Help. I've got this old truck that's giving me fits. Its 1950 f7 with a. 417 flathead lincoln engine. Its a fire truck. It starts good idles ok. But when hit the throttle it will not run. It missed and sputters. Only way can get engine to speed up is to run with choke half closed.

 

Sounds like the acceleartor pump in the carb, likely hasn't run for awhile and the leather is worn if it an original.

By the way if its a Lincoln Flathead its a 337 C.I.D. with the distributor at the rear of the engine.

 

Rebuild the carb

 

Awesome sounding truck, love to see pictures. Be sure to check the timing on it, it can make a huge difference , mine ran too slow and needed a lot of throttle to not die when using it. The timing fixed that. If the flat head distributer is anything like a y block only a clamp that doesn't work super well holds it in place. Thankfully its a quick free check and easy fix if that's what it is. Mine was off 8 degrees lol

It bogged down pretty bad till it reved up pretty high and then always wanted to die when I tried to get going. Probably in the carb like the others said, but making sure the timing is right can make everything work much better.

 

Hey thanks all. I'm going to try a few things and see if I can get it going better. Thanks again for the help. As for pictures. I've got some but at the moment I'm using the mobile site on a cell phone. And not sure how to load them. So maybe I can load some up soon.

 

1948/51 F7 and larger trucks came with the 337 flathead. FoMoCo had planned to install carryover 1948 Lincoln V12's in 1949 Lincoln's, but at the last moment, decided to use a modified 337 F7 truck engine instead.

 

. Hi thanks for the info. I'm leaning towards thinking the elders in my dept may be mistaken on the engine size. But they still say its a 417. Not sure it does have the distributor at the rear. But I've heard that the 337 only had a one barrel carb. This one has a 2 barrel. It was also rebuilt at least 15 or more years ago. But the guys that knew about the build are no longer with us. This old truck has been a fire truck since new and was our depts first truck ever. Its been settin for a few years and I couldn't stand watchin it just settin there not running.

 

No such thing as a 417 V8 Lincoln engine, either flathead or OHV. It's the "stock" 337 F7 truck engine that FoMoCo modified when they installed it in 1949/51 "baby" Lincoln's and Lincoln Cosmopolitans.

"Baby" Lincoln used the 1949/51 Merc body with the Cosmo's front end.

There are differences in the two 337's, because 1949/51 Lincoln's were available with the Warner 3 speed overdrive, 1950/51's with Hydra-Matic. You won't find either in a truck.

I know the truck 337 uses different cylinder heads than the 337 Lincoln.

No such thing as a 1V 337 carb. The truck 337 uses a Holley 2V carb as does the 337 Lincoln, but the Lincoln carb is not the same as the trucks.

What did the FD use before this 1950 truck, a horse drawn aperatus? Was is a steamer or a hand pumper?

 

Here's what the 337 engine looks like... note the distributor in the rear

 

. Awsome thanks again for all the help. That pic is nearly identical to the engine in the old truck. I think I'm going to go with it being the 337. Is it possible though that when the old guys did the rebuild they may have bored it out to a 417. Or do you think that's to big ?

 

. Lol that's a good one. Hey thanks though. Its lookin like the old guys may be mistaken like I said. But this old truck was the very first truck my little small town had. There wasn't a fire dept here until then. Not sure but I think before that there was only one dept in my whole county.

 

It sounds like you need a tune up. Check the points for cleanliness, probably rebuild the carb, maybe put in a new set of plugs. Here is information on the stock Holley 885 carburetor: Holley Concentric Tech Info - The Carburetor Doctor

 

Thanks to all of you for the info. I've got another question now. Seeing the correct firing order diagrams for the 337 flat head. I think mine may be incorrect. If this is the case will the truck still idle ok but still not take throttle and speed up.

 

Great thanks so much. That helps a bunch. I'm goin 2 take the carb off and see how it looks.

 

I think your "oldtimer" is like so many that I've run into over the years: long on hearsay, short of facts. Probably never saw a Shop or Motor's manual. Which, coupled with a failing memory, contributes to the perpetuation of legend and myth.

Personally, I wish one COULD achieve 417" by boring one out. I'd have one of THOSE. However, in the real world, a +.060 bore job will result in 348.5. Even a .125 overbore will give you only 361". Lack of pistons limited me to +.040 which gave me a puny 344"-not quite as big as a flathead Cadillac (but better IMO).