I'm thinking my twin (street) flattie idea is a non-starter. If I'm going to get an old torque monster engine (e.g. Seagrave 12, REO Gold Comet, or a MEL) for the 36 Packard (straight) eight chassis, I'm going to have to sell my stash of flatheads and parts. Have never done eBay, but I've got my digi-cam, so I'm thinking that's an option for the lighter stuff. Still, I wanna offer to the HAMB as well. Should I just eBay, then alert the HAMBERs? or list in the HAMB buy/sell, or both at once? Any thoughts? Anybody got a Seagrave V-12 for cheap? I'm looking for the "little" one (only 462-502 c.i. ) (or LaFrance?) Know of anyone?
I would list it in the HAMB classifieds, at a fair price, not a fishing price. Don't rip off your friends, save that for strangers on ebay. Hopefully another HAMBer sees it and you can make the deal, both are happy and get what they need. If it does not sell, then try the ebay or local swap meet route.
I agree.I just sold a buch of 40 parts giving HAMBer's the first shot.I sold them for what I had in them or less.I'll take the left overs and look for an idiot on Ebay. SD
Thanks for replies. Y'know guys....AFTER I posted, I realized that was the proper way. Shouldna have to have been told. Still trolling for Seagraves
I agree.....My plan was to offer HAMBsters a good price on some of my stuff and whatever didn't sell would go to e-bay. Everything sold right here on the hamb except my 36 chevy pickup, which sold locally with a classifed newspaper ad. My hi-buck Walker radiator also didn't sell on the HAMB and I may e-bay it...
i do know where there is a firetruck with a LaFrance V12 in it. not sure if the dude wants to sell it. it just sits in a barn with a bunch of other old junk he'll never do anything with. he lives near a friend of mine on the western side of the state (Dorr Michigan).
How old are these Seagrave/LaFrance V12's? I work with a lot of firemen, so I could ask around... I doubt anyone has anything too old though. Ed
Seagrave had (at least) 2 flathead V12's. The little one was from 462 to 502 c.i.. Seagrave bought all the tooling from Pierce Arrow(!) in about 1938. I understand they were installing them up to at least 1970! Here's a pic: As for LaFrance, they had a biggie (overhead cam). Jay Leno has a whole article on his early 40's truck. The smaller one was a flathead. I think it was originally Auburn tooling.
There has got to be Seagraves owners clubs,web sites,etc. Have you tried Hemming's? There are at least a couple guys at Hershey each year with Seagraves and American LaFrance parts.
You're right Unk, there's a website and some others for Old fire and emergency vehicles. I missed a Lafrance motor for cheap by a few weeks (way down in FLA tho). Haven't checked Hemmings yet (Doh!). Saw a whole seagrave motor in Carlisle some years back, before I knew I was interested. The Guelph fire dept has an early fifties S'grave V12 pumper. I keep meaning to take the time to go over and talk to them. See who works on it and re parts sources. Try and take some measurements. Also, there's a great Firemans muster in Cambridge (Kitchener) in June I think. Trucks up from Michigan, Ohio etc. I'll get one yet (careful what you wish for), but budget and tight storage means I have to start flogging the flatty stuff (first). Or REAL soon after.
so what's up with the seagrave and la france engines? are they easily hopped up, bitchin in stock form, or just pretty wild to show off a V12? never really heard of them before, kinda been following the post to see if i could learn about em.
Okay, well....partly it's economics. Old NON ford stuff is cheaper...so I picked up a "rolling" 36 Packard(!) chassis for less than bare deuce rails. Now working a plan to build a late 20's (LeMans) style Bentley looking thing. (Other loves include channelled 27 T roadsters.) Thing of it is...the packard frame's HEAVY (factory boxed, deepest channel section = 8") with enough length for a big straight eight. Think even a mild hopped Ford flatty will be too weak, and will be lost in the engine bay. Sooooo...Looking for big (long) torquey OLD motor. The (little) Seagrave was a Pierce Arrow (bragging rights), a flathead (yesss!) and had some ooomph (for its day). 462 c.i., factory relieved, twin carbs, aluminum heads, 185hp @ 3400rpm (dunno re torque), all at 6.4:1 c.r.. Then (in 1950) Seagrave bored it to 530, and by 1957 had 7.8:1 cr, with 251hp @ 3850, kept on building it until at least 1968. A real holdover. I'm thinking a little hop up, maybe mill the heads, 'nother carb, funky cam (maybe not even necessary). Downside (besides parts), it's HEAVY. Beyond elephant motor. Think approx 1,400 lbs!! Not light roadster material. I'm lookin for a "trad" classic(?) look, not trad "rod". (Dunno why Ryan let's me post.) The build up (so far scrounging mix & match stuff)is trad tho'. And it is (will be) my (poor boy) work. Re the Lafrance, don't know as much except the (little) V12 was built by Lycoming, first for Auburn ca. 1930, then used in the fire trucks till late 60's(?). Hope this helps.
Slow Learner, That actually sounds like a really cool plan. Parts availability might be limited though. Anyway, I'm having a few beers with a fireman after work tonight... I'll feel him out for ya and see if he knows anyone with the goods. Ed
YESSSS.....!!!! Thanks for rescuing my (HAMB cred) ass here. That's the PLAN! (Except my plan is a drop top). I love that car. It was BAD before the word. What I know about it is, Woolf "Babe" Barnato (the guy with the most shares in Bentley) had that (rod) factory built for him. He raced the ("Blue") express train from the French Riviera to Calais, in 1930. And BEAT it!! That sucker is probably $500,000.00 US, if its a dollar. I want my mongrel to TAKE it in the quarter. Why I feel at home here.
I love a good fly by the seat of the pants plan, oh yea, hope you smoke that hi buck bentley thing, is yours gonna have 3 headlights like J.C.'s one piece at a time cad?
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