Not quite a Build Thead yet

[Katuna]

Well, there it is. The object of my financial, and by association, marital demise! Another piece of the puzzle. I had forgotten how good 60 year old grease smells. And how hard it is to scrub off!

Bone stock '49 Merc motor and 3 speed, except for those cool custom headers. Original car was driven into a shop to be customized 3 years ago and the motor has been sitting on the (previous) owners bench since.

Now I have to figure out how to get it out of the truck. Been so overwhelmed with work I kind of pooched the pre-planning. They taught us that fancy word at work, pre-planning. Fat lotta good it did me:(!

[Katuna]

Well, that was interesting. Anybody catch those pics of my wife in Hawaii? Ssshhh, don't tell her. My ass is in enough trouble as it is!

Let's try this again, shall we?

[ThingyM]

Hey that was a good score on that motor and trans.. Watch out, The building bug is gonna get ya...BWhahaaaaa.. Good luck Katuna..

[64 DODGE 440]

Looks like a good start. Keep scrounging. Once ya get it on the floor, set a chair behind it and get the feel of it.:D

More pictures!

[Old6rodder]

Excellent.

Just remember, most of these boys are illatr, irllaet, illegrate, ....... can't read.
So do plenty of pichers. :D

[Toymaker]

That is so cool, let me know if I can help! Rocky

[Katuna]

Yeah, I'm stoked. I splurged a few weeks ago and bought a seat from Jegs so I've got enough bits and pieces to start making it look like something. Now I just need a floor!

Rocky-I'm still hoping you and Lee can help out with the frame. Got a connection on the steel so round about Oct.1 we'll get on it!

Then watch out, there's gonna be a new Sheriff in town and he's sportin' 8 cylinders!

[64 DODGE 440]

Yeah, I'm stoked. I splurged a few weeks ago and bought a seat from Jegs so I've got enough bits and pieces to start making it look like something. Now I just need a floor!

Rocky-I'm still hoping you and Lee can help out with the frame. Got a connection on the steel so round about Oct.1 we'll get on it!

Then watch out, there's gonna be a new Sheriff in town and he's sportin' 8 cylinders!

Hey, that's OK, we'll just switch two plug wires when ya ain't lookin'.:D

[Katuna]

Hey, that's OK, we'll just switch two plug wires when ya ain't lookin'.:D


You toucha my flathead, I breaka you face:p!

[esfoder]

I think I might have gone the ford or lincoln 8 banger way if I could have found one on my side of the street.


Cool Beans get on it!!!

Dusty

P.S. Well that was a lie but I typed it with a smile on my face.. and fingers crossed

[Katuna]

Well, I thought I'd dredge this old thead up. I won't call it a build thread just yet. In fact, if anyone is interested I'll start a build thread when we get a proper start. My Pops and I are going to have to "build" a shop for the build out of 2 horse stalls out on the ranch as no one has any room.

In the mean time I was playing around with different names for the car and came up with "The Mad Flatter". After I came up with it I could swear I'd seen that name somewhere but I'll be damned if I can find any reference anywhere. What do you think? If I can find someone that can do it I'll put the artwork on the sides. Still needs a little tweaking.

We've been pulling the motor apart. One of those "It was running when it was pulled" deals. No doubt it was but some A.H. took the intake off and somehow got water in the intake runners but nowhere else. Long story short, 2 stuck pistons and 8 stuck intake valves. Got the pistons out but may save the bores. Pistons shot. Soaking valves. Stock bore, stock bearings. Gee, a flathead sounded so cool...

[64 DODGE 440]

Hey Katuna...don't let the details set you back, them old flatheads are a kick in the butt and parts are out there. If the intakes are stuck in the valve guides, just find someone who has the tools and pop them out guides and all in unit. Build it and have fun...we'll stage our flathead 6 with you when we get built.:D

[Old6rodder]

Only Mad Flatter I could find is a race horse.
Don't recall anything in that vein myself.

[OBFB HA/GR]

Hey Katuna , there is no other sound like the sound of a flat motor at full cry. I go out to my shop often just to sart mine up and sit in it with the engine running. Oh yeh .

