Weighing all the options - 35 Ford engine replacement

OK - so before I go any further - I need to know what kind of engines will fit in to a stock '35.

I wanna do as little cutting as possible.

Looking for ideas that may be a little unique but would still be something you may see in Car Craft circa 1959 (and please dont post small block chevy or 350 crate or anything like that)

I have been told Old Rocket 88 motors fit right in - but I have yet to meet anyone that has one in a '35 /'36 Ford 5W Coupe

Cost is always an issue as well - I dont have a lot of $$$ to spend and I am getting ready to pull this original flathead and see how much $$$ it will take to get it back up and running.......if it is too much then I will just keep that original motor as an expensive paperweight and put in something else.

I wanna get this thing on the road and the first step in my opinion is to get the engine fired up.......and let me know what transmission you have mated these with as well.

THANKS

I look forward to any advice and if you have pix - I would love to see them

 

Might as well get this out of the way up front. How about a SBC? I know, don't waste your time telling about how lame it is. There is a reason there are so many of them and outside the sheer numbers the reason you see so many of them is that they are simple to put in an early ford ch***is and properly built they are bullitproof. You can even keep your stock drivetrain if your not going stupid horsepower. An adaptor to the Ford ******, a couple of front motor mounts and a simple exhaust and your on the road.
OK, I'll move over for the real options.

Frank

 

The problems with Cadillac, Olds and Nail Head are the location of the starter motor. They are on the left side and interfere with the steering. SBC is the engine of choice if you want an easy installation.

 

Same deal with a small block Ford since the Fox ch***is rear sump oil pan became readily available. The Ford is lighter, narrower, and the dizzy is located up front...away from the firewall.

 

how about later model flatheads?

everyone seems to be saying that they are more reliable anyway......

do those have the same proportions?

 

Do not wimp out and stick a sbc in your 35 like these guys want you too. How about a small block Ford or a small block Dodge. Fords are lighter and Dodges have more power stock. Also an old stile Hemi or a Studebaker V8 have the starters on the right side. Do not modify these engines and the 35 transmission and rear end can take.

 

The 38-48 24-studders are a direct replacement as well as the 49-53 8BA style engines.

 

You should be able to buy a good running used flathead for around 800.00 to 1500.00. Not much adaptation at all.
But of course be sure its a good used one.

 

That's because everyone who ever put one into an old ford 5W has since given up and switched to SBC power,

Please remember that I dont like SBC's in fords... But if the money is a little tight... Well, you just cant beat a SBC.

A million hot-rodders cant all be wrong... Go SBC.

A decent 283 wouldn't be hard to find. It can be "built" cheaply, or re-built even cheaper.... Early 'Vette VC's and a triple 2V intake would be period correct, it'd run like hell, wouldn't break tha bank, and be reliable enough to drive cross country.

Why fight it?

 

Another vote here for later model flathead. Ford made zillions of them. The 8BA is the most user friendly one out there.

 

so I should start putting the word out on the street that I am trying to find 8BA .......thanx

 

Later Flatty would be just right, a cam change, new intake and up the comp. with alluminum heads and you can get 160 hp easy. 59A would be a better swap than an 8BA IMO.

 

BBC. It fit right under the hood of my '36 5w.

 

I sell a lot of High torque mini starters that I build for the early Olds Rockets that solves this problem,change over not needed

Tony

 

I put a flathead in my '35 woodie when the original 21 stud called it a day. I had a 59A block that I had been holding since my teenage days. I machined the water outlets in the block and installed NOS 8BA heads onto the early block. This allowed to me to keep the anti-chatter rods so necessary in these cars. With a 4" Merc. crank and a PM-7 with two 97s, the woodie cruises right on down the road, thank you.

 

Just paint it some not Chevy color. dark green or grey. Disguise it.

 

It depends on how much firewall modification you want to do. A Chev fits without cutting but little else does. I haven't seen an Olds, Pontiac, small block Ford, or early Buick in a 35-36 without firewall modifications. There were water pump kits to help a Ford fit (Opel pump or something like that) but not others that I've seen lately. A Pontiac would take as much work as any of the others but can look 1959 correct. A 300 Buick can look older (nailhead style rocker covers in '64) and it's short, but the intake options are only 2 and 4 bbl., no multi carb options that I've seen.

 

Does anyone actually have any magazines from 1959 ? I am a bit curious myself as to what was being used at that time in swaps. Seems like any OHV would have been desirable since the the oldest at the time would have been the Caddy at only 10 years.

.

 

The later 48 and up flatheads are longer in the front so you may be looking at running an electric fan. You can change the cam on a late flathead to an early cam and run early front dress. This will get you some necessary fan clearance. Some people like the looks of the early flathead with the center water outlets and the cast in bell housing. The early vs late flathead thing is like arguing about what kind of single malt scotch is the best. I like all the years.

 

I can't believe that I'm going to say this...with me being the world's biggest SBC hater, especially in a Ford...but, I'd consider the SBC (265, 283, or 327 versions). It has reached the point that the Flattie powered hot rods are the new belly ****ons engines for traditional hot rods, and the SBC is somewhat unusual! Just dress it in period cloths, i.e. curved Edelbrock name valve covers, period intake, no headers, etc.

 

There was no 289 in '59 if that is the era he is shooting for. The Ford small blocks are longer than the chevy anyway.

There wouldn't be any shame in an early 283, IMO for 1959, but that would be your call.

Jim Evans has a 312 Y block in his blue '36. I'm sure you've seen it. It's been in just about every mag there is. I'm not sure if the firewall was cut or not. You could go Y block.

Let's see some pics of it John. I don't think I've ever seen your coupe.

 

True, but Ford Motorsports makes a water pump kit to make them shorter. (As short as the SBC? I don't know.)

Also true, but he would only have to move up two years to a 1961 target for his period build to be correct with a SBF, since the SBF was introduced that year (first available in August 1961, I think).

 

This is Jim's car.

 

Nice car! Personally, I think I'd have to have a hot flathead Ford V8 in that. I'm not sure any other engine would be "right" for it.

 

The 312 was put in back in the 50s or early 60s. It was a survivor.

 

'35-6 Fords have I think the tightest engine compartments of any Ford, made as short as possible then tightened up more by the slanted radiator. A 59A will be easier than 8BA because the side mounted distributor forces the pulleys forward by a significant distance. If truly interested in cut-free installation, SBC may be only option in OHV... I think Olds and Cad are close but will be a touch too long.

 

He clearly stole that look from my '36!!

 

I didn't mean it wasn't "period correct".

 

I am off to Jefferson WI this morning to look for some stuff......
and sell there too - but I will be meeting with a couple of people to discuss more options......
Thanks for all the advice.

I will also be asking advice on how to rehang doors - - that one is goinna be a pain

I have started the Evaporust process - taking apart pieces one by one and hoping to get a bit of life back in them.......

 

The perfect engine for that `35 is a Flathead Ford. Especially if you are on a budget. Like has been said before, a later 8BA style Flatty would be the most updated on the other hand a 59A would pretty much emulate the original engine and still provide more power. I'm ***uming that you still have original `35 brakes, no? Dropping an OHV monkey motion motor into that Ford will kill a lot of things. First if it's a brand X you no longer have an antique Ford. Second your low budget plans are dead simply because you are going to start pushing original design limits for brakes, trans axle keys etc. Flatheading is a lot of fun and you'll really feel the visceral feelings of an early Ford hot rod. Sbc's are for streetrodders.