1949 2-door Sedan
#1
08-08-2004, 04:05 AM
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Tucson, AZ
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1949 2-door Sedan
I can get a '49 2-door Sedan w/ solid body and glass-passenger window and a running 239 for $1500 is this a good deal and platform for hotrodding? Me and two buddies are having a contest to see who can built the fastest flathead in 6 months. Alex has got a '47 2-door Coupe also w/ a 239 and John got some kind of Dodge. I heard flathead parts are expensive, What are the cheapest mods to gain some hp, also to go faster period. So far I plan on taking the hood and doors off to ditch some weight, tune up, air cleaner, and exhaust. I have about $2500 after the cost of the car to spend on this project. Any tips to cream this guys will be greatly appreciated.
I don't know much about these motors/cars.
Oh almost forgot it's got a 3 spd w/ what I was told are 3.92:1 rear gears out of a station wagon model.
TIA
I don't know much about these motors/cars. Oh almost forgot it's got a 3 spd w/ what I was told are 3.92:1 rear gears out of a station wagon model.
TIA
Last edited by fordflaresides; 08-08-2004 at 04:09 AM.
#2
08-09-2004, 10:53 AM
http://www.flatfire.com./
This link might get you going, but I think they spent more than $2500 on the project.
Flatheads are like any other engine. Your 49 should have the late series flathead, so your distributor should be on a stem like more modern engines. Easiest performance upgrades - headers, 4 bbl carb on an aftermarket intake (don't go above 390 cfm), higher compression heads, cam, etc.
Spend time reading as much as you can - links to flathead sites for msn groups 32-53 flatheads is a great one with tons of extra links. fordbarn.com is super. yahoo groups has a great flathead site as well.
Back to your original question - that flathead started with 100 horses at the flywheel. So you are correct - almost anything else will beat it in stock form. For $2500 you can probably get upwards of 175 HP, but not much more. Your 49 sedan is a pretty heavy platform to start with for racing - that's why the original hotrodders were using lightweight model A's and 32-34's. 3.92 gears should be good for what you're doing. Keep your races short where the flathead torque can work to it's best advantage. 4.27's would be even better. Consider using a C4 conversion - those stock trannies have to be shifted slowly or you'll rip the gears out of them in your first match. They're synchro'd but barely by modern standards.
This link might get you going, but I think they spent more than $2500 on the project.
Flatheads are like any other engine. Your 49 should have the late series flathead, so your distributor should be on a stem like more modern engines. Easiest performance upgrades - headers, 4 bbl carb on an aftermarket intake (don't go above 390 cfm), higher compression heads, cam, etc.
Spend time reading as much as you can - links to flathead sites for msn groups 32-53 flatheads is a great one with tons of extra links. fordbarn.com is super. yahoo groups has a great flathead site as well.
Back to your original question - that flathead started with 100 horses at the flywheel. So you are correct - almost anything else will beat it in stock form. For $2500 you can probably get upwards of 175 HP, but not much more. Your 49 sedan is a pretty heavy platform to start with for racing - that's why the original hotrodders were using lightweight model A's and 32-34's. 3.92 gears should be good for what you're doing. Keep your races short where the flathead torque can work to it's best advantage. 4.27's would be even better. Consider using a C4 conversion - those stock trannies have to be shifted slowly or you'll rip the gears out of them in your first match. They're synchro'd but barely by modern standards.
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