In 1960, my 1939 Ford coupe was drag racing at George Field, Lawrenceville, Illinois with an Oldsmobile 303 engine, turning 106 in a quarter mile . My high school buddy bought the car in Robinson, Illinois in 1962 for $350.00, still running with the 303 Oldsmobile engine. He sold the car and as time elapsed the Olds was pulled and a hopped up flathead was installed. I found the car years later and cleaned it up, still with the flathead engine in it. I have since found a complete Fenton adopter kit to reinstall the Oldsmobile engine back into the 39 and a nice 303 Oldsmobile engine (pictured with car). The big question, should I reinstall the Olds complete with NOS Fenton cast exhaust manifolds or leave the Flattie in? Oh, in addition this car may have raced at George Field in 1955 at the national drag races with the Olds. I am researching now.
I took the flatty out of my 40K actual mile 40 and put in a 49 Cad 331 adapted to the stock trans. I don't miss that flatty one little bit.... go for it man!!
Nice '39, the Olds seems perfect for that car with its history, for that matter even without the history.
This is coming from a man with a SBC in his 40. I would love to have an Olds or Cad engine, so much history behind those engines.
What transmission was the car running back in the day? If a stock '39 floor shift, you have a decision to make. If perchance it had a Hydra-matic or a LaSalle, you don't.
You know what you wanna do. Olds engine. You just needed some affirmation. Olds engine. But it's up to you. Olds engine.
I would run it with the flathead until late fall, convert to the Olds over the winter, then do a reverse swap next winter. You will eventually decide which you prefer after doing this dance a few times. Or else, you could find another car and have one of each.
If you put the Olds back in it will you have to convert to open driveline? I like the Olds idea since that's the way YOU had it back in the early days. Pull the flatty and save it under your workbench for one year and then sell it when you are sure you prefer the Olds.
Nope. He said he's running the original '39 Transmission. I find that being over 70 makes the wear and tear on driveline parts less severe.
That car is freakin' beautimous. It don't matter whats under the hood, either one would be perfect in it.
Go the Olds , I've a flathead in my 39 sloper ,if I had a Olds option wow I know we're the Olds would be
I think the "over 70" means the days of power shifting the 39 are lone gone and too expensive. OEM driveline is a winner when "nostalgia" matters.
I am willing to bet that driving the car now, as is with the flathead, then swapping in the 303 Olds and driving it, would be an absolutely “no doubt in my mind” epiphany for the OP.........no need for the pointless exercise of reinstalling the flathead......the Olds will have a permanent home in the ‘39. Ray
"It's your thing do what's you wanna do!!!" What was your 1st thought when you found it and bought it back ? Either way it's a beauty .
true, I sold the flatty out of my 40 almost immediately after I swapped it. The Cad is as smooth as a gravy sandwich and way more fun to drive....
my friend jim who owned the car when it had the olds would never let me drive it , ride in it yes but no driving and i thought now its mine to drive
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