The Ford Barn

exoilfld · 02-03-2025, 08:42 AM

There is some french flathead engines (nos) for sale on eBay. has anyone had any experience with this nos engine? I would hate to buy it and then have to spend money to rebuild it.

KiWinUS · 02-03-2025, 08:55 AM

There are several for sale. Some are NOS. Bare block which I have built a couple. Both has severe core shift. There are also engines that are complete and rebuilt with papers. I don’t know anything about them. Kiwi Rex in Modesto has some factory rebuilt ones contact him.

1956 ford · 02-03-2025, 02:46 PM

Do you have Kiwi contact #

kiwi · 02-03-2025, 03:29 PM

My ph is 209 484 9244 Im located in Modesto

Ronnieroadster · 02-03-2025, 10:07 PM

I have a couple of NOS French blocks available as well for anyone interested. Since I have personally built an engine using a NOS French block I can guide anyone who ends up buying one of my available blocks. If interested please send me PM here on the Barn
Ronnieroadster

TomT/Williamsburg · 02-04-2025, 12:09 AM

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Ronnieroadster is your man - he has been there and done that thing!

exoilfld · 02-04-2025, 08:45 AM

thanks guys. I am thinking about buying one of the nos engines, I hope it is not wasted money. I like that it apparently has an 8ba front configuration. I am going to put it in a 37 Phaeton.

kiwi · 02-04-2025, 08:52 PM

Unless Im mistaken I dont believe anyone is selling a complete NOS engine , but there are alot of NOS blocks in different stages of machining available , the complete engines like I have ,were rebuilt mainly via Simca and come with dyno run in sheets saying how many minutes at various RPMs they were run, they are totally complete but set up for military application, , 24v starter and gen,and governered carbs, but they do run great,

vincent · 02-05-2025, 04:40 AM

I have four of those engines. Very easy to convert them for use in a Ford as all US parts will fit. All the threads are Imperial. The big lump on the left upper bell housing is only used for the gouvernor on the french lorries and can be removed and holes closed with threaded bungs. So far one of my engines has survived a Weiand blower with 11 psi - all this on the std pistons and rods and with modified original camshaft for more lift.

exoilfld · 02-05-2025, 08:38 AM

Thank you for that information. It helps a lot.

exoilfld · 02-20-2025, 09:18 AM

I got the nos engine today. It looks good. I have not run a compression test yet. The problem is it has a 24 volt starter. Not sure if a standard starter will fit. Anyone had experience with that? I guess the distributor will work with 12 volt neg ground?

vincent · 02-20-2025, 10:01 AM

You can use the flathead starter but be aware that the old type 6V starter, especially when used with 12 volts, will push the ring gear off the flywheel as it attacs from the "wrong" side. (It happened to me so it is possible) Better use a geared starter like the Powermaster, this will engage from the engine side into the ringgear - thus pushing the ring gear against the rib of the french flywheel. Usually you cannot use the french pan as it will not fit between wishbone, axle etc. But the pan of the US flathead fits the french block as well so no problem there.

exoilfld · 02-20-2025, 10:11 AM

thank you for that information

vincent · 02-20-2025, 10:37 AM

I forgot to add: you can use the french dizzy but be aware that the coil will give a weak spark due to 24 volts needed. But you can use a 12volt coil instead outside of the (waterproof) case. Or you shorten a chevy dizzy and use the driving gear and lower end of the french contraption - I did this on two engines - very easy and works very good.

exoilfld · 02-20-2025, 11:32 AM

I assume by dizzy you mean distributor?

vincent · 02-20-2025, 04:27 PM

Yes, a dizzy is a distributor.

busmania · 02-20-2025, 06:17 PM

Exoilfld, can you post some photos? I’m super intrigued. Is the whole engine nos? Or did they build an engine with a nos French block? I see a couple still on eBay.

Mart · 02-20-2025, 06:36 PM

I have used these French motors. I have always sourced a "conversion kit".
This consists of a matching 59A style oil pan, starter and flywheel.
The front breather needs to be welded shut on the pan.
There are many other subtle changes that either have to or can be made.
I have documented the conversion of a French motor into a 59A "clone" in a series of videos. I will post a link to the playlist.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...9fM2GrRai3tTUc

Mart.

exoilfld · 02-21-2025, 08:37 AM

I will post a reply if I can ever figure out how to do that.

exoilfld · 02-21-2025, 08:42 AM

To answer your question busmania, yes it is a complete engine. looks to be in good condition. I wish it did not have a 24 volt starter, that is why I have not done a compression test yet. I really like that it has a 8ba front and a 59a rear. should fit nicely in my 37 phaeton--if I ever get to the point of putting it ii in.

02-03-2025, 08:42 AM	#1
exoilfld Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: alto, tx Posts: 155	french flathead There is some french flathead engines (nos) for sale on eBay. has anyone had any experience with this nos engine? I would hate to buy it and then have to spend money to rebuild it.

02-03-2025, 08:55 AM	#2
KiWinUS Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Charlotte NC KiWi-L100 available here Posts: 3,416	Re: french flathead There are several for sale. Some are NOS. Bare block which I have built a couple. Both has severe core shift. There are also engines that are complete and rebuilt with papers. I don’t know anything about them. Kiwi Rex in Modesto has some factory rebuilt ones contact him.

