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Discussion Topic:
1948 Lincoln Engine Swap
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MistahNash |
07-08-2021 @ 8:54 PM
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Member
Posts: 4
Joined: Jul 2021
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Im hoping some of the experts on here might be able to help me out. A older gentleman I often visit wants to sell me a 48 Lincoln coupe the original v12 is completely stuck and needs everything. The car itself is very original and in good shape. I want to save the car but I know the v12s are finicky and expensive too rebuild and maintain. I know a common swap was the Olds v8 but preferably I would like to keep it a flathead and swap a v8 into it and hold onto the v12 to someday throw back in the car. I saw a post saying 8BA flathead v8 would bolt right up. Is this true? If not what is required to toss a flathead v8 into one of these Lincolns? Another option is I have a 390 FE and auto trans in my garage waiting to be put into something but that seems like alot of engine for a not very big engine bay. Thanks.
This message was edited by MistahNash on 7-8-21 @ 9:10 PM
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TomO |
07-09-2021 @ 8:43 AM
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Senior
Posts: 7256
Joined: Oct 2009
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A properly rebuilt V-12 with all stock components is not really finicky to drive and maintain. Like any engine, if you try to cut corners and modify the engine, it will become finicky. My choice would be to bite the bullet and rebuild the V-12, using as many of the original parts as possible. Have the carburetor and fuel pump rebuilt by Charley Schwendler in NY and the distributor, coils and water pumps rebuilt by Skip Haney in FL. I think that putting a 100 HP, 239 cu. in. engine in a 48 Lincoln (that had a 152HP engine) would make a nice driver into an under powered slug. The 49-53 Mercury engine, tuned to the 1952-1953 (125 HP specs would make an adequate driver. Some people consider the V-12 under powered for the Lincoln. I don't know any of the details of installing the Mercury engine in a Lincoln, other than you will need the Mercury or truck bell housing and I would recommend the truck water pumps. You will have to fabricate motor mounts and a fan mount in order to make the shorter engine work . I think that the 390 is too wide to fit in the engine bay and you will have to modify the frame extensively in order to fit the automatic trans. You might post your question on the Ford Barn, AACA web site and the HAMB. Someone on there might be able to give you a better answer. https://forums.aaca.org/forum/23-lincoln-zephyr/ https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=4 https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/ Tom
This message was edited by TomO on 7-9-21 @ 8:47 AM
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carcrazy |
07-09-2021 @ 2:23 PM
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Senior
Posts: 1667
Joined: Oct 2009
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The stock 1948 Lincoln Flathead V-12 of 292 cu. in. made 12o HP @ 3,600 RPM and 220 ft-lb Torque @ 2,000 RPM. It was a troublesome engine and was frequently referred to by road testers of the day as a gutless wonder. The 1953 Mercury Flathead V-8 of 255 cu. in. made 125 HP @ 3,800 RPM and 218 ft-lb Torque @ 1,700 RPM. Another alternative would be to use a 1949 Lincoln Flathead V-8 of 337 cu. in. which made 152 HP @ 3,600 RPM and 265 ft-lb Torque at 2000 RPM. This Lincoln Flathead V-8 is a good engine but very heavy at about 950 pounds. Other engines you might want to consider are 1953 Cadillac OHV V-8 of 331 cu. in. at 210 HP @ 4,150 RPM and 330 ft-lb @ 2700 rpm or a 1953 Oldsmobile OHV V-8 of 303 cu. in. with 150 HP @ 3,600 RPM and 280 ft-lb @ 1,800 RPM. The FE 390 V-8 that you have makes somewhere around 270 HP @ 4,400 RPM and 390 ft-lb @ 2,600 RPM depending upon which model year and carburetor you have. All of these above listed figures are SAE gross ratings. For 1972 and later engines the performance figures are given in SAE net ratings which are about 84% of the gross ratings.
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1931 Flamingo |
07-10-2021 @ 5:10 AM
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Member
Posts: 388
Joined: Nov 2019
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"Back in the day" many were converted to Oldsmobile or Cadillac power, today a 350 Chev would be easy and cheaper, JMO Ck over on the HAMB. Paul in CT
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TomO |
07-10-2021 @ 8:33 AM
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Senior
Posts: 7256
Joined: Oct 2009
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Carcrazy, your specifications the V-12 are correct. I used the numbers from Concept Carz and when I went to verify them, I see that they used the 1949 Lincoln numbers for the 1948 Lincoln. The post WWII engine was not more troublesome than the Ford V-8 engine when new. The 1942 Engine and transmission were a dealer's retirement plan. The cylinder walls of the engine were too thin, causing overheating and oil consumption problems and the automatic transmission was recalled because the parts to repair it were not available. It also needed more engineering in order to perform as well as the Hydramatic, which was also a troublesome transmission. The Hydramatic was sorted out during WWII when it was used in the tanks. My family had both a 1942 and a 1947 Lincoln. The 1947 stayed in the family for 4 years, the 1942 was traded in as soon as a car was available. I still remember riding in the 1942 and my Mom learning how to swear at the time it took to shift. The car was only driven one Sunday a month in the summer and never in snow. I learned to drive on the 1947 and it was not a good city car as you were always shifting to find a gear to keep the engine in its power point. I never drove it on a road trip, so I don't know how it was on the road. Tom
This message was edited by TomO on 7-10-21 @ 8:34 AM
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carcrazy |
07-10-2021 @ 11:24 AM
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Senior
Posts: 1667
Joined: Oct 2009
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If you want an engine that is really reliable and provides adequate power and torque, you might want to consider a Ford 4.9L (300 cu. in.) Truck Inline 6 Cylinder. These were available in Ford F-150s for 31 years. They can be obtained with a manual 5-speed transmission and the latest ones with EFI from 1995 & 1996 produce 150 HP @ 3,400 RPM and Torque of 260 lb-ft @ 2,000 RPM. These are net performance figures. This engine is a torque monster in stock condition!
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mfirth |
08-21-2021 @ 6:58 PM
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Posts: 208
Joined: Nov 2017
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A few years ago I read about a 292 Y block instalation in a 40s Lincoln with Borg Warner o/d. Wish I could tell you more, that's all I recall from the article. Plenty of H P & torque.
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johncard |
05-04-2022 @ 4:01 PM
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Joined: Apr 2018
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I have read that the V-12 was a good engine by 1948. The crankcase vetilation and other problems were corrected by that time. I would go with the stock engine, but if you want more power, I would go with a small block Chevy. The co0mmercialy available Chevy to Ford transmission adaptor plate would work with your transmission. The Chevy oil sump is in the rear, as the V-12's is, so the Chevy should fit with little or no mods to the car or frame.
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37RAGTOPMAN |
08-05-2022 @ 6:56 AM
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Senior
Posts: 1962
Joined: Oct 2009
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was wondering how stuck is the original engine, was the heads removed to see how bad the engine is, did any body try to free it up, I have done a few V8 flatheads, was able to free up the pistons one at a time, [ need to remove the oil pan and loosed up one rod at a time and drop down rod cap 1/8 inch. now tap the piston down using hard wood, once you hear the click the piston has moved } honed the cylinders and installed new rings and clean all valves and engine put back into service, this is much easier then making a resto rod, CHANGING EVERTHING, motormounts, exhaust system. limkages, wireing, radiator, transmissiong. drive shaft,rear end , just ot mention a few, this is a great undertaking if the engine is done right, it will increase the value of the car not decrease it, my 2 cents 37Ragtopman,MAINE
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