337 flathead in my 1939 coupe?

[itsa52]

Power to weight ratio is bad parts are going to be a problem,, but then if those things concerned us we would all be driving sbc's

Go for it..

I am close enough,,let me know how it's going I may trip over and help (or watch)

[Mike51Merc]

By the time you add up the costs and take rarity of parts into consideration, for a couple of more nickels you can have the flattie that everybody wants instead of the one that nobody does.

[denverslim]

Originally Posted by Dale Fairfax

Go for it! I have one in my '53 F-100 and love it. (And BTW, the crank does NOT weigh 300#). Most of the negativism expressed on this and other sites comes from people who have no personal experience with one of these torque monsters. Heavy? Yes, but probably no worse than the Cadillac flathead which seems to be revered in many quarters. At 152 H.P. stock, it's in an area that the typical 255/239 reaches only after extensive modification. The hottest 255 was, as stated, 125 H.P. That's still 27 H.P. less. To beat the 337's 152 with the smaller engine requires making the small one bigger. Apply the same techniques ( bigger bore, more compression) to the 337 and who knows what the result might be. [O'size pistons are available, the heads can be milled, and headers are easy to make.]

I'm glad to see Dale jumping in on this post. Here's a guy with REAL experience, not just some guy pontificating about them. He's done it and he loves it!

The arguments against the ole 337 are the same ones I hear all the time from the chevy guys about ALL flatheads--too big, no power, too heavy, blah, blah, blah.

Go for it. Keep us posted!...slim

[rotorwrench]

The 337 fits real good in the 49 through 51 Lincolns and the F7/F8 trucks but the little 39/40 cars have more limited space. The 337 was a wonderful big old boat anchor of an engine and ran real quiet & smooth but it may be a b!tch to get it to fit in the smaller engine compartment. It might be just as easy to put a V12 in there if someone wants a Lincoln engine.

Some folks like a challenge but there is a lot to be said for keeping things simple even if it costs a little more.

[Henry Floored]

There is a 337" Lincoln powered Model A coupe I think in England that hauls tail! There is a video of the car somewhere on the net. When the guy stomps on the gas the big Lincoln throws the coupe forward. I think it would be a very interesting choice for a `39 Ford. A helluva lot better than brand x, y or z.

[Vic Piano]

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The 337 is the height of Flathead development. While it was originally built to be used in "big" trucks, it was the perfect power plant to replace the V-12 in the '49-'51 Lincoln and Cosmopolitan. The Lincoln 337 got hydraulic lifters. As I mentioned in an earlier post, there was a guy who installed a 337 in a ’39 Ford CS back in the ‘50’s.

[denverslim]

I have posted this before, the 337 I have on a stand waiting for me to complete my other 997 projects.
My old buddy Tom, who has since passed on, loved Ford flatheads old Mercs and Lincolns. When I asked him if we should rebuild the 337 when I found it, was it worth keeping?
He would close his eyes, I'd see his memory banks flipping back 60 years and say "that was one hot flathead!"
Here is the link to the start up, the garage was a'rockin'...slim

[Vic Piano]

Outstanding... Why not drop that 337 in the Mustang... That would be different.

[hotrod1940]

Back in 1957 I had a Lincoln Coupe in the Autorama and you can see from the sign, it had a Lincoln 337 Flathead. Had Isky cam, 4 barrel carb with adapter, Mallory ignition, Duals, and milled heads. Ran an overdrive.

I couldn't outrun a 57 Chevy, but I tore up my brothers new 1958 Ford.

That old Lincoln would haul ass in second gear overdrive.