02-03-2025, 02:46 PM	#3
1956 ford Member Join Date: Dec 2023 Posts: 60	Re: french flathead Do you have Kiwi contact #

02-03-2025, 03:29 PM	#4
kiwi Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Modesto Ca Posts: 434	Re: french flathead My ph is 209 484 9244 Im located in Modesto

02-03-2025, 10:07 PM	#5
Ronnieroadster Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: East Coast in CT Posts: 1,778	Re: french flathead I have a couple of NOS French blocks available as well for anyone interested. Since I have personally built an engine using a NOS French block I can guide anyone who ends up buying one of my available blocks. If interested please send me PM here on the Barn Ronnieroadster __________________ I use the F word a lot no not that word these words Flathead, Focus and Finish "Life Member of the Bonneville 200 MPH Club using a Ford Flathead block First Ford Flathead bodied roadster to run 200 MPH Record July 13, 2018 LTA timing association 200.921 First Ford flathead roadster to run 200 MPH at Bonneville Salt Flats setting the record August 7th 2021 at 205.744 MPH reset the record in 2024 to 211.830 running to mile four. Top speed 2024 mile five 220.672 exit speed 221.587

02-04-2025, 12:09 AM	#6
TomT/Williamsburg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Williamsburg, Virginia Posts: 2,752	Re: french flathead Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Ronnieroadster is your man - he has been there and done that thing! __________________ Run to the LA Roadster Show - 2016 My Run to Bonneville - 2013 My 32 5-Window Build My Run to the LSRU

02-04-2025, 08:45 AM	#7
exoilfld Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: alto, tx Posts: 155	Re: french flathead thanks guys. I am thinking about buying one of the nos engines, I hope it is not wasted money. I like that it apparently has an 8ba front configuration. I am going to put it in a 37 Phaeton.

02-05-2025, 08:38 AM	#10
exoilfld Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: alto, tx Posts: 155	Re: french flathead Thank you for that information. It helps a lot.

02-20-2025, 09:18 AM	#11
exoilfld Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: alto, tx Posts: 155	Re: french flathead I got the nos engine today. It looks good. I have not run a compression test yet. The problem is it has a 24 volt starter. Not sure if a standard starter will fit. Anyone had experience with that? I guess the distributor will work with 12 volt neg ground?

02-20-2025, 10:01 AM	#12
vincent Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Germany Posts: 256	Re: french flathead You can use the flathead starter but be aware that the old type 6V starter, especially when used with 12 volts, will push the ring gear off the flywheel as it attacs from the "wrong" side. (It happened to me so it is possible) Better use a geared starter like the Powermaster, this will engage from the engine side into the ringgear - thus pushing the ring gear against the rib of the french flywheel. Usually you cannot use the french pan as it will not fit between wishbone, axle etc. But the pan of the US flathead fits the french block as well so no problem there. Last edited by vincent; 02-20-2025 at 10:13 AM.

02-20-2025, 10:11 AM	#13
exoilfld Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: alto, tx Posts: 155	Re: french flathead thank you for that information

02-20-2025, 10:37 AM	#14
vincent Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Germany Posts: 256	Re: french flathead I forgot to add: you can use the french dizzy but be aware that the coil will give a weak spark due to 24 volts needed. But you can use a 12volt coil instead outside of the (waterproof) case. Or you shorten a chevy dizzy and use the driving gear and lower end of the french contraption - I did this on two engines - very easy and works very good.

02-20-2025, 11:32 AM	#15
exoilfld Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: alto, tx Posts: 155	Re: french flathead I assume by dizzy you mean distributor?

02-20-2025, 04:27 PM	#16
vincent Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Germany Posts: 256	Re: french flathead Yes, a dizzy is a distributor.

02-20-2025, 06:17 PM	#17
busmania Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2022 Location: Denver metro Posts: 532	Re: french flathead Exoilfld, can you post some photos? I’m super intrigued. Is the whole engine nos? Or did they build an engine with a nos French block? I see a couple still on eBay. __________________ 40 ford coupe Build -https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...coupe.1277406/

02-20-2025, 06:36 PM	#18
Mart Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Solihull, England. Posts: 9,239	Re: french flathead I have used these French motors. I have always sourced a "conversion kit". This consists of a matching 59A style oil pan, starter and flywheel. The front breather needs to be welded shut on the pan. There are many other subtle changes that either have to or can be made. I have documented the conversion of a French motor into a 59A "clone" in a series of videos. I will post a link to the playlist. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...9fM2GrRai3tTUc Mart.

02-21-2025, 08:37 AM	#19
exoilfld Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: alto, tx Posts: 155	Re: french flathead I will post a reply if I can ever figure out how to do that.

02-21-2025, 08:42 AM	#20
exoilfld Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: alto, tx Posts: 155	Re: french flathead To answer your question busmania, yes it is a complete engine. looks to be in good condition. I wish it did not have a 24 volt starter, that is why I have not done a compression test yet. I really like that it has a 8ba front and a 59a rear. should fit nicely in my 37 phaeton--if I ever get to the point of putting it ii in.