I'm referring to the Industrial Continental Engines F162 and F163, like used on forklifts and welder/generators. I ran across one that was on a welder that had the generator burn up, that i can get for a song. I am not sure if it is a F162 or F163. I have scoured the internet trying to find out if there is any automotive transmissions or adapters for them and i can't find any info what so ever. I know they are not powerful engines but what i am wanting to build will it would only weigh 7-800 pounds at most, and as long as it will hit 65mph or so would be fine. any info would be great Thanks.
Many vehicles used Continental engines over the decades. The first thing I would attempt to determine is if the 4 cyl engine you have shares a block pattern, and crankshaft flange, with any of the 4 & 6 cylinder engines out there. In any case, it shouldn't be too difficult to craft an adapter plate (flat plate) to fit the block and use a suitable bell housing for any number of transmissions out there. For instance, Chevy V8 & late 6 cyl, Ford smaller sixes or V8 models, Jeep, Chevy S-10, etc. I am making an ***umption that your industrial engine does have some sort of flywheel attached at present that could be modified or used as a pattern. Ray
Post some pictures and if possible dimensions of whatever bellhousing is on there now...that will give some leverage for thinking about this.
they do have a spacer like thing off the back of the block with a flywheel inside of that, but i don't have a clue on the bolt pattern. they look very similar to the Willys Jeep L series engines but from what I understand they are not exactly the same. I had thought about making my own adapter but finding a flywheel that would interchange maybe an issue. I'll probably pick up the engine and if all else fails i can always sell it. I like the Flathead and i would like to build a trike around it, more for the WTF factor than anything really.
I don't have a pic of the actual engine i am looking at but this is the same engine. sorry for the bad pic quality this was the only one i could find that showed the flywheel.
That resembles early Ford pattern... Flywheel, if depth is reasonable, could be drilled and faced for a clutch, but it is likely an extremely heavy wheel.
That housing pattern may well be one of the several SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) standard housings that are utilized in industrial/commercial applications. Not the side that bolts to the engine, but the round opening area. A Google search related to SAE housings may yield some info. In worst case, the housing provides a block bolt pattern to work with. As Bruce suggests above, the pattern is similar to early Ford, though I doubt the same. However, early Caddy, Olds OHV V8 engines had a similar housing configuration and were easily adapted to early Ford transmissions with a simple plate adapter. The Ford gearboxes also have the advantage of having the clutch release mechanism as part of the transmission case. Ray
that's a very good possibility as these engines, are more made to just run at a static RPM and not really meant to push a road vehicle. I just like the looks. I have seen an old welder that had the engine swapped to a Ford 2.3 but i don't know what engine it had before the swap.
Last vehicle to use a Continental engine was Jeep six cylinder up to 1962 and Kaiser - Frazer up to 1955. It is possible the 4 cyl Jeeps share the same bellhousing. Graham also used Continental engines. There were lots of cars in the 20s and 30s that used them.
I had found references to them being used back in the 20-30s and jeeps. but I don't know if the bolt pattern is the same, and finding a good vintage transmission may be a job in itself, especially if I'm not 100% sure what will fit.
From the pictures I found...there are three layers of possible adaptation...the engine itself ends with just the block, and so the plate that holds starter and adapter ring is one changeable piece, then the flange where adapter/bell attaches, then the rear ring of that.
Easiest might be to find the bellhousing, flywheel and clutch off a Jeep. They made 2 wheel drive versions of Jeeps and Jeep station wagons with 3 speed trannies. Or, if you had the bellhousing, could adapt a different trans. Some Jeeps used a Ford type transmission. Next would be to make up a plate to fit whatever bellhousing you please but you would still have to find or adapt a flywheel and clutch.
Last year I help sell a Worthington tractor for a friend that had a Continental engine like in the pic hooked to a Ford floor shift ****** and rear. This unit was used back in the day by many gold courses for lawn mowing etc. The fella that bought it is an old school builder and has replaced the engine with a V8 60 bolted to the stock ******. I will try to find out if there was an adapter attached to that Continental block today and get back to you.
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