Pros and cons of Lincoln flatheads

[51 MERC-CT]

Originally Posted by Henry Floored

The Lincoln 337 engine conquered "La Carerra Pan Americana" a couple times powering the cars through a tremendous torture test.

The cars were not powered by a 337 Flathead but by an OHV engine first used in 1952.

[skidmarks]

We

Originally Posted by 51 MERC-CT

The cars were not powered by a 337 Flathead but by an OHV engine first used in 1952.

They are talking about the 49 to 51 lincoln flathead that was used also in ford trucks f7 and F8.
The 52 ohv was either a 279 or a 317 and looks like a big Y block. Same deal lincoln cars and ford F7 f8 trucks starting in 1952.I had two big trucks with them . A 55 ford tandem t750 and a 61 ford F800.

Or did you mean the winning road race car was a 52 lincoln and they never raced the flathead lincoln?

[51 MERC-CT]

Originally Posted by skidmarks

Or did you mean the winning road race car was a 52 lincoln and they never raced the flathead lincoln?

Exactly.

[Henry Floored]

Originally Posted by 51 MERC-CT

The cars were not powered by a 337 Flathead but by an OHV engine first used in 1952.

The 337 Lincolns were raced in '50 and '51. While they didn't win overall they ran very competitively with the new OHV Gm V8's most notably the Olds 88.

There are pictures of these 337 Lincolns getting airborne during the race. They couldn't have been all that bad.

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by Henry Floored

The 337 Lincolns were raced in '50 and '51. While they didn't win overall they ran very competitively with the new OHV Gm V8's most notably the Olds 88.

Those Olds V8s were ONLY 303 CU IN. DD

[Henry Floored]

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Originally Posted by V8COOPMAN

Those Olds V8s were ONLY 303 CU IN. DD

Don't know what to make of this. The Hudson Hornets used to give 'em fits.

[skidmarks]

Originally Posted by Henry Floored

Don't know what to make of this. The Hudson Hornets used to give 'em fits.

49 to 53 were 303 ci. 54 it went to 324

[Walt Dupont--Me.]

Originally Posted by skidmarks

49 to 53 were 303 ci. 54 it went to 324

Then they went to 370, I worked for the Olds - Cad Co. in 57 to 60. Walt

[Henry Floored]

Originally Posted by Walt Dupont--Me.

Then they went to 370, I worked for the Olds - Cad Co. in 57 to 60. Walt

Walt I mean this with all due respect either OHV Ford engines were actually terrible or they they had an undeserved terrible reputation during the 50's because it appears to me that hot rodders would convert to any brand OHV except for Ford.

This has bothered me my whole life. Seems like a shame that Ford let their reputation as a V8 company go to hell after the Flathead era.

It is kind of an ironic twist that for two years straight a Ford Y-block has taken top honors in the "vintage engine" class at the Amsoil Engine Masters competition. The class is only two years old.

Now the winners were pretty well built Y-blocks obviously created by two different true "engine masters", but there were also solid performances by less aggressive combinations and even a surprise result from a 368 Lincoln and a 430 MEL.

What was wrong with OHV Fords in the 1950's?

[40 Deluxe]

Originally Posted by V8COOPMAN

Those Olds V8s were ONLY 303 CU IN. DD

Do you think that they remained 303 cu. in. in the race cars??