My new military french flathead will be converted to a Hot Rod engine

HOTRODSWE
I'm using a french block to put an Ardun together. I'm having some problems. I'm to the point of removing the big mass of material on the back of the block. What type of plug did you use to plug the holes? Was the block easy to tap or did you just press in a plug? Thanks Erick.

 

Do you vave a French Block that is not relieved??

Every one I have seen is relieved.

Can you do an Ardun conversion on a relieved block??

Mart.

 

I,m also thinking about the relif? The holes are easy, I did just use a oversize plug and press it in

 

The block looks the same as a ford with a little bit of relief. We decided the easist way to do this was to surface the relief off. Now I have to have pistions made. I feel it is better then welding up the block. Preheating the block to weld just scares me.

 

From France - they are still available at reasonable prices.
We plan to haul another batch of around twently engines around next month.

 

Hello, I have worked on a few french flathead...
In my coupe
with a 4/71 blower 232Hp on the dyno

In my roadster, stroked to 304, ful ported and gasket matched.
French blocs are the best!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMeRWBB4psc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RomRw6nJ6qU

 

Yes it's a Pont a Mousson box, but not at all like the Chrysler 300/Facel/Comete one, it's geared for truck use so prety much useless, unless if you get gears cut to fit in there.

 

the French SUMB flatheads have a rev.-limiter (governor) and are rated at 100 PS nominal - carb, cam and valve springs are pretty mild
the SUMB gearbox has a 4x4 transfer case and is quite bulky and heavy, not desireable in a car at all. We are currently working on a Danish 4x4 Ford and might want to use the French transmission.

 

from what i've heard, french rods are a bit longer than henry's. one concern i have is with that center head bolt hole (where we put the exhaust baffles on american flatheads) . has anyone experienced coolant leakage in that area? also, i think red's headers sells a head stud setup for the french engine.

 

I have not seen any leakage problem. H&H Flatheads also have the head stud setup for sale.

 

modification on french flathead lubrification system http://www.rods-customs.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=8254

 

The So Cal store in Sacramento has one for sale... Looks like a very sturdy piece.

4TTRUK

 

Speaking of Flatmotors,..... Anyone know the status of that all aluminum item that was running on a test stand a few years ago ? From the hype,..it seemed almost ready for market.

4TTRUK

 

good job on your french flathead ,mine :

 

Here, find the work to convert a french flathead "Marmon", written by Peter (It's in French, sorry!) :
http://www.rods-customs.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=34
http://www.rods-customs.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=5557


There are various types of flatfrench:
- One type for to use in hot rods was mounted on little military trucks "Simca Cargo" it's 239ci or 3900cc. It's ready to use... with few modifications.


- Another was in "Marmon", it's 255ci or 4200cc, for to use in traditional hot rod Ford, need to make changes... swap the oil pan (because deeper on the front and don't go inside on Ford frame, touch axle...), remove the air compressor truck....etc


Normally there are 24 volts.

There are others frenchflat engines, for example 2200cc, that are not good for hot rods because small...

There is also a German model.


In my coupe, I used Marmon.
It' very good!!!!

I don't understand where it leaking

 

Dan C.

French rods are the same length as Ford, except those for the 4" engines which are shorter than Ford, to allow the use of the same pistons in either engine.

The valve assemblies are shorter, and the lifters are longer than Ford.

I have a French 4" motor in my roadster and it's sweet.

Mart.

 

thanx, mart. dan c

 

And the beauty of it all is, not all of them are like that! Those crazy quiche-eating frogs, like ol' Henry himself, changed things over the many years they used the flathead.

 

it is still a mystery to me why the French army had flathead V8s re-conditioned as late as 1987 ....
how could they tell I needed them in 2010 for my '37 Ford?

 

The frenchflathead were mounted on trucks supplied the French army until about 1986. Many engines were held in reserve, in vacuum containers (see photo below), other motors used to study or practice to military mechanical apprentices.

Many reconditioned engines come from the base of the regiment logistic located in Clermont-Ferrand (FRA)

 

yes - and each one comes with a dyno test tag attached
this Flathead was reconditioned in 1991!

 

Hi french flathead lovers,

i got a question to all of you and i think i know the answer .
The cracks in the two pictures are the end of a flathead (even a french), aren´t they?

greetings

Jan

 

They can be repaired. Lock-n-stitch pins are the preferred method.

 

Also running a 239ci from a marmon in my Coupe (thanks to ventilo, mostly stock. The original Carb is totally useless.

Great Coupe nix! Will you head up to Hangar Rockin this year?

 

Hi Entlebucher!
I went to many editions of the Hangar, already in the old location, but without my coupé.....
I hope to return again this year..

I think I photographed your Ford AV8....... is this???!

 

yes, there are two types of French rods. the 7" rods work in a stock Ford application with the stock pistons and the 3-3/4" crankshaft. there were also 6-7/8" rods which are awesome because you can use them with the 4" Mercury crankshaft and stock Ford pistons. we are sold out of the 6-7/8" rods, but we have a few hundred sets of the 7" rods still available- as well as plenty of blocks.

 

Oh yes, you that's my dirty jalopy Thanks for the pictures, reminds me of cool times!
Great! We have to take a beer, when you make it to St. Stephan (hopefully with your coupe)!

 

Yup, the French we obviously not in a Hurry in battle.
We have a 1989 French block in our 37 coupe. 4" crank decent cam and port valve job and it pulls very well better than an old stock SBC any day.
Our daughter went back to France ( Toluse) yesterday so has instructions to keep an eye out for a cheap French flattie.

 

actually you can convert the crap French Zenith carb into somthing useful using UNIMOG(!!) throttle bodies (remember the carb was designed for severe off-road applications). Here's what we did to a club colleague's F-series truck flatead:
http://public.fotki.com/carsntrucks4you/my1952-ford-f1/239-cui-flathead/zenith-32ndix-carburator/

However I still recommend to sell the Zenith carb on eBay and get Stromberg 97s instead...

 

Thanks Ventilo! Did you use parts from the 404? Damn, my Unimog is a Diesel, slow... but slow


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