Here are my two V8-60’s I’m trying to create. One is a 1937 tin side small bearing motor. The other is a mystery large bearing V8-60. Both have crank issues I am trying to rectify.
I have been on the hunt for one of these out in the wild for a few years now I thought it would be really neat for a real light weight Model T Hot Rod. Such a cool little engine.
But, this ‘40 motor is different that a production 1940 V8-60. It doesn’t use a 1940 oil pan or rear oil filler on the intake. I’m unable to find rear seal retainers for this mystery motor. So it might be and early production’40 motor or an export version of a ‘40. That is the mystery part.
My avatar had a V8 60 in it and it looked cool and ran good but with the 3:78 rearend it wouldn't get out of it's own way until it got over 2400 rpm. My 30 pickup with a warmed up B motor would out run it up to about 50 mph, they used the V8 60 in midgets and small race boats since they were light and ran great at higher rpm. Great little engine but lacking low end torque, the V8 60 cars came with a 4:44 rearend to make up for the lack of torque. I built my avatar about 30 years ago and had several V8 60's since there wasn't much interest in them, sold it in the late 90's and kind of regret it now.
@V860too may help. Or his MyFace group https://www.facebook.com/groups/718782558288683 (if you aren't all ready there) I recently picked one up. Looks fresh inside, (assembly lube, new pistons, perfect bores, fresh valve job & more) and, I got everything but the carb. I'm going to assemble it the rest of the way and try to run it. Too bad, it's about 47th in line of things to do. Yours look great ! Mike
I picked up one to go in the Austin Ruby, but switched to the 215 Buick. It is almost ready for the run stand. I picked up a two hole distributor and modified it to fit this engine by removing the base and turning it 90 degrees. I also cast a belt tensioner bracket to run a pulley where the generator would normally be.
Very nice V8-60. I love the Buick all aluminum V8’s too. For my V8-60, I made my own idler pulley bracket, but I just bought the 3-bolt to 2-bolt adapter for the distributor. It spaces it out, centers it correctly, and keeps it clocked straight up.
The V8-60 was also used in the French Fords of the fifties, the Vedette model. In 1954 sold to Simca and in 1962, sent to Brazil where they were made until 1966. The last ones having an OHV conversion. A few Simca Vedettes were sold in north America around 1958 - 1960, I think I saw 2 of them back then. Wonder if your odd engine is one of them.
More info on the American/French/Brazilian Vedette including the OHV version https://www.curbsideclassic.com/aut...flathead-v8-v8-60-part-three-the-simca-years/ https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/brazilian-v8-60-ohv.31527/
Mr. Google tells me FERRO is Portuguese for iron, while the French is FER, so that's probably a Brazilian block.
I think the guys are right about your mystery 60 being French. Dean Lowe is the man on here when it comes to making a V8 60 run hard. Here is a photo of my 60 powered 29 roadster. It’s finally close to running.
A lot of 1940s/50s GMC sixes had FERRO cast on the cylinder head. Ferro was a company that actually made complete engines of their own design in the teens and '20s.
Could be. After thinking about it, I believe it's rather unlikely. But I was just speculating on language.
When I picked up the Crosley Almquist a while back, it was obvious that it had run a "60" at some point in time. The original builder had used a Crosley mill, a Harley Knucklehead, and a "60"..... I had always wanted something with a V8-60, so that's the direction I took. It had raced on a little dirt track back in Ohio, so it was eligible to "vintage race". I went through several renditions before coming up with the best engine. It was a 1939 with Offy heads, a vintage Clay Smith cam, and an Austin 3x2 intake, using 2-81 carbs. I used midget headers, turned upside down, and exhaust tubes made from '36 Ford inner drive shaft tubes. It made an obnoxious amount of beautiful music, and would sing a wonderful tune at 6K RPM.... At Laguna Seca I would reach top speed on the first straight, which was uphill, of 110 MPH, which would pop up on an electronic reader board. Not bad for a wee 60..... I used a Mustang II Cobra 4-spd, called an RAD-W1, which was build like a 5-spd and weighed in at about 48 pounds. Of all the cars I raced, this little bugger was by far the most fun...
I've told this before but not on this thread. Anyway, in 1971 before I was drafted I had a MGTD that a PO had installed a V8 60. As I understand it that was the performance hot ticket in the '50's. Not knowing much about flatheads I replaced it and the running gear with a 1622 from a '62 MGA. Left the 60 in the garage and while I was in Basic my dad paid someone to all the 60 and running gear to the dump.
The Jalopy Journal
