A friend and well established engine builder just showed me a Flathead Lincoln V8 engine that was supposed to have come from an F-5. I told him that to the best of my knowledge that motor was not original equipment in an F-5. Am I correct? He bought it as a running engine with two 21 stud complete flathead motors and a 40 split core radiator all for $300.

 

I think they were only in the F7/8, 337 Cu. In.

 

I had a guy offer me a larger flathead v8 292? He said it was the same engine as the big lincolns they were putting in the big boys, f-5, up.
What 's the story on the 292c.i. could he be mixed up with a y block?

 

From Wikipedia (just because it's concise and I'm lazy):

337
This motor was designed for large truck service. When Lincoln could not produce the V12 engine it wanted for the 1949 model year, the 337 motor was adapted for passenger car use. The 337 features a 3.5 in (88.9 mm) bore and a 4.375 in (111.1 mm) stroke.
It was introduced in the 1948 two and a half ton and three ton Ford trucks and the 1949 Lincoln passenger cars. It was produced through the 1951 model year. In 1952 it was replaced in the Lincoln passenger cars and Ford three ton trucks with the Lincoln Y-block 317 cu in (5.2 L) overhead valve V8. The two and a half ton Ford trucks got a 279 cu in (4.6 L) version of the 317 motor.

I'm afraid your friend is mistaking the first big Y-block with a flathead.

 

That's what I thought. Thanks.
If the motor is a Lincoln flathead 337, how desirable is it. what about the 279?

 

F5 came with the 239ci flat 8 typical in trucks up to F6. 337ci is out of a 48-51 F7/F8 truck, or Lincoln car from similar years.

337s are really heavy (~800lbs) so even though some speed parts are available they aren't very popular vs. the smaller flatheads. Also, they are so large they don't fit in the engine compartment of F6 and smaller trucks without some serious chassis / mount / panel modifications.

However, there are always a few of us big job owners looking for 337 engine parts and decent cores so if you want to get rid of it post in the FTE classifieds or an auction site and you're likely to find a buyer.

Not sure about the 279 - overhead valves confuse me


BTW - I'd be interested in the 337, but looks like you are in Maine and it's a bit too far from Seattle...

 

I think you'd get more satisfaction out of poking your eyes out with a fork than messing with either a 337 or a 279/317. Just too rare and $$$ for any but the purists. If you need a torquey big-truck engine, look to the "modern" engines like an FE. (Just my opinion)

 

Thanks for the replies. You have confuirmed what I believe to be the case. Is the wider grill and hood on the F-7 and F-8 there to accomodate the wider 337 flathead? The engine is definately wider.

 

Just to clarify, there are two 1949/51 Lincolns...both used the 337 cid "F7" flathead V8.

The "baby" Lincoln used the 1949/51 Mercury body shell with Lincoln only taillights, trim and bumper.

The Lincoln Cosmopolitans have their own unique body.

The front ends are similar, but the "Lincoln" front end is stubbier than the Cosmo's.

Why have two different Lincolns?

That's EZ, originally the 1949 Mercury was supposed to be the 1949 Ford!

The Deuce looked at the prototypes, deemed the original 1949 Ford too heavy, so a crash program was undertaken to create a new smaller 1949 Ford.

Dick Caleal, who worked for Raymond Loewy, did the design work on the '49 Ford behind Loewy's back, as Loewy was contracted with Studebaker.

Caleal baked the '49 Fords clay model in his wife's oven. The entire design and chassis was created for the 1949 Ford in a month.

The only change from Caleal's 1949 Ford design were the taillights, changed from vertical to horizontal.

1949 model lineup: All new smaller 1949 Ford, the original 1949 Ford became the 1949 Mercury. The 1949 Mercury became the 1949 "baby" Lincoln.

Then there's the flagship, the 1949 Lincoln Cosmopolitan.

Originally it was planned to use the 1948 Lincoln 292 cid flathead V12 in 1949 Lincolns, but the V12 engine (based on the smaller "V8 60") was underpowered, smoked and burned oil like a diesel, knocked like a bill collector...so at the last minute, the V12 idea was scrapped, and replaced by the F7 truck engine.

All 1949 Lincolns have 3 speed manual transmissions w/overdrive. In 1950/51 GM's Hydra-Matic was offered as an option on Lincoln's, standard equipment on Cosmo's.

Hydra-Matic was used on Lincoln's thru 1955.

 

I'm in the process of installing a 337 Flathead into a 52 F6. I have 3 other 337's sitting in the garage waiting for future projects. You could say I like the 337. The motors are a beast and its quite a conversion to get it into a F6 frame and I'm not sure how much more mods I have to do for the body to fit around the beast. I haven't gotten that far yet.

The engine parts are available if you look for them but the transmissions are the hardest to find. If there are any adapter plates out there I'm not aware of any.

I posted some pictures of it in one of my previous posts if you want to look it up. I don't have enough posts yet to start a gallery.

 

Yes you do! In fact the number of posts limits your ability to add pics to posts. Galleries are available right away (AFAIK).

 

Wow, nice pic! Gotta say you are brave. I thought seriously about putting a 337 in my '48 F6, but after looking at all the mods gave up and bought a '49 F8. Plus the 3 ton chassis is nice for heavy hauling.

To the earlier question, yes - the grill, fenders and other trim pieces are larger on F7/F8 to accommodate the larger engine compartment for the 337. And it is a beast - way more pulling power than the 239 even on a heavier chassis. Also, the 5 speed behind the 337 is a syncro which makes driving a little easier.

If I hadn't found the F8, I was going to hunt down a 254ci "Big Six" and T98 combo for the F6. Better torque on the 254 and there are some speed parts available if that's your inclination.

NumberDummy - thanks for the background on the Lincoln cars. I know zip about them aside from using the 337 - nice source for Holley 885 carbs without a truck governor

Gotta love flatheads

 

I look at the big old 337 flathead as a mans motor. It's a big gas guzzler tough power house, big block, flathead motor. Its not one that your going to go down to the corner parts store or junk yard and find parts for. Made only four years makes it rare enough that people will argue with you that there's no such thing as a 337 flathead until you show them.

As for being a desireable motor...it all depends. Some folks got them planning on throwing them in a chopped up Model A until they actually start to. Then they realize that they dont have a frame, springs or tires strong enough to hold weight of the beast. Then the motor goes up for sale. Some want way too much for them and some actually will price them to sell. I've drove up to 500 miles to pick up a 337. When figuring a selling price you have to realize the price of gas is figured in by the buyer on what he is willing to give.

Of all 4 337's that I own not one matches any of the others. Every motor is set up different or has something unique that the others don't. I have two truck motors and two lincoln motors. One day I'll sit down and start writing things down and try and research the years made and what makes each one unique. I even have one of the motors that has LINCOLN in scroll writing across the heads instead of FoMoCo. Its the only 337 motor/set of heads I've seen marked Lincoln.

 

I would be very interested in seeing pictures of the 4 - 337's that you have for comparison.

John
NNY