Originally for my rebuild i was looking into restoring the original 239 flathead. Now im looking for ideas on swapping the original engine for something with a little more horsepower and interstate worthy.

Vehicle: 1951 Ford F2

Engine: 239 V8 Flathead

Transmission: 3 speed Heavy Duty. Floor shift. Was there a 4 speed with overdrive?

Is there an engine/transmission combo that i can swap into it to make it a floor shifter still?

The problem is trying to find another flathead to put into it. the Rebuild for the 239 is just not cost effective.....

Any ideas? I will be gone all night. If you have an idea and you have to tell me please feel free to give me a call/ txt at 309 648 8002.

 

PUT A 289/302 IN IT

 

I second what arrowheadfred said, 289's, 302's, and 351's use the same motor mounts.

 

I'm not sure what direction you want the build to go but....If I had a dollar for every truck that had a 289/302 swapped into it.....

The flattie is a respected engine,in spite of its shortcomings,my vote is for doing a cheapie rebuild, or finding a cool Merc flathead to stuff in there.

Just my 2 cents.

Cheers!

 

I agree with arrowhead a nice 302 would fit nicely in your truck,
whatever you choose to do i hope that you keep it all ford

 

I agree the flathead would be a heck of an engine to use. I know the SBF's are getting very abundant these days in our type trucks but I think they are definitely better than dropping a SBC into one. Shoot I wish I had a dollar for every SBC I've seen swapped into one lol. But, in the end its what "YOU" want and thats all that matters. Something to think about is if you change the engine/transmission...you have to modify something else...then something else and so on and so forth. It could possibly be cheaper to rebuild the flathead and just change the gearing in the rear axle. A lot of guys get a 9 inch rear axle out of a 57-72 ford truck that has 3.25 gearing or so to be able to enjoy the flathead on the interstate. "Nothing" sounds like a flathead!

P.S. I have a 302/AOD in my 51 because I'm wanting a daily driver and be able to get parts pretty cheap at the parts store. Yes flatheads can be daily drivers and there are quite a few people on this site I believe that use them as DD's. Its just a little more expensive if the flathead breaks compared to the SBF

 

So a 302 will be a direct swap? and please link to a vehicle with a 9 inch rear acle with 3.25 gearing?

 

The 302 is not a direct swap, but it is fairly easy. It's the details that keep you busy. You'll have to fabricate motor mounts, a new transmission mount to go along with the new trans you'll put in there. You'll also have to modify the original transmission crossmember (cutting it to allow the brake/clutch bracket to stay in place).

With all that you'll still have that rear end which is your biggest problem for highway driving. And a 9 inch isn't what you want unless you plan to carry two spare tires. The 9" is a great axle but has only 5 bolt wheels where your F2 uses the standard 8 bolt pattern.


I'd recommend you get a replacement rear from a 57-72 F250 and find a gear ratio around 3.50 Your flathead will cruise all day long at 65mph/2500 rpm with the tires you have.... without overdrive. This is all you need to do to have a dependable daily driver.

By the time you swap in a rebuilt 302, get a new trans, change out the rear end and do all the mods necessary, you'll have more $$ spent than if you rebuild the flathead and change the rear end.

But do what you want. Send the flathead to me and I'll give it a home

btw, NAPA carries a lot of parts for your engine and there are tons of supply houses out there that also make it easy. I lost a waterpump on a cross country trip back in '01 at a farming intersection on the interstate - Minonk, IL. Sacramento Vintage Ford had one on the motel desk in 24 hours.

 

After doing more research it seems like the easiest way is to actually prep the 239 bore it out and start rebuilding. I really would like to get rid of the 8 bolt pattern and get something with a 5 bolt or a 6 bolt pattern. any recommendations to switch out both front and rear?

 

To me stay with the flathead. by the time you spend the few grand to rebuild it you atleast know where you are at. unless you get a crate 302 or 289 then you ar never really going to know what kind of condition they are in. atleast with a rebuild motor you can take back to who ever builds it for you if something was to go wrong. imho.

 

Sorry lol I forgot about the F2's having a different bolt pattern. mtflat is right about getting a 57-72 F250 rear end to match the 8 lug bolt pattern which could be your easiest route axle wise. As for changing the 8 lug to 5 lug for the front wheels you might be able to get a front disc brake kit that has the 5 lug but you will have to research or just call the companies that make them and see if they would fit the F2. I know it has been discussed on here before about changing the lug patterns so hopefully someone will chime in that has done it before.

 

thank you!

 

The spindles on the front axle are the same F-1 and F-2. Anything that will bolt onto an F-1 spindle will work with your truck. You could swap to F-1 backing plates, drums, wheels, and a 9 inch rear end and have 5 lug all around, but why? Part of what makes the F-2 special is it has the 8 lug setup.

If you do decide you have to go 5 lug, there are a lot of F-3 owners who would like your wheels (assuming they are original), rear backing plates, and rear drums.

 

i have a 52 f3 and put a 9" 3.25 rearend in it . i was able to get all the f1 front brake parts on the cheap so i now have a long bed f1 (sort of) the 15" wheels give you more tire wheel options. i have 28" tires on mine but havent tried it on the highway to see what rpms i pull at 60. i would like to drive it a bit so cruising at 62 would be good enough. the engine is a very nice running 215 six. the only drawback the 4 speed spurgear trans.==if you want my stock (one piece wheels) let me know.

 

hey there 3rdshiftdiscretion! where ya been? i don't have any parts to help ya out, but if it helps at all, i have been working on suspension changes since april of last year...now i wish i would have used the original suspension with a different rear axle and disk brake kit. maybe it would be running by now! i am not even close to a drive or even a crank of the starter...and because of my decision to change everything, the truck is gonna lose alot of its originality, character, etc. i would suggest trying to keep, at least, the suspension more original. If not, it opens a whole grat big can-o-worms!