I bought a 39 deluxe coupe in 1959 no engine or transmission, stock rear with 4:44 gears. First thing I did was put a olds engine in it. That was the engine in 59 ,after countless transmissions, rearends,twisted axles, and keys, I finally went with a 50 olds rear, and transmission. I later had a 49 303 motor bored and stroked to 360 ci. I drove that car hammer down all the time. I don't think you can tear up those olds trans and rears up. Biggest mistake I made is when I pulled the engine and trans.soldthem,installed a sbc. Since then I gave the 39 to my son and he is going to put an olds back in it. I have dreams about that engine and transmission, they went to Pa.
I had a 47 Ford Coupe in high school with a 303 Olds engine. I memorized the firing order in history class. 1,8,7,3,6,5,4,2, all these years later. I think about recreating that car, but I'm 74 years old now..... I was an Olds boy...
Great looking coupe! I like the olds idea but unless you are a light footed driver I would suggest you start stock piling some 39 transmissions and rear axles......
What a lovely car, knowing the history as you do I would definitely go Olds Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
Another vote for the Olds... and as long as you have the adapter. And you won't have too worry about it over heating either.
I'm a '39 Ford lover, that's why I opened this thread. My dad bought one new and later put a '48 engine in it. I never got a chance to have that car or, I'd still have it today. I'm a Ford guy, so that's what I would put in it, a 368 Linc, if I could get my hands on one. I'm sure that's not a option for you though I do have experience with the drive train though. I had a '48 Merc Coupe, 3/16" over FH and a '39 trans. I was able to brake the trans, speed shifting. My best friend had a '32 with a 1/8" over, 303, with '56 heads. Same as a 324 Olds. He had 4x2's on it and a Chet Herbert, roller cam, with a '37 La Salle trans. The stock rear end held it but, he put a 471 blower on it and we sheared keys on it, the final key we put in it, we used a 4' pipe wrench, to tighten the nut. We then broke the axle. He put a '53 Olds rear in it after that and a 4 speed Hydro. One other point, the Olds was GM's heaviest '50's engine, @ 705 lb (Cad was 695). A much lighter GM, is the Pont @ 575 lb and you get a few more cubes.. I got out of HS in '62 and the Olds was very popular at that time so, I do understand why you want to use it.
That’s a really nice car, I like the olds in it also. That must have been one serious engine to turn 106 mph in that car.
Well thats the claim my buddy always said when he owned it in high school but I never saw it race but I agree its pretty fast for a stock trans and rear end !
I dunno...I cruised my parents 55 olds super 88...[324 cu in, 202 hp] and would occasionally race my buddy, Jim with his 56 Pontiac [316, 4 barrel] and both cars had the same 4 speed hydro trans. He would spank my olds 90% of the time.....My 34 coupe has a Pontiac engine. I'd still prefer the Olds over the lawn mower engine
SBC adapter to 39 3 speed and banjo in my 36 3W .. your history is with the Olds... do it. The 40 would happier for it !
The Olds makes the most sense from both your personal history with the car, as well as the practical reality that the Olds will make the car a better driver.
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