Anyone ever thought about flathead ford?

Was thinking it would be fun and different, but the bellhousing on them is wierd. Would it work with any sort of somewhat modern tranny like t-18? What about size and weight?

 

just recently discussed:
http://www.earlycj5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16617

 

Thats what i get for laying in bed at 10.30p.m. Should have done a search first. Sorry. Thanks

 

that's okay {shrug}
who woulda thought !
you could be the first

 

Flat -O- can do adapters for that but the power to weight on them is kinda rough for a Jeep..

BUBBA

 

T-98 transmissions that bolt up to Ford bell housings are awful common....

and cheap!

 

I thought the main reason not to was the size? Old engines are typically big and heavy for their displacement.

Lots of other interesting engines out there that would be a much better fit. A Chevy 153 puts out as much (more?) power as a Ford flathead, weighs half as much, and fits a lot better. The Jeep 150 or GM 151 too, or a Mercruiser/Forklift 181. Ford made some cool industrial V4s, same as the Saab engines but more displacement.

 

Good analogies Tim. I guess these days you gotta want a flathead Ford for nostalgic reasons and realize there many many more options. I'd prefer to put it in a street rod, seems like that would be better use. But it does have that sound...

 

A v4 huh? Hmmmmmmm

 

Heh heh. Great engine, but try finding one.... how many Saab 96s have you seen lately?
http://www.answers.com/topic/ford-taunus-v4-engine

BTW the GM/Mercruiser marine/industrial 181 engine makes 140HP in stock trim, twice as much as the F4.

 

what about a turbo 2.3 ford from a mustang SVO? Or even a 302 for that matter, they are very light. Or a turbo 3.8 buick... the list goes on... I do kinda like the sound of the turbo 2.3 ford.....


BUBBA

 

The wierd engine swap is more of a "cool" factor than a "makes the most power" factor. If all i was after was power you couldnt beat a small block chevy or ford built to the hilt. I just thought it would be cool to have a flathead in a flat fender....something besides a flat 4. How about a 4 cyl diesel? Probably to heavy. Oh and Timgr is right....v4 must be rare....Ebay doesnt have them...lol.

 

You mean like this?

 

Ooh, I like it. Makes you wonder how well it performs on some of those Rocky Mountain passes, considering you're in Colorado. Apparently the extra bulk of the turbo isn't a problem. Power steering too. Very inspiring!

 

It performs quite well. I have no trouble exceeding the speed limit up any hill I tried. I just had it out in the sand over the 4th, that was a blast too. Fitting the turbo wasn't any problem, what was a problem was the stock Ford power steering pump. It would have been right in the frame. I ended up mounting a Saginaw pump in the alternator bracket and I mounted the alternator in a smog pump bracket on the other side. There's a writeup here.

 

Thanks for posting the link to that site. i have a 2.3 in the garage that is going in a flatfender as soon as i find one. I am planning on putting a turbo on it too. I have the adapter and all of the parts i need but dont have the flatfender yet.

 

if it moves chrome it anyway!!!

 

I just saw an adapter to do this on the Willys tech board for $150.
http://www.willystech.com/parts/messages/20261.shtml