Can I swap a flathead 6 with a 59A into my 47?

[46Ford4dr]

I came across a deal for two flathead 59A (might be 59AB) motors. The guy said one is "bad". The other is complete and should run. How difficcult would it be to swap the flathead 6cyl (G series) with the 59A ? I can get the motors for $100... My 6cyl, with a tiny bit of love, might actually run, so I'm tossing these ideas around.

[ford38v8]

Too much work, money, and parts to switch. Better to love your 6 cylinder, as it is a darn good motor, has more torque than a V8, and has none of the overheating problems that a V8 has.

[Bruce Lancaster]

Pretty well covered here, and do go online and find the old HRM article. Big ticket items you need are radiator with yoke and sheetmetal and a v8 trans, ot at very least case.
The article was of course written when '48's were in the junkyards and parts easy to get, and many of the minor changes needed could be handled with non-original stuff, but you do need the parts mentioned as an absolute minimum.
http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showth...=cylinder+swap

[oldford2]

2 major concerns:

I don't think a 59ab will bolt up to a 6 cylinder transmission and you will need a v-8 radiator. Those 6 cylinders are nice, so spend your money/time on the 6 clyinder engine.

[46Ford4dr]

Old, are you running a straight 6? Im having an issue finding a water pump or water pump rebuild for my G series. Ideas? And reading that article just convinced me NOT to do it if I want to have my car on the road any time soon.

[39portlander]

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I would keep the 6. I would love to find a 48/50 Peekup with a flatsix.

Six in a row make it GO. Scott

[jkeesey]

Just went through this with a 47 coupe. I was told you'll need a transmission or at least the case, and a new radiator. Besides the engine everything else is manageable. Any engine can be swapped in with the right amount of time and money.

[tiquer]

I never had a 47 with a six but My first car was a 50 tudor and it had a six and no flathead v-8 in the country could catch it under sixty MPH

[41ford1]

I think once you get the six running and sorted out you will be happy with it. I have the pickup(V8 239CI) and a 53 Courier (6 OHV 215CI). They both feel about the same perfomance level.

FYI, Here is the Joblot price for a rebuilt water pump from the download catalog.

1946-1947 6-Cyl

(Rebuilt) 5GA-8501 99.50*

*Plus 50.00 refundable core deposit
I am sure the other vendors can get you what you need. I just used this as an example because it was handy.

[Pete]

I did this once and it was a pretty cheap changover but I already had the V8 engine.
I had the radiator shop put the V8 outlets in the radiator tanks ($20) and used a V8 floorshift transmission that I had.
Your costs will vary.

[4t8v8]

Admitting my age I guess. I remember well the old dirt track races of yesteryear. Remember they held "Ford only" races because nothing could take the flathead V8's in those races. Can't ever remember flathead sixes doing anything. Never even saw one. Must be my memory?

[Dick Webber]

I've got V8s in a 39 Deluxe and a 49 Mercury. They run great and sound wonderful. My 49 F-1 has the 6 and I couldn't be more pleased with it. Just doesn't have that V8 sound.

[46Ford4dr]

I could pick up two 59A motors right now, for dirt cheap, and the gremlin that lives in all of our heads that says "BUY THAT! ITS A GOOD DEAL!" is nagging the hell out of me. I guess its just the opposite of my wife. Hahaha

[46Ford4dr]

Well guys, the other day I discovered a snapped stud in the head, and one in the block. The snapped stud in the head is where the thermo housing bolted down. Whoever had it before me, snapped it, and then just stuck the other half back in, so I didn't realize it until I started taking it apart. It sat for so long that the nut and stud basically became one piece from rust, and it just came out real easy. Thought that was real strange until I realized where the other half was.

So I drilled out the stud, put a matco extractor in and started turning and SNAP. The extractor snapped. Had a friend from a machine shop come over and check it out. He said that he really can't do anything because the extractor is hardedned, and that's what the tools are that he will be using to get it out. Said its not worth the cost.

SO, I either need a new head, or a new motor. Damnit.

[Pete]

Find the right guy and he can have it out in 5 minutes.

[46Ford4dr]

Like I said, a friend who owns a machine shop was just here, literally left 5 min ago, and said with the way its snapped, that the cost of trying to get it out, because now the extractor is stuck in there, would probably outweigh the cost of getting a different head.

[Richard]

If the six is working dont change it. I am thinking if it aint broke dont fix it.

[Ken/Alabama]

Originally Posted by 46Ford4dr

Old, are you running a straight 6? Im having an issue finding a water pump or water pump rebuild for my G series. Ideas? And reading that article just convinced me NOT to do it if I want to have my car on the road any time soon.

I will take a look in the morning through my 6 cyl stash. I had some new 6 cyl water pumps.

[46Ford4dr]

Richard, the 6 isn't exactly working. It seems like it would run... I was on my way to getting it to run... until now. I've got some thinking to do. Ken, thank you!

[Pete]

"Like I said, a friend who owns a machine shop was just here, literally left 5 min ago, and said with the way its snapped, that the cost of trying to get it out, because now the extractor is stuck in there, would probably outweigh the cost of getting a different head."

And like I said, find someone that knows what he is doing and he can have it out in 5 minutes...Would you have your Vet do open heart surgery on you??? Same deal here,
you need a specialist....There are probably at least 20 guys reading this that are familiar with digging out broken bolts and tools..Just find someone near you that can do it. Oh,and it can't be done over the internet.