French Flathead with C4
 

Anyone on here have any experience bolting a C4 to the French Flathead using the Flatomatic kit?

Re: French Flathead with C4
 

I have a 59ab oil pan supposedly modified for the Ford starter which I think the Ford-o-matic kit uses? I will get a pic out to you sometime tomorrow, Gary, if that helps you ....

Strangely enough it was supposed to go behind and came with a French block and corner parts I picked up years ago ....

Re: French Flathead with C4
 

Just what are the benifits of a French Flathead?

I know.

French Benifits
https://i.pinimg.com/736x/6e/46/23/6...b2d5e27c99.jpg

Re: French Flathead with C4
 

.

The benefits are that it is a BRAND-NEW clean, un-rusty, non-worn-out, high nickel content, freshly-bored, non-cracked and non-leaking, factory-relieved block.........for starters! I have one still in cosmoline, still in the crate. DD

http://flatheaddrag.com/Images/imagesfr/french01.jpg

Re: French Flathead with C4
 

I have one as well and it will be built soon!

Re: French Flathead with C4
 

Even though I manufacture the 5 speed kit and have a trans I thought at 75 it would be nice to have an automatic for a change. A friend has a Flathead powered deuce sedan with a C4 and it really works good. He's also running one of the old Flat Attack fuel injection units I used to sell along with one of my 409 water pump kits with air conditioning. I'm thinking of putting this FH in a new chopped highboy deuce sedan?

Re: French Flathead with C4
 

Nothing wrong with "graduating" to an automatic. The '39 trans I have in my truck I bought from the owner of the local muffler shop. He has a stunning '39 convertible that he was having trouble driving due to having to use a clutch. I'm guessing he is in his late seventies but not positive. Anyway, now he can keep enjoying his convertible and if he gets the urge for a manual he still has the '39 p/u he bought when he was in HS.

Re: French Flathead with C4
 

This'll be your second one, right? My wife bought mine over the telephone from Richard Lejeurne at Halibrand as a surprise Christmas gift when Richard first started importing these things way back when. DD

Re: French Flathead with C4
 

As I recall, the French oil pan is similar to the 59A. So, is your inquiry associated to the torque converter bolts? I made a removable window in the bottom of a stock 59A pan for access to the C4 converter. Worked as expected on the 59A.

Re: French Flathead with C4
 

Normally you use a 59A pan on the French motors. The 4" motors at least as the pan is very different.

Re: French Flathead with C4
 

That’s when I bought my first one - they even made a mistake in the shipping cost saving me $100 at the time .....

Re: French Flathead with C4
 

The French oil pan is completely different - at least the military issue.Here is a pic. The 59 A interchanges. Here also is a pic of the different French Alu pan.

Re: French Flathead with C4
 

I am using a 59 AB pan.

Re: French Flathead with C4
 

The C-4 conversion will fit the french block perfectly. The Important part is to be sure the torque converter mounting pads are square to both ends of the converter the pilot end and the snout that goes into the C-4 that drive the pump. Any run-out off center on either end of the converter will eventually result in a broken flywheel. Also be sure the converter is not bottomed out in the transmission when everything is bolted to the engine the converter needs to pull out a bit when touching the flywheel face. The hard part of this conversion on the French block and and 48 and earlier block is the way the oil pan covers everything up making it very difficult to see whats going on and also impossible to bolt the converter to the flywheel. So some modification is needed to the stock 59A pan however if you can locate a two piece truck pan seeing whats gong on and bolting the converter to the flywheel will be a whole lot easier. Or modify the stock 59A similar to the way the two piece pan is amde. On my race car I run C-4 transmission and at one time I ran a French block for testing everything worked well when I took the time to check and detail everything for reliability as a wrote above.
Ronnieroadster

Re: French Flathead with C4
 

I assume finding a 2 piece pan is like looking for Hens teeth?

Re: French Flathead with C4
 

Good job I read this, I have a two piece pan that came with a pile of engines I got , I was going to junk it ,not now it’s stored up in the mezzanine floor.
Lawrie

Re: French Flathead with C4
 

even worse, a male Hen

My mistake, Seems like Australia has male Hens

Re: French Flathead with C4
 

Maybe more rare as in 'chicken LIPS'! Them things are RARE!! Fortunately, these pans ARE out there.......occasionally! DD

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...0&d=1486322117

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...1&d=1486322144



..............

Re: French Flathead with C4
 

Actually there not that difficult to find. From what I understand all big trucks had them. Also from time to time I have seen two piece pans for sale here on the barn. And also have seen many more at Hershey.

Re: French Flathead with C4
 

Here is one that sold 2 days ago.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1932-1947-F...sAAOSwXrpfOF4Y