[Katuna]

Thanks for positive reinforcement guys. I'm not letting it get me down other than $$$ that I don't have (yet). Besides, there's the entire rest of the car to build.

[Katuna]

Well, I thought I'd throw down a quick update. I've been sorta MIA around here since I blowed up com-puter a couple of months back and haven't had the green to get it fixed. Uncle Obama and the IRS came through and gave me a little of MY money back so here we are.

Because dragster parts are more important than a computer, I'm still slowly rat-holeing bits and pieces away. I've picked up a cool converted Mallory dist. from Bubba GMC, the body, a bitchin old aluminum tri-carb scoop and I finally scored some 18" spoked spindle mounts for the front. Anyone need a set of Hurst-Airheart brakes for early Ford spindles?

My Pop and I are getting close to finishing our barn shop so as soon as it's secure we start moving tools and parts in. Hopefully before it's 100F deg. out! It's a little farther along than in the pics. Had some very serious family health problems that had a happy ending and that slowed our progress substantially. After Easter we're back on track.

As soon as I can lay some steel out on the floor and rough out a frame I'll start a proper build thread & album. I'm counting the minutes:D!

[Katuna]

Well, Hells' Bell's, my pics didn't post. Let's try this again shall we.

[Old6rodder]

Good to see the "Flatter" project's still breathing, parts is important. :cool:

However, I think you may have a bit of trouble getting those 3x8 frame rails through tech, no matter how well seasoned they are. :eek:

[Katuna]

We're going to use extra long nails and bend the ends over to give it extra strength:p. Or maybe lag bolts would work better.

[Old6rodder]

"Weldwood"? :D

[64 DODGE 440]

Natural composite frame rails...should work fine as long as the termites hold hands.:D

[CrkInsp]

Iron wood, just have to use the correct rod.

[Katuna]

The main problem with using this type of building material is the more of the car we complete, the less shop we have to build it in.

[Toymaker]

I'm diggin' your wheels Charlie!

[OBFB HA/GR]

I just love those front wheels , do you know what they're off , I'm looking for some for my car.

[Katuna]

Yeah, I was really stoked to find the wheels.

Nigel, they're off of an old t-bucket. They were made by Sun Metal. Don't know if they're any better or worse than Hallcrafts but they look the same to me. The guy I got them from (off of Craigslist) said he bought a t-bucket project and thet were on it. He wanted to put Cragers on so his poor taste is my gain.

[Old6rodder]

He wanted to put Cragers on so his poor taste is my gain.

You got that right ....... :cool:

[nexxussian]

Katuna, make sure you use the right torch. From the HAMB's own "home made tool" thread.

Some extremely impressive efforts. Many of us face complex restoration problems that can be very taxing and demand highly specialized tools.

Like this little beauty for doing early Chevies and other timber-framed models ...

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t112/lashlarue/gashammer.jpg

:D

Good luck.

[Katuna]

Katuna, make sure you use the right torch. From the HAMB's own "home made tool" thread.



:D

Good luck.

I can't tell from the pic, is that the left or right handed model? I think I've seen those at Harbor Freight. The Chinese one's are a little nicer than the Indian ones:D.

[64 DODGE 440]

Katuna, make sure you use the right torch. From the HAMB's own "home made tool" thread.



:D

Good luck.

I can't tell from the pic, is that the left or right handed model? I think I've seen those at Harbor Freight. The Chinese one's are a little nicer than the Indian ones:D.

Does anyone have one of those in a 2 lb ball peen head? We may need to do some "fine adjustment".

[Katuna]

Does anyone have one of those in a 2 lb ball peen head? We may need to do some "fine adjustment".

I've got a 2lb. single jack you can use but it runs on argon.

Seriously, I think the wood theme has run it's course! Thanks for the suggestions through.

We got the ceiling on the shop on Sun. I'll be at the ANRA meet on Sat. so no work this W/E. Week after should have all the gaps filled and start filling it with tools and parts. Woo Hoo! Then there's Dragfest and Eagle Field so not much will get done until it's well over 100F. Then look out!

