Dumb '32 question

Doodlrodz

Doodlrodz

Senior Member
I'm collecting parts for my winter project and toying with the idea of running a '32 V-8 engine, does it make any sense to try and do this ? All I've ever heard is that they weren't really a very good engine in that first year. Thanks
 
There were some really strange parts in the 32 engines but the later parts all fit so the engines are no better or worse. It is very hard to find all the ginnie parts if that is what you propose. I even got in a spat with an owner when he heard me pointing out the different year parts on his restored 32. He insisted they were all correct when he had a basically correct 36 engine. There is a active thread about the cost of a good distributer. The value may be $1000. Coil,pumps,pan,looms,carb,intake,exhaust mani.,gen,all different and expensive. Even the dipstick is unique.

edit; Actually just about everything you see on a 32 engine i unique. The fuel pump was a short time carry over into 33 and the right side exhaust manifold was used thru 36.
 
Thanks Andy, I think the coffee is wearing off, probably better to just find a nice running newer flattie.
 
65 horse power?
30 years ago i found almost enough parts to put one together. but all i thought i would do with it was put it on a display stand next to one of the roadsters i had.
for the other one, i had a model "C" ( `33-`34) 4 cyl. with a 4 port riley head, i thought i might use.
i never did think either would be practical, or reliable.
 
Never having done that early of an engine, in my opinion your money would be better spent on a little later flathead with a better parts availability. Unless you are going for an authentic restoration?
 
Yes I know I could have a really nice later engine with lots of goodies on it for what the '32 would cost but it would be cool. ( looking anyway)
 
I'm with you, go with the 32 motor, be different. I have a similar plan, early flathead (32 if I can find the correct block), eddie meyer heads, 3x2s, duel exhaust. Dosen't get any better! Tom
 
"There are no dumb questions."

.... maybe you were never in the service.

DRILL INSTRUCTOR: "Do you like me?"

RECRUIT: "Is the Drill Instructor asking this recruit out on a date?"

How would you rate the recruit's question?

a. Intelligent and the DI will see him as simply an "open mouth needing to be fed."

b. Formally correct in that the recruit did not say, "Are YOU asking me ... ?" DI's do not care to be called "YOU."

c. Very clever. The DI will no doubt be stumped for a response.

d. Suicidal.


Of course there are dumb questions. They are determined by the situation. One good example on our forums is the "OIL QUESTION." The archives are full of threads about "what oil should I use?" and "How much ZDDP do I need?" ... excuse me, "zink?"

Sure these people need answers, but most of us are tired of giving out the good answers ... so, you get a lot of "dumb answers." How do you get good answers from folks who don't know there is an archive?

If you want to "learn" somebody something, teach them to use the archives.

(Incidentally, "doodlrodz's" original question was not a dumb question. Preserving parts, especially '32 parts, is a great idea.)

This is also a "Deuce:"

F102landing.jpg
 
Everything is expensive, but I do not think there is any downside to the basic engine in comparison with other 21 stud babbitt engines. Later distributor, carb, heads, and pump will make it essentially an early 85. Stock '32 distributor has a short and slow curve in comparison to others and carb is inferior at low speeds, and CR is lower than other engines. The forged crank actually came to be considered inferior to cast by some of the stock car racers of the day...but its problem of whippiness leading to presumed timing issues was a high speed thing.
Owning a '32 means living in an ongoing state of shock at prices...
 
Ridiculous indeed. There's no such thing as a '32 engine, they all came factory with '48 Merc engines and '39 Ford boxes.

Sheesh, next you'll want to know if there's such a thing as an un-dropped axle. ;)

Seriously, though, I think the early pump-in-head engines are cool looking. I'd love to own one.

-Dave
 
Hoop, That's really weird, I was a crew chief on F-102 Fighters 1966-'70 496th FIS. And Dave, I do plan on using the orig. un-dropped '32 axle. Bruce, thanks and good to hear from you.
 
"Hoop, That's really weird, I was a crew chief on F-102 Fighters 1966-'70 496th FIS."

I could tell ... that's why I posted the photo.
 
So...did you save any neat widgits from one of those things to put on your hotrod?
Pretty sure the statute of limitations protects your answer by now... :)
 
Here's a story only Doodle will appreciate.

Some time after leaving the service, I ran into a guy who had been a crew chief on transient alert at some base that I have forgotten. A visiting F-102 arrived to RON and was to be serviced by the transient alert crew.

This guy, for some reason, needed to open the lower electronics bay. He popped the fasteners and ... only doodle will know what happened next.

... you only make that mistake one time.
 
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