Hot Rods 1947 Ford Truck Questions

Hello,
I am brand new to old cars, and to the forum. I recently was given a 1947 Ford Truck. It hasn't been in running condition in nearly 40 yrs.

Back many, many years ago someone swapped a Lincoln 337 into the truck. There is not a transmission on the truck and I am having a VERY difficult time finding a transmission that will mate up to the 337.

I posted some questions on the Ford Trucks forum and the general consensus was that it'd be cool to keep the 337, but I am hitting wall after wall finding a transmission. Also, I spoke with a gentleman at a cl***ic ford shop today and he was of the impression that the big,heavy 337 would be incredibly difficult to steer and that it'd be slow. I don't need a race truck, but would like it to travel at a decent clip.

He suggested a post 1981 302 as a good engine swap. I have done a few searches on the swap (that's how I found this site) and everything I read just gets me a little more confused.

Does anyone have any insight as to what steps to take here? Any good links for write-ups on a 302 swap? Any good info on getting a transmission that will bolt up to the 337? Would swapping a ford flathead back into the truck make sense money wise and performance wise?

Any advice and opinions are greatly appreciated.

Here are a couple of pictures of the truck.

 

Maybe this will help http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/transmission-to-bolt-up-to-a-flathead-337.185525/ , Cool truck Tim Jones

 

here's another http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=136488&showall=1 Google search has more,,

 

Thanks for the reply.

While I was searching earlier I came across those threads.

Just having a lot of trouble finding any of those transmissions.

$1000 for an adaptor is probably not going to be cost effective considering I'll still need to go through the engine and buy a Chevy transmission.
Not to mention there seems to be something wrong about using a Chevy transmission.

 

Ford offered the Lincoln 337 in the F6 and F7 big truck. If you want hanging pedals, a '52-'56 Ford car pedal ***embly fits the '40-'47 cab like it was custom made for it.

 

Thanks. I'll look into that for sure.

 

"Incredibly difficult to steer"....nah not so much. Driving it would OK, parking somewhat challenging, backing up a trailer - a total PITA. IMHO. I base those comments on having a '47 Ford 1/2 ton with a 392 Chrysler hemi - and CI T/F trans. Which I ***ume is more weight than your 337. Having said all that - I just recently added Power Steering to mine and I absolutely love it! Made it 100 times easier to drive and I couldn't recommend it more. Backing up my dragster trailer down a narrow driveway is mere child's play now (not that I'm any better at it, but it sure isn't a struggle anymore) and parking is a breeze!!!!
Now could I ask you a FAVOR? Would you please post a close up picture of the BASE (hinge area) of the door mirror. I'd like to put that style mirror on mine and am wondering exactly how it all fits together. TIA

 

I agree with the fellow at the cl***ic Ford shop. For your first old car it would be wise to but a nice small block ford 302 in it. You're going to end up spending too much money to get the big old boat anchor on the road and keeping it there. First one? Make it easy and cheap as possible.

 

Ok I'll try to post a pic of the mirror tonight. No problem.

Good point on the cheap and easy factor.

Any huge mods or fabrications that have to be done to make the 302 work?

 

I'll save John the trouble I have two types on my hauler tho I added two more support bars because I used a bigger mirror to see better , Hope this helps,, Tim Jones

 

Huge? no way. In that truck you will have plenty of room to build engine mounts and or ****** mounts. Plenty of good choices for a ******. And you will be installing a parallel leaf on your new or used rear axle along with a driveshaft made to fit it. This is the cheap way out of your madness.

 

Good news. So will I need to swap the rear axle? I hadn't heard that part yet.

If the engine has power steering is that pretty simple to install on the truck?

Best years of engines?

Is there a way to use the three on the tree shifter or will it need to be a floor shift if I go manual?

So many questions. I'll continue to research the swap but if anyone knows of some articles or write ups that might help I'd love to read them.

Any and all advice and opinions are much appreciated.

 

What is a parallel leaf?

