakery panel truck, yes, local plumber Chevy panel truck, yes, but not a single Ford Sedan Delivery.

So, as he accelerated out of the parking lot, we knew he was coming down the back alley into a back row parking spot. That 348 motor we saw, later and heard coming down the alley was pretty outstanding. That was a hot rod experience for all of us. The unknown sedan delivery and a big v8 motor cranking out horsepower. What a combination.

Jnaki

The night wore on and my friend got plenty of comments. One did not agree with him. “Salmon Pink” was the color name choice most heard, although we were all told it was a “Racer Orange” brew. He had just painted it into the early morning hours, after getting it running. Now, it is/was the hit of the evening for this Friday night gathering.

That name kept getting used and the owner was not happy. Everyone thought it was a very unusual build with a big horsepower 348 Chevy motor and a sedan delivery no had ever seen as a hot rod. But, the description kept coming.

The next week, there was a sign in the window that said “For Sale.” After thinking it over, he was irritated that everyone thought the car was painted a “Salmon Pink.” It was his first paint job on a big project and seemed like it was the laughing stock of our hot rod group gatherings.

His price was a little over the top for everyone, but we all knew why. So, I offered him what I could afford and he chuckled. A 280+ horsepower motor, nice looking hot rod and the sound was perfect. What a fun way to get to the beach and our local surf spot adventures. After weeks of bartering, he agreed to sell it to me. I did not care about other teenager’s comments. The 348 and unusual surf style sedan delivery would fit all of my needs at the time.

Without the 348 motor was a big disappointment, but the Flathead was ok. A loss of 200 horsepower was daunting, but the hot rod sedan delivery was so unusual and offered privacy at the beach, plus overnight camping. So, I endured the 5 years of being underpowered on steep coastal highways and never took it to the winter snow mountain gatherings due to lack of power.

I was even the lowest teenager on the “slowest car” drags at the local Cherry Avenue location, versus 6 cylinder Chevy sedans, an old truck and a 4 cylinder Chevy Nova. Even a stock 51 Pontiac sedan was faster. So, the loss of horsepower was felt, but laughable. It ran like a top, but had to overcome my tactics of setting up a speed run downhill, just to make it up the next steep slope in 2nd gear,OR FIRST!

There was one surf spot in San Diego county that was at the base of the longest hill climb in the area. We surfed at the base spot and when we were ready to continue on our southerly journey, had to start the climb in first gear as usual. But traffic and the steep road usually kept it in first all the way to the top. There was just no extra horsepower to give it a needed boost. Passing other cars was a dream and never happened… YRMV

After college and getting married, my wife and I purchased a 327 powered Ford Sedan Delivery as a project starter. It took months of work by us and then some professionals had to be called in to help finish the project, so we could drive it with safety in mind and stop well.

The 327 SBC motor had the power necessary for those coastal hills and our forays into the mountain ranges of So Cal. Power and handling versus no power Flathead was a revolution as it just handled any slope or steep winding grade, anywhere with “More Power.” Merging with traffic was no problem and knowing it had the reserve power, just made cruising that much better.

My wife loved the power and set up of our 327 “project.” She was amazed that it had great acceleration versus her funky 62 Corvair with a “slider” transmission. Or it felt like it was “sliding” into traffic when it could. Ha!

 

I believe we now have to refer to Bud Light as tranny fluid.

 

Or worse ...

 

On the odd occasion (I’ll admit) I’ve had similar thoughts about a hot flattie build. The cure has always been to do a little research on how much horsepower one can realistically get out of a decent build (and how much getting more than 150 ponies would cost).
Not saying I’ll never do one, but I’ll need to become more of a lawn chair, car show ‘look at me’ kinda hotrodder before it happens. Right now I still like the feeling of acceleration going up a hill and the odd smokey tire scorch. .
That said, each has to follow their own path and I never say never.

 

Sir, I salute you! you are my kinda guy!

Dave

 

wow

 

Great idea. Take the car from a belly button generic street rod to coolbold school hot rod. And still retain dependability. Very cool.

 

The fastest car isn't necessarily the coolest

 

Why?

 

That's the kind thinking. That people buy a Toyota. Cheap and easy to get parts. But in reality what parts that you need to get in a hurry are going to be difficult to get? They don't have any cooling issues when built and maintained properly.

 

Why are you asking for opinions? Read your first sentence again. Just do it and be happy.

 

How about a waterpump when your on a trip....Every auto parts store has a waterpump for a flathead...Really drive one in Vegas at a 115 degrees...

 

A set of seals and bearings to not take up much space. Often you can get the required bearing and seals from a local supplier. But water pumps generally last for many many miles. And genuine warning signs before they let go completely. So a good service and check up would more than likely find a faulty water pump.
Many old school cars would struggle in that heat. But a properly tuned flathead would not struggle anymore than anything else.

 

Very true, but just because a car has a flathead instead of a sbc (or any accepted engine) doesn't count either.
They're all cool man. If you want a flattie, or anything else, go for it. You are always very anti-sbc on other threads, so it is not suprising what opinions you are offering now...... (Edited)

I can't work out whether this comment is tongue-in-cheek or not, considering the OP's history on the photoshop thread...

My opinion??? No, a car doesn't have to be quick to be cool........ But it certainly helps to make it more fun.
Honestly, either way works.

 

I rarely look at that thread. It was a serious suggestion.

 

Oh, ok, thanks for the clarification.
The OP has been known to........... let's say, make very frequent use of the thread..... as is his right I guess.