I am from Austria and have container in the States to bring parts home. My restorer loves hot rods and want to build a nostalgia rod. He bagged me to bring a flathead engine to Europe. He stated that there is one ultimate 40-50 flathead engine that outperforms all other engines of that time and a lot of rebuilding parts are available, even aftermarket parts. Does anybody knows what engine he could mean. If not give me your recommendation what flathead would be the best choice and which one got the best available parts-source? Thanks Hannes
Two best and most traditional rod choices would be 99 type 1939-1942 Mercury, 1946-48 Mercury model 59A...huge variety of aftermarket and rebuild parts. This brings up another idea...the 1942 type Merc engine was built in Germany, 1942--1950's somewher, as a truck engine in war and in peace...might save shipping. Model G-29T. There's a HAMBer in Fisterwalde who knows these well. I would assume there are also 1939-41 model G99 engines as well.
Yes, my friend wanted to bring me to a meeting to fi N sterwalde. There is annual nostalgia rod meeting. A german guy is here in the forum? Does anybody know the username of the german? If the engine would already be in Germany or Austria would be perfect. Thanks so far Regards Hannes
flatordead: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/member.php?u=811 There are also a bunch of other Germans on here. 3 3/16 bore flatheads were manufactured in Germany and Frane; the smaller countries got USA flatheads (there seem to be a lot in Scandinavia, Holland) and Canadian 3 3/16 engines via england, depending on commercial contacts and supply sources for the various European assembly plants. The 3 1/16 bore engines were manufactured in very large numbers in England. Canadian and British motors were left on the continent in large number after WWII.
It was probably The Rocketeer or HotrodMickey. The Rocketeer is in Bavaria and has a sweet German flattie. Flatman
Thanks, I will go in touch tomorrow with him. What is the exact name of the engines you talk. The Mercury engines statet above. If so do they have an collective Name to look at eBay for them? Youl know what I mean, there 283, 327, 350, 400...ect, but all of them are to find buy Small Block Chevrolet. Such a name that means all of that engines together would be interesting. Thanks Hannes
Generally, you are looking for Ford/Merc/truck engines produced with 3 3/16" bore; they are often referrred to by loosely applied designations based on old factory model designations. '39-41's were 99's, '42 and wartime 29's, the very commonly used '46-48 engines were 59's. The later version, '49-53 (several variants and factory model numbers), is generally clumped together under 8BA designation. All big bore '39-48 engines and later Fords were 3 3/16X3 3/4" for 239 inch displacement. '49 53 Mercury had 4" crank for 255 CI, and this crank fits all back to 1939 as a cheap "stroker". These engines will all accept much bigger bore and longer strokes. Everything needed is fairly readily available new, used, or remachined. Good original blocks are becoming the hardest piece to find.
Thanks for the facts I watched a Caddy Flathead, seems to have no worth due the poor aftermarket. Look at the price: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...om:80/?from=R40&satitle=230209423719%09&fvi=1 Is that engine not to recommend? I read that that engine out-performed all opponents at his time. Thanks Hannes
Good engine, and was used in some hotrods, but very heavy for a typical hotrod and speed parts are rare and expensive.
The Caddy flat head does have some good performance but speed parts are hard to find. Some new stuff is available but limited selection and expensive. The Caddy Flathead was used heavily during WWII by Allied Forces. Two of them supplied in each Sherman Tank, one per track. They were also used in some heavy personal movers.
I would bet the tanks had at least some effect on the people who did use the flathead Caddy engines...armored warfare requires LOTS of spare engines )and Hydromatics!), and all the leftovers hit the surplus store just when hotrodding was getting big. We have an old guy in the local V8 club who toured Europe in one of these 1944 Caddys long ago, driving it from Normandy to Pilsen in 1944-5...
hannes pm cheaterspete..he's from switzerland, and had some new french flatheads last year. dont know if he still got any, but he nows for sure if theres some engines for sale in the area. the caddy flat is one heavy fuc...as for new speed parts the prices would be around 800 for a dual intake, and 15-1600 for a pair of heads. /palle
Hannes, you can contact Mike Lange from Finsterwalde ( flatordead on the HAMB), his homepage is www.oldhotrodparts.de He seems to have almost anything you could wish for stashed in his barns. You´ll find his phone # and email address there.
Bruce Lancaster mentioned above the 8BA series built from 1949 cars thru 1953 Ford cars as 239 cuin. The 50 Merc is basically the same block with a different crankshaft & pistons to yield 255 cuin. Actual 0CM series block but generally referred as 8BA. Plenty of aftermarket parts available for this motor and much less expensive than the parts for the Caddy. Go to this site for more info: http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/flathead_home.htm Note differences in head designs, as to water outlets, and distributor locations of '49 and up motors vs. '48 and down. (One difference is '48 trucks in US had '49 & up motor (8RT))
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