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Projects Simca Marmon Flathead V8 from 1987!

Discussion in 'Traditional Hot Rods' started by edwardlloyd, Oct 1, 2019.

  1. edwardlloyd
    Joined: Aug 2, 2003
    Posts: 2,072

    edwardlloyd
    Member
    from Germany

    I've just picked up a nice 30 year old flathead V8 for my next project.
    It's a French Simca Marmon (Ford) flathead V8 cast in March 1987.

    It came out of a decommissioned French military light truck. It's got the air compressor mount up front so fingers crossed, it's a long stroke engine.

    It's a low hours engine so we'll see how good it is later after strip down.

    Obviously it'll need a normal ignition from Bubba. A passenger oil pan and starter and a decent 12V generator.

    The remote oil filter is there, just needs relocating.

    Hey - there are some advantages living in Europe. 20191001_141919.jpeg View attachment 4437114 20191001_141937.jpeg 20191001_141946.jpeg 20191001_141956.jpeg 20191001_142008.jpeg

    Sent from my SM-G935F using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
  2. redoxide
    Joined: Jul 7, 2002
    Posts: 756

    redoxide
    Member

    We used to buy those in the UK for £300 an engine, still in the airtight containers .. those days are long gone... That was around the early / mid 90s. Wish I bought more ..
     
  3. big duece
    Joined: Jul 28, 2008
    Posts: 6,830

    big duece
    Member
    from kansas

    Cool! Is it a 4" stroke? A 59a pan should fit.
     
  4. edwardlloyd
    Joined: Aug 2, 2003
    Posts: 2,072

    edwardlloyd
    Member
    from Germany


  5. big duece
    Joined: Jul 28, 2008
    Posts: 6,830

    big duece
    Member
    from kansas

    I believe the ones that had the sump pickup up front were 4", at least mine was. Bob Drake or others truck water pumps bolt right on. Actually, the hole block is SAE threads, only the exhaust studs have 10mm theads on the nut end, sae in the block. Hint, leave the studs in, they are a bitch to get out.
     
  6. edwardlloyd
    Joined: Aug 2, 2003
    Posts: 2,072

    edwardlloyd
    Member
    from Germany

    I got the first head off. No ridge or scoring in the cylinders. Valves look clean. This looks like the low hours on this are true. 20191001_155740.jpeg 20191001_155749.jpeg 20191001_155842.jpeg

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  7. edwardlloyd
    Joined: Aug 2, 2003
    Posts: 2,072

    edwardlloyd
    Member
    from Germany

    Woogeroo, Jeff34 and big duece like this.
  8. Trad V8
    Joined: Apr 11, 2007
    Posts: 53

    Trad V8
    Member
    from Edinburgh

    Hi Ed, will you put a new cam in? If so which one? I've got a couple of these 4" strokers put to one side myself and will be looking to put one together sometime next year hopefully.
     
  9. What a score.
     
  10. Jalopy Joker
    Joined: Sep 3, 2006
    Posts: 31,179

    Jalopy Joker
    Member

  11. big duece
    Joined: Jul 28, 2008
    Posts: 6,830

    big duece
    Member
    from kansas

  12. edwardlloyd
    Joined: Aug 2, 2003
    Posts: 2,072

    edwardlloyd
    Member
    from Germany

    That's the way it was built. It's stock with just 311 hours on it. And it does have the 4" crank. It's built for torque so maybe it doesn't breath as well as a Mercury. Anyway it's going in the Model-A completely stock.
    It'll get headers, and new distributor and a single 94 carb. It'll be more than enough for a Model-A rear axle anyway.

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  13. DDDenny
    Joined: Feb 6, 2015
    Posts: 19,143

    DDDenny
    Member
    from oregon

  14. Bandit Billy
    Joined: Sep 16, 2014
    Posts: 12,286

    Bandit Billy
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    cool relief work, didn't know these blocks came that way form the usine
     
  15. Boden
    Joined: Oct 10, 2018
    Posts: 747

    Boden

    Looks like a 4” stroke motor


    Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
     
  16. FlatJan
    Joined: Dec 13, 2013
    Posts: 306

    FlatJan

    just for the record as its often stated wrong, those arent hours, those are engine revolutions times a factor written on the conto's side.
    yours is kinda new. I also have two comparables from 79 and 86 freshly French mil rebuild.
    and yes it will need porting.
    dont forget to weld the pans breather shut!
    btw think you are gsra too? i did the rodazin and wrote the french Flathead articles some years ago so if you have questions contact me
     
