49 53 Lincoln motor

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Phil G

Junior Member
Hi All
1949 - 1951 L head Lincoln. Will it bolt up to a 41 ford transmission? Will it fit length wise in the 41. flywheel & clutch fit? what problems would i run into trying to do this? any help will be appreciated
 
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The main problem with these engines is that they are very heavy. When I was in high school, a couple of local guys put one in a '53 Ford. I was there to get it running for them. When they got it in, it dropped the front suspension right on the bump stops. I was done with them after I got it running. They abandoned the project soon after for some reason. It never saw the road and disappeared soon after.

If they could get one in a '53, you can probably get one in a '41, but it's probably not a good idea. "Just because you can doesn't mean you should."
 
I think the biggest problem you will face in the weight of the Lincoln engine. It is almost twice the weight of a 49-51 Merc. A very inefficient boat anchor that will turn into a money pit pretty quick.
 
Besides the weight of the engine, it won't bolt up to the early trans. If ot's free, it's too expensive.
Gramps
 
I always liked the idea of that big flathead. So much engineering for such a short life span though. Have read they weigh around 850#. An early Chrysler Hemi is only 100 pounds lighter. A friend had a F-8? with one in it, the radiator probably weighed more than I did at the time. He had a spare engine from a Lincoln, it looked so odd with a P/S pump bolted to the head. Would make an interesting swap if well executed $.
 
Ken Austin put one in a ‘39 Ford convertible sedan and did pretty well with it.

Did anyone see the Edsel Ford ‘34 “Special” clone that was displayed at the Grand National Roadster Show last weekend?

It has a 337” Lincoln in it backed up by a Chevy trans. H & H Flatheads have the Austin aluminum heads and intake for the Lincoln Flathead.

I’ll see if I can find pictures or a link to the video.
 
That is a sweet looking installation. I was trying to figure out how they did the radiator hose clamps on that thing, it looks like 0.032" safety wire to me.
 
The 337 does not weigh twice a Mercury engine. It is heavy. A fellow on the HAMB put one on a scale to get actual weight, 700 lbs as measured: https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/weight-of-a-ford-linclon-337-big-block-flathead.832985/

I agree it doesn't make sense to install one in a 41 Ford. You have to find a McBar adapter (made in small numbers in the 50s) or make your own version. Anything is possible, but not a compelling reason in this case.

The three people I am aware of who have running 337s report very good performance. The report that most surprised me is the guy who has both an F-6 cab over with a supercharged Mercury engine and a pretty stock 337 in an F-7 four wheel drive conversion. He reports the 337 out performs the blown Merc: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/995574-big-truck-envy-chucks-f-7-coleman-5.html#post10631326
 
Here is a nice one.
 

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Not sure. The Conforth team ran one in a period correct modified/sprint car at TROG and tore up the competition. Must have some value.
 
Thank you all
Now its back to looking for a 49 - 53 Ford Or mercury motor. Sounds to me like you all just saved me a lot of expense and trouble I don't need. I am just trying to put together a daily driver. 41 2 door Sudan very little rot. Most all of it is there.
Again Thank you for all of the help

Phil
 
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