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Hello,

I have a spare 49 straight 8 engine laying around that's good and I have a chance to maybe pick up a 39 Business Coupe, all complete minus engine. Would this transplant work ?

Thanks in advance

Have a look at this in the Literature and Manuals section.

Thanks !!

Reading this is leading me to say it can be done and still maintain originality.

And because your 39 chassis was originally configured for Overdrive,there is no real drama fitting the combination motor/OD box. On the 38 and earlier chassis there is considerable rework around the X member to get the combination fitted. PT

Reading this is leading me to say it can be done and still maintain originality..

Well, you can't really say you've maintained "originality" as a 39 car certainly didn't come from the factory with a 48 engine; you'd have to find and install a 39 engine to maintain that. But you could say there is a factory sanction to the alteration. It would still be a deduction in most judging venues if that's important to you.

Interesting comment, O_D. I would think it could only be considered original if it had the motor that came in it from the factory. "It's only original once", right?

This raises, for me, the question of the definition of "original", when referring to old cars. Of course I have no idea, and submit this for discussion.

For example, I refer to my car as "original". In my mind "original" is most closely synonymous with "unrestored". But of course, no 65 year old car can be exactly as it came from the factory. Wear parts get replaced, of course. But recently I replaced the water pump. If I would have painted the pulley and fan while it was out, would this constitute restoration, and therefore impact its originality? What if I paint the entire engine while it's out for an overhaul? What about the previous body damage that's been "repaired" and repainted?

I'm honestly very curious abou this subject. Is there a guide/reference for this stuff?

Enlighten me, please!

Really gentlemen, nothing?

I would think it could only be considered original if it had the motor that came in it from the factory

And in the absence of factory records (very few exist correlating engine #s to vehicle numbers), as long as the engine has an engine # with the correct range for that year and model, who would know what motor # it originally had? In your quest for a definition of "original", there are as many definitions of it as there are people willing to offer one. For a starter you might want to look at AACA's HPOF criteria (historic preservation of original features).

Better to do the transplant than to have another old car be sent to china for scrap or just rust away here. Much better choice to install the correct brand of motor rather than install a brand x one.

Really, when I said "original" I KNOW its not an exact original with a 39 engine. I was aiming like the last comment about not putting in a brand X engine or anything like that. Im not worried about judging, numbers matching etc, I know that going in. If I do get this and just have fun with it taking to car shows and cruises chances are most people wouldn't know the difference.

Im still pondering purchasing the car.