Early Cad engine in 40 Ford

Sid

Sid

Well-known member
Has anyone got any first hand knowledge putting a early extended bell Cadillac motor in a 40 Ford coupe using the adaptor ring to the stock 40 ford transmission? Are there any issues with the firewall exhaust oil pan or any other issues etc?
 
There is a guy on the HAMB, moriaity who has a Cad engine in his 40 and he hasn't modified the body at all.
 
A friend of mine installed one, a '53 if memory serves, in his '39 coupe without any body modifications. In fact, that Cad. appeared as if it was installed at the factory back in '39.
 
Several years ago I installed a '51caddy extended bell housing in my '40 ford tudor. The only interference was the rear end of the left exhaust manifold with the shifting arms on the steering collum. When this is removed from the housing there is a hole in the housing that determines it's location on the tube. I had a hole drilled in the tube 1 inch up from the factory one. Then adjusted the shifting rods. No other interference problems.
 
Thanks Roger. I'm running a 38 transmission so that shouldn't be a problem then.
 
I put a 55 331 in my 40 convertible a few years ago. The 55 motor is the first year without the extended bell, so I wound up having to trim the flange off of the firewall at the very bottom just in the center where the toeboard meets. The steel trans cover still fits and covers the trimmed area it wasn't a lot. It's a pretty straight forward swap. The front mounts needed to be raised about an inch and a half to get the oil pan off of the crossmember and I had to raise the radiator to match.
 
"Holy Toledo Batman, We've crossed the great divide." LOL
Lookout Hambers! We're coming for ya!
 
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Ahh, more complaints from the “purists”.
Most of us drove the neighbors or our parent’s hand-me-downs. We loved the styling but were less than satisfied with the anemic performance and maintenance difficulties of the drivetrain. Back in my day well-constructed “crossbred” Fords actually bought a premium dollar in the used car market. Look at the cars going across the auction block at Barret or similar today.
Same goes for the electrical issues. Somehow Oldsmobile, Cadillac and the hemi Chrysler products always started. Who ever heard of having to pull the motor or rear end to change out the clutch? Or having to pull the fan to service the distributor.
Entered a car show last year just for the convenience of a place to park. Of all the Fords there, my car and 1 other were the only ones that were flathead powered.
Yes, I drive a flathead but with modifications all with the intent of drivability and reliability.
 
Gene1949 said:
Ahh, more complaints from the “purists”.

I think you are mistaken Gene, especially my post. I was finding humor as I believe the other posters were. Any way that these old Fords can stay on the road is fine with me. The high cost of machine work and finding NOS parts for a Flathead V8 restrict younger folks. I like to go to the small weekend car shows in Iowa and the prewar Fords are as rare as hen's teeth. When I was young these cars were common and I really miss them.
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There is no place safe and no early Ford forum immune from the cancer that has infected so many early Fords. If Caddy engineering is so great buy a Caddy. Those guys only look down at Ford people anyway. The automotive equivalent of r a p e.
 
Henry Floored said:
There is no place safe and no early Ford forum immune from the cancer that has infected so many early Fords. If Caddy engineering is so great buy a Caddy. Those guys only look down at Ford people anyway. The automotive equivalent of r a p e.
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These are inanimate objects. It is absurd to make the comparison of an engine swap to a violent, heinous crime.

Cadillac flathead in a Ford is cool. So is a Ford flathead.
 
Remember Uncle Tom McCahill who wrote in Mechanics Illustrated magazine? He loved the Fordillac as he named it. He also used to say, "zero to 60 in nothing flat."
 
Fritz said:
These are inanimate objects. It is absurd to make the comparison of an engine swap to a violent, heinous crime.

Cadillac flathead in a Ford is cool. So is a Ford flathead.
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Go to a Harley Davidson rally and offer to exchange a half dozen of the nicest bikes there with a brand new Indian V Twin crate engine and get back to me on how that goes.
 
Darrell S said:
Remember Uncle Tom McCahill who wrote in Mechanics Illustrated magazine? He loved the Fordillac as he named it. He also used to say, "zero to 60 in nothing flat."
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Ford made in the hundreds of millions of OHV V8 engines and none of them are any good to repower the old Ford?

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The one who carries a grudge carries the whole load! I would never install another manufacturers V8 in my old pickup but I sure don't care what someone else does with THEIR vehicle. Nor would it keep me from buying my dream 33/34 coupe, (as long as it wasn't too shiny.) LOL
 
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