 

Parallel leaf is your 2 leaf spring set holding up your truck - '47 Fords used that setup - 2 in front and 2 in back. That truck is likely geared very steep making it impractical to drive at "normal" freeway speeds - it also appears to have a very thick stack of springs in the back - you may want to upgrade those to something a little softer- but heck you can do that at anytime. So it's likely a rear axle swap is in your future - you may just start looking now and don't sweat it so much WHEN you get it - just get a deal on the right stuff. Cheap and easy there is likely to be a 9" ford. Pay the extra to find one the right width - it'll save you money unless you know some with a machine shop. As for a motor and trans - a donor vehicle is the cheapest way to go - plus you'll have all the bits and pieces to make the swap easy. Not sure if there are kits out there, but there's enough guidance here on the hamb to guide you if they aren't available. I didn't find a lot of stuff for putting PS on mine, but maybe I didn't look hard enough. The problem with doing that yourself is again having access to someone who has a lathe or mill - maybe not absolutely 100% necessary but sure as heck makes it way WAY easier. There's TONS of room in that engine compartment - the possibilities are endless. One step at a time - you'll get there!

 

Your truck has a straight ladder type frame and parallel leaf rear springs, which lends itself to almost any drivetrain you want to hang on it. Agree about the donor vehicle, look for an older F150 that is rusty or beat up but mechanically strong. Components designed to work together, transplant the whole works.

 

I read somewhere that the engine needs to have the "shorter water pump" setup so that it'll fit without cutting into the firewall. Is that true?

If so, what years f150 had that setup?

Any years to stay away from? Other vehicles that would work?

 

Woah! Slow down, John. You've only heard from a couple of people. There's a lot more out here who'd recommend a totally different direction with your truck. Don't go jumping into this project until you've done ALL your homework, okay?

As a beginniner it would seem that your best course of action is to determine what ****** your truck had in it before it was removed. Then find one, install it and get your truck running and driving with the Lincoln motor.

It looks as if the Lincoln may have been rebult before being installed, judging by the paint on it, and was certainly running and in service before the truck was retired. It won't be a freeway flyer with the Lincoln motor and the stock truck rear end, but it'll be okay around town and is most definately a "10" on the "cool-o-meter"...which it would totally lose if you put in a non-traditional small block Ford engine as some have suggested.

You won't be needing power steering with the Lincoln - it's not that much heavier than the stock flathead and these trucks are very easy on the arms in stock form. And, with any luck you'll be able to find a vintage overdrive ****** that will bolt up to the Lincoln mill.

In short, don't let yourself be bullied by the power steering pansies and the Ford-inna-Ford-or-Death crowd. They represent only a very small portion of the traditional hot rod universe - loud and pushy, but only a small part of the HAMB community.

Here's what you can do right now to help move your project along: Take some good photos of the transmission area in your truck. Remove the transmission cover (that part of the floor which is above the transmission) and photograph the bell housing, clutch, transmission mount attachment area and any remaining linkage from the clutch pedal. Take a couple of photos of the rear axle, springs and driveshaft while you're at it, just for reference.

Then, post the photos here and ask for information on what ****** used to be in that hole. I think you'll be amazed at the depth of information you'll find if you ask the right questions of the right people.

 

John, take a minute and join the "jailbar" social forum here on the HAMB, ask some guys who have actually Built, Own and Drive these pickups.

social forum link
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/social-forums/ford-jailbar-truck-owners.257/




Here is my "cheap" built beat-up daily driver, runs, drives, steers and stops like a late model (alas not HAMB traditional).

build mess link
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/a-pic-of-some-progress.902169/

 

Haha yeah I get a little one tracked. I'll continue to look for a solution to keep the flathead. I am a football coach so I won't be able to do much of anything until Christmas time anyways.

I'll work on getting those pics posted soon.

 

"Ford-in-a-Ford" is misleading, at best. Open mindedness is your friend. Consider all, then weigh pros and cons.
Who said the small block Ford fit right in any early Ford? (and that everything Ford was interchangeable???) F-Es fit in more early stuff than 302s... LOL

 

Hi. Nice truck to build up. If you decide to not redo it I would like to hear from you should you decide to get rid of it. I can roundtrip Denton with a trailer & back home in a day. Good luck, Jimmie

 

Thanks for the offer, but I'm pretty dead set on getting this thing on the road. It belonged to my late uncle and my ain't gave it to me.

Luckily, it's spent the last 66+ yrs in the panhandle of texas and doesn't have much rust to speak of. I just brought it here last month.

