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The rather ugly French Simca Unic Marmon Bocquet (SUMB) truck (see below) used by the French military was fitted with the Simca built F7CWM Flathead and was built till 1971 and the van version even later.
The Simca built F7CWM Flathead is almost identical to the Ford 8BA made from 1949 to 1954 except for the bell housing that is identical to the early 1932 through 1948 engines.
When the French military started repowering the Simca's in 1994 to a diesel to reduce operating costs and fuel consumption, all the take out engines and NIB Flathead spares were then surplused off. This included a large number of brand new blocks among other bits.
If not for the French Military we would have no new Flathead block's available.
i think that if i was going to change it i would run it with the 350 until i got all the money save up for the swap.i agree a good 302 or 351 would be a good choice.
Explain how new flathead blocks are available thanks to the French military?
The French Military used the engine for years after Ford stopped production. The military vehicles were made by Simca and sold throughout the world. Chrysler bought Simca in the 1970s and continued to make the engine for vehicles sold in Brazil. Then a few years ago the French military sold their stock of blocks to a dealer in used military equipment here in the U.S., Brent Mullins. I believe that he then sold them to several sources.
If a flathead, or 292/312 is the route you want to go, then agree with Hillbilly Bob above, keep the 350 (as much as I hate to say it) while you build the other engine and matching transmission.
If going the 302/351 route, then you should be able to find a complete, running engine/trans with some looking in the common places.
The French Military used the engine for years after Ford stopped production. The military vehicles were made by Simca and sold throughout the world. Chrysler bought Simca in the 1970s and continued to make the engine for vehicles sold in Brazil. Then a few years ago the French military sold their stock of blocks to a dealer in used military equipment here in the U.S., Brent Mullins. I believe that he then sold them to several sources.
OK, I see .....I did not understand the original question.(the fact you had a Chevrolet)
The following will likely aggravate some but here are some key points.
Reasons to keep the Chevrolet.......
1. It's already in there.
2. It's period. Chevy V8s replacing Flatheads has been done since the the 50s. The Chevrolet being a mid 50s design, is pleasing engine to look at. Like all OHV engines of this era, they had eye appeal. They can really be dolled up in 50s early 60s period style.
3. It fits...the reason why the Chevrolet was such a popular swap is it almost fits a flathead car/truck better than the flathead.
4. No big issues to overcome.....If there were any, they would already have been taken care of since it's already in the truck. As said in number 3 they fit well. Exhaust clearance is of little issue.
5. It's a good engine.
6.The drive train is already set up and done.
Reasons not to keep the Chevrolet.....
1.Some people do not like them in Ford vehicles.
2. Distributor in the rear..
3. It is very common.
Reason for a Ford Engine.....
1. The Flathead was original so you know it fits or can be made to fit.
2. Ford in a Ford
3. The Ford sound.
4 Fords are just interesting especially Flatheads. Y blocks and FEs
Reason not to use a Ford...
1.You do not have one right now.
2. The flathead v8 is about a 100 or more horsepower cut in power.
3. The small block Ford, Clevelands and FEs will cause some problems with the drivers side exhaust and closeness to the steering gear.
4. The smallblock Ford is a long engine thay may cause some fan issues.
5. Y blocks are heavy and were not offered in a 53. You may can use 54 up stuff but still it will require some thought about mounting.
6. Fords different families of engines and transmissions and their lack of interchangeability. Their are two types of small block Fords...6 bolt and 5 bolt. Different types of FEs....Flatheads....223s....and all the different bellhousings none swap or swap easily amongst the families...
7. Being a 60s design, small block Fords are not the most attractive engine to look at. With that said, the early 5 bolt small blocks had red or gold valve covers and with the block being black...they looked pretty good under the hood of a Fairlane.
8. FEs are wide up top and they use that giant intake mainfold that goes under the valve covers....no bigge though.
Conclusion.....
Having seen your gallery, I would keep the Chevy and doll up the truck and engine.
For Ford engines....If I was going Ford...I would make the work, worth while. So I would Go....FE 352-390-406-427.
My second choice Y block 292-312...period with 3 Strombergs....
