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Old 08-29-2020, 03:46 PM   #1
Krylon32
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Default French Flathead with C4

Anyone on here have any experience bolting a C4 to the French Flathead using the Flatomatic kit?
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Old 08-29-2020, 10:50 PM   #2
TomT/Williamsburg
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Default 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 ....
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Old 08-29-2020, 11:52 PM   #3
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Default Re: French Flathead with C4

Just what are the benifits of a French Flathead?

I know.

French Benifits
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Old 08-30-2020, 12:06 AM   #4
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Default 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

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Old 08-30-2020, 06:46 AM   #5
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Default Re: French Flathead with C4

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Originally Posted by V8COOPMAN View Post
.

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

I have one as well and it will be built soon!
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Old 08-30-2020, 11:06 AM   #6
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Default Re: French Flathead with C4

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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?
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Old 08-30-2020, 12:14 PM   #7
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Default 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.
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Old 08-30-2020, 03:51 PM   #8
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Default Re: French Flathead with C4

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I have one as well and it will be built soon!
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
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Old 08-30-2020, 05:44 PM   #9
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Default 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.
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Old 08-30-2020, 06:58 PM   #10
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Default 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.
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Old 08-30-2020, 09:35 PM   #11
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Default Re: French Flathead with C4

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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
That’s when I bought my first one - they even made a mistake in the shipping cost saving me $100 at the time .....
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Old 08-31-2020, 07:10 AM   #12
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Default 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.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg French Marmon flathead.jpg (72.2 KB, 56 views)
File Type: jpg French aluminum oil pan.jpg (46.0 KB, 62 views)
File Type: jpg aluminum pan 2 (1).jpg (50.5 KB, 61 views)
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Old 08-31-2020, 08:54 AM   #13
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Default Re: French Flathead with C4

I am using a 59 AB pan.
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Old 08-31-2020, 03:00 PM   #14
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Default 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.
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Old 08-31-2020, 04:18 PM   #15
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Default Re: French Flathead with C4

I assume finding a 2 piece pan is like looking for Hens teeth?
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Old 08-31-2020, 04:45 PM   #16
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Default 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.
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Old 08-31-2020, 04:50 PM   #17
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Default Re: French Flathead with C4

even worse, a male Hen

My mistake, Seems like Australia has male Hens
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Old 08-31-2020, 07:10 PM   #18
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Default Re: French Flathead with C4

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even worse, a male Hen

My mistake, Seems like Australia has male Hens
Maybe more rare as in 'chicken LIPS'! Them things are RARE!! Fortunately, these pans ARE out there.......occasionally! DD







..............
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Old 08-31-2020, 07:41 PM   #19
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Default Re: French Flathead with C4

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Originally Posted by Krylon32 View Post
I assume finding a 2 piece pan is like looking for Hens teeth?


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.
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Owner , Builder, Driver of the First Ford Flathead bodied roadster to run 200 MPH Record July 13, 2018 LTA timing association 200.921 in one and a half miles burning gasoline.
First ever gas burning Ford flathead powered roadster to run 200 MPH at Bonneville Salt Flats setting the record August 7th 2021 at 205.744 MPH
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Old 09-01-2020, 12:03 AM   #20
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Default Re: French Flathead with C4

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