Lincoln 385 Flathead V8

[DavidG]

For the record, the engine in question was first used in the 1931 Model K when the wheelbase was increased from 136" to 145". It was used again with minor changes in the 1932 Model KA with a 136" wheelbase chassis as a lower price alternative to the 1932 Model KB, an all-new V-12 engine in the 145" wheelbase chassis. The '32 KB 12 was carried over for the '33 model 145" chassis and an all-new smaller V-12 engine was used in the '33 136" wheelbase chassis. An enlarged version of this new V-12 was used in place of the KB 12 for the longer chassis starting with the 1934 model year (and the "B" was dropped from the model designation) along with a continuation of the smaller V-12 for the shorter chassis.

As these were seriously heavy cars (my '31 phaeton has an aluminum body, but still tips the scales at around 5,000 pounds), the horsepower ratings don't mean all that much as what counted was the amount of torque they produced. These engines are very long legged and the cars are surprising capable both in terms of acceleration and top speed. They were the favorites of many major police departments during prohibition, which is somewhat surprising given that you could buy ten new '32 standard phaetons for the price of one '32 KB phaeton and yet given the way they were put together, no doubt they were a financial loss to Ford. To cite one small example, the mechanical clock weighs about ten pounds as a result of it containing a small electric motor to wind up the main spring when it wound down. They are a joy to drive, except to parallel park.

The photos below are of a '31K dual cowl phaeton and an authentically-restored '31K engine compartment (both the cast iron heads and the aluminum crankcase were originally polished).