Introduction
 

I just acquired a '37 Ford PU Hot Rod that has a Caddy 500 engine installed. I want to remove that engine and replace it with a Flathead.

I tried to join another Flathead group that appears to be based in the UK and was told I could NOT use my email address on that list. No explanation, but just I wasnt welcome. So I am here hoping that I will be welcome here.

I have many old cars and one with a Ford engine, a Lola 540 Formula Car with a Cortina engine. The '37 pickup needs the Caddy removed and a flathead installed.

Re: Introduction
 

welcome to the 'Barn....lots of knowledge about the flatheads here...what else is in the pickup??....got pics??....Mike

Re: Introduction
 

Welcome from someone who is also new here. When it is time to sell the Cadillac list it on the Hamb which is a different forum but connected to this one.

Re: Introduction
 

You should get lots of help between here and the H.A.M.B. Welcome.

Re: Introduction
 

Jim, welcome to the barn. We'll forgive the Caddy 'cause we know your intentions are good! Pictures are priceless, show us some please? It must be a pretty old hotrod to be powered by a Cadillac engine! Possibly consider the engine as part of the provenance and just preserve ity and drive it?

Re: Introduction
 

Welcome to the FordBarn, Caddy and all!:):cool:

Re: Introduction
 

Welcome aboard! Always good to have new members. Looking forward to seeing your P/U. Don't hesitate to ask questions. There's a wealth of knowledge here and sharing is the name of the game.

Re: Introduction
 

I have a hard time imagining a Cad shoe horned into a '37 pickup engine compartment. Is it done "old school" with an adapter to the Ford trans.?

If you need a flathead, I have one that I soon hope to start on an engine stand up here by San Antone.:)

Welcome to the 'barn.

Re: Introduction
 

Welcome to the barn. It's nice to see someone installing a Flathead instead of removing one. There is a learning curve to Flatheads but once you get it you will want to put one in everything. You will be able to find anything you need to know on here.

Re: Introduction
 

Welcome on. I hope the previous owner didn't cut the old 37 up bad so you can get er back to stock or at least FORD. There are several well knowledged folks on this board about the 35/36 and 37 Ford commercials.

I figure if a guy wants to post his web address or phone number he can. You might get some strange e-mails or call but what the hey.

Re: Introduction
 

Welcome home, to a place you never been before....

Re: Introduction
 

i had a 40 with a caddy in it it fit very well no cuting did they install it with an auto trans did they convert to open drive if they did you have a lot of work ahead of you in m.o.p if it runs good leave it in there if some one don,t like it they don,t have to look at it

Re: Introduction
 

Welcome to the Barn. You've come to the right place.

Re: Introduction
 

Welcome, sure would like to see some pics of the truck and engine. Most of the guys here prefer stock Fords which I respect. But all of my life I have always had to tweak them so I'm the hoodlum in the barn. I love old Fords that were played with so to see your truck would be great if you could post some images.

Re: Introduction
 

Hey Jim, The BARN door is open to all those who wish to enter. So, come on in with a big WELCOME. Now, the rule is you must post pix of your hot rod.

Re: Introduction
 

Everyone wants pictures. I cant figure out how to detach them from the Ebay web page so I will just post the URL so you can look for yourself.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1937-...exp=true#v4-40

Picked up this morning in St Louis. Only problems, a recalcitrant electric fuel pump. $40 should solve that. Runs great....as long as there is gasoline in the carb.

Couldnt find the serial number on the chassis, but we didnt know where to look.

Re: Introduction
 

Not sure this is the place for your car, and I think the HAMB wouldn't be too excited about it either. It is not a traditional hot rod in my opinion, more to the dreaded RR.

Re: Introduction
 

Those Limey Bastards.

;)

Re: Introduction
 

That was unexpected. As it stands it's not really suitable for this forum, but if you're going to revert it to a flathead that's all right by me. A flattie is a flattie no matter what it's in. There's a member here with a bren gun carrier that is flattie powered.

Re: Introduction
 

so what is the distinction? A paint job???

Re: Introduction
 

My truck is a 36' with a 37' cab. Had an 8BA in it when found. These fit in kinda snug but seems to work out fine. Makes real good power with the light weight of the truck. One thing, determined I have a later steering box. This might have been put in to help with the fitting of the 8BA. Would have to see them both side by side, but it works. I also had to go looking for the vin-ID # for reg. purposes. Could not find it any where. Did some research and found it is supposed to be on top of LH frame rail, under the box. Believe me, it's easier to find a cop who is a car guy to sign it off than it is to do it all legit. I hope TX. DMV does not hold your feet in the fire like Ca. did to me! Good luck with your new project.

Re: Introduction
 

Re: Introduction
 

Jimisbell,
Welcome to the Fordbarn. Swap that Caddie out with a Ford Flathead and enjoy your ride!

Re: Introduction
 

here's a link to MacVP's website, which has a wealth of info about flatheads, transmissions, etc..etc....link will show where to look for serial number...good luck....Mike

http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/f...ialnumbers.htm

Re: Introduction
 

Welcome to the barn! You will fit in fine.
Eddie

Re: Introduction
 

lololol :D

After a good laugh from Mart's post, I wanted to come back and say....

jimisbell, welcome to the Fordbarn! Regardless of the type of car you have and which engine powers it, I'm sure you can and will learn something here most every day. Also, I am betting you can teach some of us a thing or two as well. It's all good. Enjoy your car and have fun.

Re: Introduction
 

In my limited experience and knowledge I will try to clarify the issues as I know them.... FordBarn is predominantly restored Ford vehicles. There are many on here that have both restored and hotrodded, or mildly modified ( better brakes, 12 volt etc.) . The HAMB which is the bottom forum in the link if for any make hotrod.

