21 stud flatty question?

Hey fellow HAMBers! My friend recently bought a 1937 21 stud flathead V-8 from an older guy who has a machine shop. And we were wondering if an 24 stud mercury crank would fit into the 21 stud ford flathead. This would not only make it a stroker but would save my friend John a bunch of money since he could use cheaper bearings and then pistons and connecting rod stuff is alot cheaper too. Well thanks for any help!!
Brent

 

i guess all the flatty guys are out partying still,here's a kick for the morning hangover crew.BTTT

 

I'm sure you could get an answer from fordbarn.com

 

Somebody wake up and answer this question. Please, I haven't learned anything new yet today.

 

So does your block have insert bearings or poured babbit. Tim

 

They things you mention about bearing cost makes me think you have a pre-37 engine.

 

Wake Up? Still partying from last nights Patriots win!

Tex Smiths book goes into what is required for that swap. Ive never attempted it tho.

 

i wasn't there to see if the bearings were poured or not i just know they had to beat them out somehow.

 

I think it will fit but why wast a merc. crank on a inferior block (for hot rod use) I think the 37 block is the one all the resto guys want for there older fords so they can have insert bearings and 21 studs. Id trade it off for a good 59a or 8ba. unless your trying to build a very early looking car.

 

It can be done. Two sources with actual experience/pics:
Tex Smith's flathead book shows such an engine in a buildup for antique racing. Ron Holleran, probably mispelled there, author of a good flathead book, is on the Fordbarn early V8 group. I know he recently put together a '37 with 8BA crank, which would require all the same machining. Probably a good application for a used up crank that's down to beyond 040--all the diameters have to go way down anyway.

 

[ QUOTE ]
It can be done. Two sources with actual experience/pics:
Tex Smith's flathead book shows such an engine in a buildup for antique racing. Ron Holleran, probably mispelled there, author of a good flathead book, is on the Fordbarn early V8 group. I know he recently put together a '37 with 8BA crank, which would require all the same machining. Probably a good application for a used up crank that's down to beyond 040--all the diameters have to go way down anyway.

[/ QUOTE ]


Bruce,
The engine you describe is the one Ron built for my AV8. The engine made a nice street engine. It has the Literio L-100 cam, Thickstun with 97's, .060 0ff the stock heads+some comb chamber re-contouring, some porting in the intake and exhaust, and a 24 lb flywheel. It sounds awesome and goes great down the road. I know most think the 59A and 8BA are the best, but I consider them bellybutton engines. (just joking)

 

Nice flatty Paul!

 

Aaah, '37's are bellybutton motors...wait til the restorers see my '32 engine with Evans heads...LOL

By the way, years ago I saw a picture of a '32 roadster pickup running at the Antique-four-ever-four drags in California in an Old Car magazine. This thing was allegedly running a 3 3/16 X 4
'32 V8. It had a skull radiator cap with flapping jaw for extra cool points...

 

You can do it. Ask the older machine shop guy you got the engine from.

I believe that the trick is increasing the diameter of the crankshaft journals. The factory spec for a 1937 engine is 2.3990". For early 24 studs, it's 2.4990", and for '52 and '53 it's 2.4985".

However, you're still going to need to use 3-1/16" pistons (or whatever it's bored out to) and not the cheaper and more plentiful 3-3/16" psitons. Unless, of course, you bore it out an additional 0.125"! In which case you'd have a 255 cid 21-stud motor. Very cool.

Matching the earlier pistons to a later crank will also require special con rods, because those journal diameters are different sizes, too.

So, you can do it, but I don't think that you're going to save money by doing it.

--Matt