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Discussion Topic:
is a '37 engine better than a '36?
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fenbach |
08-25-2016 @ 8:59 AM
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Member
Posts: 227
Joined: Dec 2009
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I have a '37 block and '36 heads and water pumps. with plans to build/rebuild an engine. are '36 heads and pumps as good as '37s? surely henry thought the '37 design was an improvement over the '36 but maybe not??
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ford38v8 |
08-25-2016 @ 10:54 AM
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Senior
Posts: 2759
Joined: Oct 2009
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From a functionality viewpoint, the '37 is better, as pushing cooled water from the bottom is more efficient than pulling heated water from the top. The blockoff plates to convert a '37 to a '36 system were offered only as a cost savings to owners when buying a replacement short block, the savings being the cost of new heads to go with the '37 block.
Alan
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fenbach |
08-25-2016 @ 11:19 AM
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The '36 pumps are skip haney rebuilds. Water flow is impressive. Any other reasons to "upgrade?"
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nelsb01 |
08-25-2016 @ 12:22 PM
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The 37 block will have insert bearings -- that is a great reason right there. One would presume that this is going into a 1936 -- so, you will need 37 water pump block offs. Some would say that the water flow from the middle of the heads (1937) was an improvement for cooling. But, back in the mid 30s replacement of newer engines in older vehicles was standard FoMoCo dealer repair procedure.
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ford38v8 |
08-25-2016 @ 12:24 PM
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I think you've got it covered, and only a sharp eye would notice that your block is a '37 rather than a '36. As a bonus to keeping the block off plates, you can point to them as proof that your engine has insert bearings when some know-it-all asks how you know it doesn't have babbitt bearings.
Alan
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VT/JeffH |
08-26-2016 @ 7:10 PM
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New Member
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Joined: May 2010
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Hi Everyone, I'm a noob, and this just my opinion but... 1937 Block with pumps in block, very nice, inserts and cooling. 1937 Block with pumps in heads, nice, inserts. Owner of 1936 Phaeton with pre-37 replacement block. 1935 Fordor with post-36 block. And a spare 37-ish. -VT/JeffH club site WWW.NCR36.COM
This message was edited by VT/JeffH on 8-26-16 @ 7:23 PM
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JM |
08-26-2016 @ 9:17 PM
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Posts: 822
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Another plus for a '37 block is the cylinder wall thickness is greater than the earlier 21 stud blocks. The original bore of 3-1/16" can usually be safely increased to 3-3/16". Maybe add a 4" Merc crankshaft and a few other performance enhancing items, and you can have a little power house engine in the same league as the later 24 stud engines.
John
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ford38v8 |
08-26-2016 @ 10:14 PM
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I think more to the question of which heads to use, your options are to use funky looking flex hoses on the '37 heads, or to use the '36 heads with correct hoses. ...This, of course, due to the different location of the outlets, center on '37, and front on '36.
Alan
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JM |
08-27-2016 @ 7:31 AM
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Those funky looking flex hoses were never a good thing to use when putting a 37 to 48 flathead engine in an earlier 32 to 36 V8 Ford. Gates makes an upper hose that works perfectly for this conversion. Also, Drake is now offering their hose kits for this conversion.
John
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Sneezer |
08-27-2016 @ 4:44 PM
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Member
Posts: 63
Joined: Aug 2016
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I am currently doing this exact conversion. Can anyone provide the Gates hose number for me? Thanks: Arnie
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