That said, there is considerable backlash against vehicles classified as a ratrod. I gather it is like porn, no one can clearly define it, but they know one when they see it. In my definition, a ratrod looks like a car put together in a junkyard with spare parts. Not just the primer, but things like tractor grills and odd parts. I think yours flirts with the line between hotrod and rat rod, part the paint and part a lack of refinement (like the interior).

It has the makings of a nice rod. In addition to the flattie I would redo the dash, clean up the floor panels....

Re: Introduction
 

Well.........not to start an argument....but I didnt bring it up.....

1)I dont see paint being a reasonable criteria. I have seen glossy paintjobs that look worse than a good flat paint.

2) I grew up with hot rods in the 1950s, graduated HS in '54. Hot rods are any car with a non stock engine PERIOD.

3) Rat Rod was a term coined in the 1960s by people that wanted to feel better about spending huge amounts of money on a car made out of steel tube and plastic containing ONLY one true automotive product, the engine. It gave them someone to look down upon after their silly expenditures on a car that would never grace a racetrack.

4) if the difference is "finished/unfinished" then I think that is a very inane criteria.

I will say no more on the subject except to cite my 77 years and 120+ cars of expertise growing up in Southern California.

Re: Introduction
 

Bottom line is; it's your car, do as you please! :D I have to say, according to some of the previous descriptions (to classify a car as a "rat rod", i.e. paint & interior), at the moment our '39 Lincoln Zephyr Convertible Club Coupe would fit that criteria...:confused: I seriously doubt that anyone, including the author of that aforementioned description, would classify our '39 LZ as a rat rod...:eek:
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...psf7407041.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps54fa8586.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...pse037a681.jpg

Re: Introduction
 

Put a Flathead in it and I'd drive it.

Re: Introduction
 

Vic, that Zephyr is one of the nicest looking 'rat rods' that I have ever seen :D ;)

Re: Introduction
 

Thanks John... I appreciate that :D:D:D:cool: Guess I'll have to call her the "Zephyr Rat" from now on...;)

Re: Introduction
 

Jim,
Welcome to the FordBarn.
JJ

Re: Introduction
 

Its got a TH400 Automatic tranny in it.

Picked it up yesterday morning in St Louis. Only two things noted, the electric fuel pump is not functioning ($40 will fix that) and the right front brake caliper was frozen and had to be dismantled to move the car. ($150 should fix that).

All in all I am very satisfied with it.

I have, under my bench, a pair of ancient Edelbrock intake manifolds for a flathead, one for two and one for three Stromberg 97s, and three Stromberg's, and I also have a pair of Navaro, finned, aluminum heads. Been saving these for 40 years to put on a flathead. Now I need to find a flathead and tranny combination.

I need to swap out that auto tranny to keep my wife from using it to transport her old lady friends to tea....LOL

Re: Introduction
 

There are guys one here that get a new one torn for them when they have an otherwise stock pickup that has a later 5 speed gearbox fitted. Same sheet metal, same interior, same axles, outward appearance the same as stock.

The barn is primarily for restored fords, but generally people have the good grace to tolerate cars and trucks that are a little way off stock but still heavily early Ford - in other words hopped up later flattys, hydraulic brake conversions, even t5 tranny's.

But, come on, lets not kid ourselves, your car is so far out of the fordbarn remit that plainly and simply put, it does not belong here.

If you want to be taken seriously, don't pretend that the only difference between that vehicle and a restored stocker is the paint.

If it still looked like the 37 pickup it claims to be, but had an early caddy lump adapted to the early ford box then you might slide in, but even then it's a slender "might" (I doubt it even then) but I'm sorry, I don't know where you would go to feel at home with that one, but it ain't here.

I know we're all supposed to be supportive and not say anything nasty, but I couldn't hold it any longer. I have moderated my language and comments from the first ones that came into my head.

Ok, lets end on a positive note - if you want to build up a nice flatmotor with some nice goodies, great, there will be plenty of people offering advice and help. Only it would be better if it were destined for something that resembles the early ford it was when it was built.

Mart.

Re: Introduction
 

Re: Introduction
 

Jimisbell, no disrespect and it is a very cool ride but I have to agree with Mart. Maybe the HAMB side.

Re: Introduction
 

Well, I thought the whole thing was about Flatheads.

Secondly, I never said it was a restored or about to be restored truck. I stated from the get go that is was a Hot Rod and I wanted to put a period Flathead in it.

I guess you two guys would really enjoy that English site. They wouldnt even talk to me!!

But I am the newcomer here so its not my choice. You want me to go???

Not saying I will.....LOL

Re: Introduction
 

Thank you Vic Plano.
My two cents. (or Less)
I am on 3 different forum's.
HAMB for Hot rods and customs.
Ford barn for stockers and the wealth of flathead info.
Rat Rods Rule or RRR for the amazing talent and creativity that is shown in many of these builds. And I use the same name on all of them.
There I said it!
The HAMB is the one that trashes the so called Rat Rods as being pieces of junk thrown together. To dispell that notion I suggest a vist to Rat Rod Rule and take a look at some of the workmanship.
When i started my current build I posted a thread on RRR because I knew what would happen on the HAMB as it would be considered a rat rod. Now that it is changing directions slightly to a Full on custom some Hamber's that have seen pics want me to post a build thread as well. Rat rod or custom the quality of the workmanship is still the same. Done by me.
The bottom line for me is this. Restoration, Hot Rod. Custom, Rat rod. Well built is well built regardless of what we call it.
p.s. I am running a totaly stock 41 Ford chassis with an 8ba flathead and 3 on the tree.
Torchie.

Re: Introduction