Ford engine

[DrewB.]

I am working on a 1949 Ford F5 fire truck. Can anyone give me ideas on installing an automatic transmission in it? I was thinking about buying a V8 and transmission together to install. Not sure how much work is involved in the conversion.
Any input is appreciated.

 

[cole in mo.]

If you want to keep the flathead, you can buy an adaptor to mate it to a c4 auto. Or find a car that had the fordomatic. If you're wanting a complete repower, its unlimited on what you can put in it. The work involved depends on what combination you choose, how much of it can you do youself, and how deep are your pockets if somebody else gets involved.

 

[DrewB.]

Gonna do the work myself. It will be a learning experience. I'm an aircraft mechanic. My boss ownes the truck. I was thinking about finding a 460/ transmission combo. Any idea if it'll fit, or am I looking at doing lots of mod work to the frame or engine compartment? Thanks for the input.

 

[ShadetreeRet]

Take a lot of measurements of the engine compartment. Such as distance between frame rails, between fenders, from front to firewall, etc. Then when you find an engine/trans combo measure them, such as total width including exhaust manifolds, length and height from air cleaner to bottom of oil pan. The transmission itself should not be much of a problem, especially in a truck, but the engine compartment in a lot of those older vehicles, even trucks, were a little tight for a late model power plant. It can be done, but it takes a lot of head scratching sometimes. I know a man who runs his own garage who has a late 40"s Ford F1 pickup. It looks absolutely stock outside, but he has a 302 w/automatic, PS/PB/ air conditioning, and I don"t know what all else. Good luck.

 

[Jon Hagen]

I have done several late engine swaps in those old F5-F7 trucks. The only place things get tight is between the lrft manifold and the steering shaft. You can usually work around that by using the right junkyard manifold and mounting the engine a bit to the right.

Make sure your engine and auto trans choice is early enough to avoid electronic transmission controls.
Considering the deep rear gear ratio in those old trucks, a smallblock 302 may be all you need and is a much easier fit than a bigblock. also a smallblock better tolerates the high rpm caused by the deep axle ratio at highway speeds.

 

[Harold H]

Definitely keep that big 331 flat head. They are getting very scarce.

Harold H

 

[Harold H]

Definitely keep that big 331 flat head. They are getting very scarce.

Harold H

 

[Harold H]

Definitely keep that big 331 flat head. They are getting very scarce.

Harold H

 

[DrewB.]

Thanks Jon. I think I will definitely lean towards a 302.

 

[Jon Hagen]

I still have one of those "lincoln" 331 flathead engines I removed from a 48 model F7 farm grain truck, maybe 40 years ago. It used oil and ran hot, don't know if it is cracked or what.

I replaced it with a late 50's Ford car 332 FE engine. The OHV 332 had much more power than the old flathead 331, but much less lugging torque.

I seem to remember that the 332 FE had only a 3.3 stroke, while I am sure the flathead 331 was near or over a 4 inch stroke.

 

[Duner Wi]

337 cu in flat head "E" engine was 3.5 bore and 4 3/8 stroke as used in F7 and F8 1948-51 . I doubt it was used in F5 but am not certain.

 

[big fred]

In "49, the big flathead would only have been offered on the F-7. F-5 would have either the 239 V-8 or the inline 6.

 

[Scott-SD]

www.transmissionadapters.com/

 

[terrywh]

i would keep it a smale block and go with a overdrive trany then the motor will not run so hard and get better mpg speed way got any kind of mounts you need for it

 

[Jon Hagen]

Yes 337, thanks for the memory jog. It was in a 48 model F7.

 

[Haywood]

350 Chev with TH400 trans will fit.
Find a 2spd rear end.

390FE with c-6 will fit.
351W would be better than a 302.

JMHO

Nothing wrong with original for a show truck.