I'm not set on any one option, I'll keep researching and figure out what's best for me.

 

I didn't even know this existed. Do I need to be a paying member to see it? When I click on the link it says I don't have permission to view it

 

JF,
You may just need to join the forum, pull down menu "forum tools" middle/right (several forums are like that)

 

Alright, I posted a thread there to pick their brains a little.

I am still just weighing my options and am not in a huge rush.

 

The 337 V8 came with the Borg Warner T85 trans in 49-51 Lincolns. This was a heavy duty 3 speed trans that came with or without Borg's optional overdrive. They had the large 1-3/8" dia ten spline input if I remember correctly. You'd need the manual trans bell housing that accepted the 4 bolt mounting of the trans. Column shift unless you can find an old Hurst shifter made for the T85.

 

Ok thanks for the info.

I have looked for a borg warner t85 everywhere I can think of and am having no luck. Most of the guys I talk to are very pessimistic about me finding a ****** that will fit.

I will try to get some more in depth pics posted this weekend.

Does anyone know what rear end would swap right into a 47 width wise? I can weld new perches,etc.

 

eye candy. not mine though

There is a reason for that. They could not find a suitable transmission then. This is probably the main reason it has sat for so long.

The Lincoln needs to go, nothing but heartbrake and empty wallets there. They were poor a design then, only suitable for the giant Lincoln cars and the biggest of F-series Trucks. They are also prone to cracking, in the cylinders, between the cylinders,valve seats and block bearing webs. My brother's statement about some factory stuff applies here.

It will be a major and expensive pain in the *** getting that Lincoln to work.

While I agree with some of missysdadl's sentiment but to refer to the Ford Fairlane/ Ford Challenger V8 series as non traditional is ludicrous. 221s, 260s and 289s non traditional, now that is laughable. Heck, a 302 is pretty much just a 289 with a 3" stroke.

My advice for flathead power, find a 59A or better yet a 48-52 R series 239 Flathead V8 and transmission out of a 48-52 F-1 through F-5 Ford truck. You will want the three speed top shift transmission (51 and 52 were column shift) as the 4 speeds were spur gear requiring double clutching. The 49-53 8Ba car engine is the same and if it was set up for a car you will have to change water pumps to the early style truck type as the engine mounts to the frame through the water pumps.
The early 59a and F Series flathead V8 will bolt in unless the mounts have been hacked up by putting that Lincoln BS in there.
Here is some info on transmissions.http://www.vanpeltsales.com/
Now Ford trucks up to 52 clutch linkage that used a lever bar that went directly into the side of the transmission. So if you want a later style manual transmission, new clutch linkage will have to be designed.
Going back with the original style 59a flathead and transmission or the F Series to 52 should be a bolt in, again if that stuff has not been screwed up.

Now the ever traditional FF/Challenger V8 is pretty much a bolt on also.http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Small-Block-Ford-Crossmember-Motor-Mount,3274.html This is a cut to fit tube mount the uses the side mounting pads on the engine block.
http://www.speedwaymotors.com/1962-1994-S-B-Ford-289-302-Engine-Mount,6724.html
This is based on the Hurst type mounts that will allow you to mount the engine to the 47 flathead frame stands. It says you cannot use a mechanical fuel pump, but I do on my old Hursts. I use a later style 80s?? fuel pump that is not as big as the earlier pumps. Now the dimensions on these may not allow that but I think the smaller pumps will work even if you have to slightly notch the mount..

With a C-4 automatic you should be able leave the rear 47 transmission crossmmember in tact as you can in a F-1. Many will cut out or carve on this crossmember to fit a C-4 but is is not necessary at least on a F-1 that used the pretty much the same engine and transmission.

You do not have to go with the SB Ford but if you do it's pretty easy. I like the 60s 289 302s. Beware of the early 5 bolt 289s as they limit you with transmission choices.

Give the rear axle a chance, if it's too low you can always change it.
The front end should do fine also of course with the components rebuilt to new as needed.

 

Great info thank you!

 

So the earlier 302 WILL fit in the 47 without modifying the firewall? I'm getting conflicting info on that. Some say it'll fit just fine and some say that it's too long and needs a shorter water pump setup.