A very good friend of mine went all out on a 312 YBlock for a 55 Ford Tudor Sedan. He built that engine to punish Chevy small blocks....It had a Isky custom grind....dual 4s....jet coat headers custom done...It had the works.
While at a show, he was chastised by the "Ford Guys" for putting a Chevy in a Ford. It was a Ford engine but those those fellows did not know any better. It was not Blue and it did not have a distributor on the front so it was a Chevy in their ignorant eyes.
My point do what you want to do. You can't please everybody so please yourself. Don't let some idiot in a parking lot pick your engine.
If you go Ford be prepared for some work and expense. If that what you want I'm all for it.
The set up you have now is good, really good. If you want to keep it I'm all for that too.
Reasons to keep the Chevrolet.......
....
2. It's period. Chevy V8s replacing Flatheads has been done since the the 50s. ....
The set up you have now is good, really good. If you want to keep it I'm all for that too.
Interesting post from long ago on the HAMB on the subject:
"One reason Fords continued to "rule" (be favored by speed shop owners and magazines) was that no speed shop or manufacturer wanted you to find out that a 2 year old completely stock Cadillac or Olds would destroy a hand-built [flathead] Ford - for less money. The McGurk, Wayne etc. people suggested simply buying a used G.M.C. 270, rather than choking your Chevy 216 to death.
Only current posing favors things that don't work. Back then, these were not fashion statements, they were how to have a fast car if you had no money, and the methods were:
1. bigger engine
2. less weight
"what will they think of my engine?" Are you kidding?!
Flathead engines that set world records (Jocko's Porting) did this with slightly above 200 hp, and this was only arrived at after years of testing and breaking things, it was fragile and very expensive. The fastest flathead engine you can make was inferior to a STOCK 1956 New Yorker engine. Nonsense? No, Don Garlits said so. His pickup truck with a stock junkyard Chrysler 331 was only slightly slower than his flathead rail.
You don't have to "build" a nailhead, Rocket, Chizler etc. at all - the late 1950s stock engines with no speed equipment are beyond what Fords can produce. Cheap example: stock 1958 Saratoga polyspheric 354: 310 hp. Ford [flathead] V8 310 hp is nitrous and a blower... for about 30 seconds.
No one in 1955 said "I'm going for the traditional 65 hp Model B engine for the kewl factor".
If telling the truth makes someone a hater, this country is going over the cliff.
I definitely dislike the idea of Stovebolt power in a FORD, but CHEV did put it on FORD with the SBC.
I respect all domestic car lines (I even had some friends that drove CHEV) and there was one hell of a HP war in the fifties, but CHEV won hands down on that one.
Some great points and arguments made above. I'll add mine, FWIW.
So far as the "Keep it Ford" or another such verbiage:
Do not forget, folks, Ford has installed SOB engines in trucks for a long time. Shucks, they even put a SOB engine in a Taurus.
Somewhere, sometime Ford decided that it may be more economically feasible and they would have a better end product if they were to install a proven engine from a proven manufacturer.
Enter, Cummins, Caterpillar, Navistar, and I am certain there are others.
And really, unless you are building a bone stock show truck, who gives a damn what is under the hood!
Old trucks look better with the hood closed anyway.
Just one old man's opinion. I am certain there are those among us who will have different. All is good.
I'm still voting for the 292 with 3 Holley 94s on it. Although back in high school in 1974 one of the fastest cars in my class was a 1940 ford coupe with a 327 sbc in it. It had been in his family for years so I don't know when it was put in there. Memories from the old days.
I personally did not get rid of my Y-block because of reliability I don't think it was going to quit. I just really wanted the navigator engine in my truck!
It would have been just as period correct for people to swap Y-blocks into a 53 as swaping in a chevy. My 55 VIN tag came with a 239 but the truck had a 272 from 1957....
My truck also came with the flathead in it. The original owner installed the 292 in it in the 60s. It's been in there so long it just seems like OE. I like engines as much as I do the vehicles they're in. Sometimes to rekindle the spark you have to do something to them. Like a new radio for the vehicle. Or new valve covers, air cleaner, (or three deuces, just kidding)! Next thing you know you're reattached to your machine.
No interest or connection to either of these ads. I've been looking for a used dual plane intake for my 351W (with no luck so far) and saw these ads so passing them on.
