1932 ford coupe

I

IndianapolisRacer

Senior Member
I have a 1932 Ford 5 window coupe that was converted to a hot rod in 1949 and driven until Dec.1956 when it was placed in storage along side a 1957 Chev. V8 powerpac that was purchased as a total wreck with the idea of replacing the 8BA with the powerpac V8.A complete Hurst conversion kit was in the trunk of the 1932 but the car owner got married in 1957 and the old hot rod was forgotten as higher priorities occurred.Do I diminish the value of the coupe by installing the Chev V8 with the Hurst kit or leave the flathead,wich runs well in the car.The car is a full fendered ,original paint car.I don't know what to do !
 
Leave the flathead in it! Enjoy the unique character of an early Ford. something that cannot be duplicated. If you want to use the Chevy, buy a fiberglass kit '32 from Speedway to put it in. Otherwise, some rich Chevy nut will pay huge dollars for that original 283!
 
Take a look a Dennis Lacy's conversion of a virgin 32 pu to a small block Chevy. Nothing changed that couldn't be changed back. Nothing wrong with a Flathead but also nothing wrong with a 283 if done right.
 
IndianapolisRacer said:
I have a 1932 Ford 5 window coupe that was converted to a hot rod in 1949 and driven until Dec.1956 when it was placed in storage along side a 1957 Chev. V8 powerpac that was purchased as a total wreck with the idea of replacing the 8BA with the powerpac V8.A complete Hurst conversion kit was in the trunk of the 1932 but the car owner got married in 1957 and the old hot rod was forgotten as higher priorities occurred.Do I diminish the value of the coupe by installing the Chev V8 with the Hurst kit or leave the flathead,wich runs well in the car.The car is a full fendered ,original paint car.I don't know what to do !
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Leave the flathead if it runs good. Clean everything up and drive it.
 
The car ain't stock no matter which way you go. You won't diminish the value either way. You one lucky ******* to have this dilemma .
 
The majority of the Ford Barn will say to keep the flathead but the 'HAMB' would want the Chev. Depends where you ask the question but it is a hot rod so which engine do you want?
 
Bob T said:
The majority of the Ford Barn will say to keep the flathead but the 'HAMB' would want the Chev.(/QUOTE]

I highly doubt that statement. I bet the majority of the HAMB would also say keep the flathead. Which is what I'd say too. Post some pics of this time-machine!
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The Chevy thing has been done so much it is becoming less popular all the time. Just too many out there and a lot of folks have tired of them. Having a period correct flathead will bring much more interest and value as I see it. The uptick in authentic flathead powered hot rods has raised the value significantly. So much so that BBM in Denver who has just started making and marketing new Ford FE 427 aluminum and cast iron side oiler blocks, is said to be at work on the Chrysler 392 with rumors of a new high quality flathead block could be in the air. Stick with the flathead, you'll be glad you did.
 
If value is the concern the body is worth more than a whole stack of engines. If it's for your pleasure why not restore it?
The HAMB guys are kind of getting tired of the Chevy thing. Every other rodded car you see has the same conversion. Flatheads are in.
Anyway sooner or later in the future somebody will get ahold of it and whack the top about 6 inches...........:eek:
 
The majority says to keep flathead at this point,all well and good however this car will never keep up with my fellow EVille Iron Club members on a rod run 65 t0 70 is really pushing it especially on those 90 degree + hot summer days . I can cruise all day at 55 but they leave me behind.The 8BA has 2 Stromberg 97s + Offy heads and a Columbia 2 speed .At this time thinking of a new aluminum trailer and pulling it !
 
In the 60s in socal you didn't have a hot rod if it didn't have a chevy in it. Something is wrong with me now as I am building a banger. You are the owner do with it what you want and enjoy it.
 
Keeping the flathead would be my first choice, if it was my car, but don't get rid of that Chevy stuff either. If the flathead needed a rebuild you could temporarily drop that sbc in and keep on going until, if or when, you wanted to switch back. If it was my car, my main concerns would be keeping everything else on the car as original as possible.
 
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