    Last edited: Oct 2, 2019
  17. edwardlloyd
    Joined: Aug 2, 2003
    Posts: 2,072

    edwardlloyd
    Member
    from Germany

    So it would appear the engine has done just 622,000 revolutions in total. Which at 1000rpm average means just over 10 hours.
    It certainly looks it inside! 20191002_132403.jpeg

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  18. edwardlloyd
    Joined: Aug 2, 2003
    Posts: 2,072

    edwardlloyd
    Member
    from Germany

    I just removed the intake. Looks like brand new inside. Looks like someone has worked on the intake runners to improve flow. 20191002_132126.jpeg 20191002_132140.jpeg

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  19. edwardlloyd
    Joined: Aug 2, 2003
    Posts: 2,072

    edwardlloyd
    Member
    from Germany

    I think I'm going to use the original intake manifold. It's aluminium but has a 4 bolt carb base. I've offered up a 4 bolt Lincoln Zephyr carb and the bolt pattern very nearly fits. About 1mm off so I could drill out the base holes a little.
    The Zephyr carb offers a little bit more flow too. 20191002_132914.jpeg 20191002_133240.jpeg

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  20. CheatersPete
    Joined: Sep 25, 2002
    Posts: 1,290

    CheatersPete
    Member

  21. Great score! Are these still sold by army surplus vendors?
    If I may ask - how much did you pay for it?
     
  22. edwardlloyd
    Joined: Aug 2, 2003
    Posts: 2,072

    edwardlloyd
    Member
    from Germany

    I friend of mine bought 30 of them. Ex French military. I paid just over 3K for it. Which is great for a nearly new 4" engine.

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  23. edwardlloyd
    Joined: Aug 2, 2003
    Posts: 2,072

    edwardlloyd
    Member
    from Germany

    It looks like it was assembled in July 1992 even though the casting was already 5 years old at the time. 20191002_135935.jpeg

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    kidcampbell71 likes this.
  24. brady1929
    Joined: Sep 30, 2006
    Posts: 9,254

    brady1929
    Member

    Cool flathead. Congrats.
     
  25. Thanks for your answer

    Sent from my Moto G (5S) using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
    jimmysweden likes this.
  26. FlatJan
    Joined: Dec 13, 2013
    Posts: 306

    FlatJan

    it was made/cast in 87
    No this is the rebuild plate. So it was rebuild by french mil in 92 in clermond ferrand.
    cylinders are standard, crank- and camshaftjournals are in first undersize.
    ports are always like this.
    i think i know who you got it from ;)
     
    Last edited: Oct 3, 2019
  27. edwardlloyd
    Joined: Aug 2, 2003
    Posts: 2,072

    edwardlloyd
    Member
    from Germany

    So I guess the revolutions counter was reset during the rebuild. That would explain it's fresh condition then if it was rebuilt in '92. Still, stock pistons means it hasn't covered much mileage.

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  28. 41rodderz
    Joined: Sep 27, 2010
    Posts: 6,540

    41rodderz
    Member
    from Oregon

    We all would love to score an engine like that.:):cool: Congrats.
     
  29. FlatJan
    Joined: Dec 13, 2013
    Posts: 306

    FlatJan

    yes typically thats what they did.
    so you are really lucky. Engines like that dont show up that often anymore :cool:
    so i would say this is a great moment to say merci
     
    Last edited: Oct 2, 2019
    raven likes this.
  30. Bruce Lancaster
    Joined: Oct 9, 2001
    Posts: 21,681

    Bruce Lancaster
    Member Emeritus

    The HAMB is such a labor saver! This just saved me from trudging down to the basement to introduce a French manifold to a Lincoln carb!

    "I think I'm going to use the original intake manifold. It's aluminium but has a 4 bolt carb base. I've offered up a 4 bolt Lincoln Zephyr carb and the bolt pattern very nearly fits. About 1mm off so I could drill out the base holes a little.
    The Zephyr carb offers a little bit more flow too."

    Does yours have the aluminum pan, either up front or Ford type sump? The 59 type aluminum pans are really nice.
     
    Moriarity and kidcampbell71 like this.

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