Flathead swap 8ba into a 37 needs? fit?

F

fryguy

Member
Looking to swap a late 8BA engine into my 37 convertible. Trying to research on what i need in order for this to fit and work properly. Since the 8ba motor is a '52 car motor it looks like I'll need a truck pan to clear the front crossmember and steering arm. Also seems there maybe a fan fitment problem since the 8ba is longer than the 21 stud. I heard some folks recommend a 59ab pulley, distibutor and fan setup. I know folks has swapped the later flatty into and earlier frame. What are the pitfalls and the points of install that I need to concentrate on?

-Fryguy
 
How does the 8ba bolt to the 37 transmission? I had to get a truck bell and starter plate to bolt an 8ba to a 46 transmission

Well, a couple of other issues: If you go to a 59ab pulley, distributor, fan assembly then you would need a 59ab cam to drive the dizzy and 59ab timing gears because the cam thrust is reversed in the 2 engines. This swap has been done many times so there is no show stopper. Maybe stay with the 8ba front end and put an electric fan on the front of the radiator? Just guessing. Keep us informed.
John
 
Thanks John, not really interested in using the 59AB stuff as the 8BA has just been built and is complete. I do have the truck bellhousing to bolt the 37 trans to. I was curious as to fitment. I haven't measured out yet to see the difference in length. So I'll be losing the stock fan then?

I'd rather not just jump into it if I can do some information gathering to help make an intelligent, informed swap. Jumping in without doing homework just causes the project to be half-assed and rigged together.

Just looking for a little advice from folks who have done it. Thanks guys
 
The 8BA swap into an early Ford V8 is pretty straight forward if you use truck or '49-50 Merc waterpumps, truck/Merc bellhousing. You will also need to use the 49/50 Merc motor mount adapters as shown in the attached pix.
I would suggest that you use your stock exhaust manifolds in lieu of the 8BA's as shown in the attached pix.
The conversion shown in the attached pix is in a friends '37 Ford..
I believe in the KISS principle... Keep It Simple Stupid... Going to all the trouble to change the cam, timing case cover and ignition, kind of defeats the purpose and a few of the advantages of using an 8BA engine in an earlier Ford.
In the third attached pix you will see an 8BA style of engine in a F1 truck, you should note that the trucks did not use the motor mount spacer/adapter... The frame mount was modified to accommodate the water-pump type of mounts.
It is a mystery as to why Ford used block mounts on the Ford cars, where-as they used water-pump mounts on the trucks and Mercury's.
 

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I didn't think the 8ba cooling fan would work in this conversion but above pictures say it will. When I put an 8ba in my'35 in 1960 I thought I had to use a generator that had the fan mount pulley to have clearance between fan and radiator.
Long time ago...crs now.
 
I have attached a couple of pix of the 8BA-8CM engine in an original '49-50 Merc... Note the spacer block under the water pump..
Could it be that the added HP of the Merc engines over the Ford, and added torque of a 4spd trans in an F series truck is why Ford used motor mounts under the water pumps in lieu of the block mounted Ford car mounts... Hmmmmm?
 

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I've just purchased a 8BA to put into my dad's 34 BB truck, I noticed there doesn't appear to be enough room for the crank pulley to clear the front crossmember, is this where 59AB pumps & pulleys are recommended?
 
I've just purchased a 8BA to put into my dad's 34 BB truck, I noticed there doesn't appear to be enough room for the crank pulley to clear the front crossmember, is this where 59AB pumps & pulleys are recommended?

That 51 Merc "u" motor mounts and 51 Merc pumps water pumps will raise the engine higher to give you clearance, I believe.
 

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fryguy; Keep in mind that if your 8BA has the 2 narrow belt water pump/fan pulley set up it will make the engine longer than the 49-50 Merc wide belt pulley set up. To make it shorter you convert it to the 2 belt system, use an electric fan or make a custom fan carrier pulley. bracket. Before you do anything read the following info. as you may find that the slanted radiator of the 37 radiator will cause fan interference.
http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=167488&highlight=1940+ford+8ba+engine
 
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I have installed an 8BA style of engine in a '36 Ford pickup, and assisted my friend put one in the '37 shown in the pix I attached to my earlier contribution to this thread.
As I have stated and shown the 8BA installation requires either the truck pumps or '49-50 Merc pumps with the 49-50 Merc motor mount spacers. The 49-50 spacers lift the engine to the correct height and they have offset bolt holes to allow for the shorter pumps.
The 8BA application also requires the use of the '49-50 and/or truck bell housing. The Merc bell housing is pressed steel where-as the truck is cast iron.
I am not to sure how well the application will work in a '34 AA truck. I know the engine will fit with the correct pumps and spacers, I'm not to sure of the fan clearance to the radiator. It could be that the '34 is more like a '32, whereas the '35 and later, especially the '36 and later, is more like the 24 stud engine applications.
 
I wonder if fryguy ever got his 8BA mounted, considering that Hillary was still Sec. of State when he asked for advice. DD
 
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