My latest purchase. Call me Mr. Vegas.

[Donzie]

Yep, I rolled the dice and bought a flatmotor. It's a 59AB. I've only had one head off and the intake so far. Looks pretty clean inside. A couple of stuck valves. Missing the dist. cap and wires, generator and the fuelpump.
I know zip about flatmotors so I guess this is a good time to learn. I'm hoping to get it to turn over. There was no oil in it (but no water in the pan either). It's been stored inside so it ain't all rusted up.
I've heard 9 out of 10 are usually cracked.....so I guess we'll see.
I'll pull the other head and pan next.
Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

[Dat Dirty Rat]

Kool,,,is that going in the 'Turd'? http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Dirty

[shoebox72]

It looks like a 1940ish engine with the crank mounted fan. I hope it turns out good because them flatheads have a way of making a bad first impression. Whats it going in?? 50 Chevy? http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Billy

[alchemy]

If is says 59A on the bellhousing it ain't a 40, but it does have a 39 Delux through 40 crank pulley. The distributor and cover say 43 through 48.


- alchemy

[Donzie]

The heads say 59AB.
So I need to look at the bellhousing (which is part of the block) for 59A?
Ok, real dumb question, where does the oil go in? I don't see an oil filler tube or provision for one on the intake. Under the intake, at the front of the motor there's a large tube that appears to go down to the pan. I know these used an oil filter canister.
Any suggestions for good refernece material?
As far as what it's going?....God only knows. I'm hoping to put together a little rod of some sort. I've always wanted a flathead and this one was pretty cheap. Like I said, a good learning experience.

[Henry Floored]

Donzie the issue about cracks gets a little overblown at times. Most cracks in the deck around the headbolts and near water holes are inconsiquential. If you find one around a valve seat or in a cylinder they can and must be repaired.

Flatheads can benefit greatly from a little basic porting on the intake passages. You can feel a ridge on the short side radius with your finger when you get the valves out. Smooth this out and widen the port out a bit there. On the exhaust side open the exhaust port entrance just past the valve pocket this is an area of much needed improvement. Roll the edge of this opening and thin the area next to the valve guide boss. Then concentrate on the port exits and straighten and remove the edges on the end exhaust ports. I go up in the center exhaust port with a 6" long burr and do a little opening up in there. I would do this stuff even if I was building a stocker.

The other point I want to make is on the subject of cooling. I know Flatheads have had the reputation of being hot running. Recently some actual lab work has been done to find out exactly whats going on there. Many people blame the internal exhaost ports which I'm sure contribute. But the fact of the matter as was discovered was there was water pump impeller cavetation occuring and this was forming air bubbles and thus steam pockets and thus hot spots in the block. A couple of Flathead fanatics in Florida are rebuilding customers pumps with a newly designed "curved" impeller and tighter internal tolerances. Their names are Skip Haney and George Mitchell in Punta Gorda. I strongly suggest you check into these pumps, everyone I know has had good luck with them.(No I don't receive compensation from them, I just firmly believe in what they have to offer) I am a customer of theirs.

I have a Flattie on the bench right now that I did the porting mods that I spoke about above. As soon as I break the technology barrier of digital cameras and posting pics I'll get 'em on here to show you what I'm talking about.

Have fun!!

[JimC]

Congrats, Donzie.
I have had a Flatty on the engine stand since I bought the 53 Merc.
Sold the Merc, still have the flatty.
It is a block like yours with a SERIOUS cam and the head mods Henry Floored is talking about.
The heads on mine are 53Merc heads and the guy I got it from(and me) thought it was a 53 Merc engine.
Turns out it is a Ford with Merc heads.
I had offered it for sale, but , maybe it will go in a roadster project.
Maybe a 53 Ford Victoria?
It will be interesting to me to see how yours turns out.
Jim

[fab32]

Donzie, The best suggestion I can make is for you to be sure your dad doesn't sell the Pontiac with my hubcaps on it. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Frank

[NoSurf]

Cool.

Fire that sucker up!

Mine was/is like that. Little PB in the cyls, unstuck the valves, cleaned the points, and she purrs like a kitten.

I love how flattys just lope at like 500 rpm. Music!

(I thought you weren't supposed to mount those on a regular engine stand like that? Something about breaking the bellhousing?)

Jay

[Donzie]

[ QUOTE ]

(I thought you weren't supposed to mount those on a regular engine stand like that? Something about breaking the bellhousing?)

Jay

[/ QUOTE ]

Is that true? What's my options?
Oh, and Frank, the caps are in my posession. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[NoSurf]

I know in the B/T book they made a mount that bolts up to one side with the exhaust manifold bolts. Or I have seen them with some struts to pick up the front mounts on the water pumps.

[manyolcars]

The oil fill tube is also the fuel pump housing. I have the housings and rebuilt pumps for sale. You arent supposed to mount the engine on the bellhousing, but believe it or not the correct mount is bolted on with the exhaust manifold bolts!

[Elrod]

There is an adaptor that mounts to your exhaust ports. Ebay has them. (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7926791095&catego ry=46098&sspagename=WDVW)

http://i10.ebayimg.com/02/i/02/96/68/84_1.JPG