[Katuna]

Well, I think we can finally call this a build thread!! FINALLY got my motor into Dave's to get it tanked and checked. He's doing me a real solid on that:D.

Will be getting to move back into our house after a temporary move that didn't pan out (don't ask:mad:). Up side is my garage is completely cleaned out and my '37 and my wife's Mustang are in storage and will stay there at least until we have a roller. That's still down the road a ways but ever vigilant and forward!

Wish I could just use the mini storage for a shop. Site manager used to work for Howards Cams and someone else who's name escapes me for the moment. Offered to get a cam speced for us. Eeeee:D! My Pop-in-law playing racy car driver.

[Toymaker]

Keep after it Charlie, Johnny looks good in there! By the way what storage facility and unit number? :D:D:D

[Katuna]

Well, I thought I'd dust off this thread and update it just a bit. A lot of personnel crap has flowed under the bridge since the last update so here goes.

Since the build itself seemed to have stalled out, we thought we'd take a different tack and start at the end, i.e., buy a trailer for a yet to be built dragster. Actually for the price, we couldn't pass it up. New tires and sweet chrome wheels are worth more than we payed for it.

While were there picking up the trailer, they were getting ready for a yard sale for next weekend. This is to sell the stash of parts for one of the Nomad members that recently passed away and turn the proceeds over to his widow. According to my Father -in-law it looked like most of the good stuff had already been bought. I did however, notice a clean Corvair box in a pile of misc. junk. Scored that for 25 bucks. Clean as a whistle.

While talking over a flathead they had there (that we had no money left to buy) the property owner said he had a motor laying in his shop. It was a complete 8RT that looked like it just came out of a junkyard truck. I'm hesitant to buy another motor (first one has a broken lifter bore, second one has a stuck cam plus it's an 59AB, like late motors). Pulled a head and it looked clean. Just wished I could try and spin it. They're all stuck anyway, right? What the Hell, pulled the trigger.

Got it home and wanted to pull the flywheel before putting it on the stand. Pulled the bellhousing and starter. Cool, the starter turns freely and smooth. Put a breaker bar on the flywheel bolts and shazam! It turned! Got it on the stand and started pulling it apart. Cyl. wall only have 1-2 thousands on the ridge. Don't see any stamping on the pistons-stock bore. Winner, winner, chicken dinner! Think we finally have success.

[Old6rodder]

Nice scores, perhaps the tide's turning a bit? :cool:

[64 DODGE 440]

Just try and do something on it every chance you can and it will start coming together...You have some nice bits to start with.

[Toymaker]

That's GREAT Charlie, I can't wait to see the look on Johnnies face when that baby fires off!

[Old28]

Having that empty trailer sitting outside the shop should be good
motivation.:D Best of luck with the build.

[Katuna]

I had to clean my garage out to get the trailer to fit. Now I have a clean garage. We're going to start pulling the motor apart this W/E and hopefully get the block to the cleaners next week.

Rocky-I may have you drop by sometime in the near future if you have the time and give me some pointers on laying out the frame.

Thanks for the positive support guys. I need all I can get!

[Toymaker]

Give me a call, anytime.

[Katuna]

Finally got to break open the new motor last Sun. We were blown away by what we found. On the outside it looks like your typical scuzzed out rust bomb. When we started breaking things apart, it came apart like it was put together yesterday.

It looks like it may never have been rebuilt. All original Henry parts. Stock bore and bearings. The only ridge was carbon build up. You can still see the paint on the valve springs.

Pulled the caps and only the slightest hint of wear marks. All the gears are square and sharp enough to cut yourself on. An added bonus was finding an aluminum timing gear. I believe they came in the truck motors (this is an 8RT motor).

Gotta get the last of the movin' bits out of it (couldn't find my valve bar at the time) and get it in the machine shop. Hoping we can get by with a hone job first time around. Rings, brgs. and gaskets with luck. Figures the cheapo motor would be the cherry.

[Old6rodder]

Excellent! :D

No cloud without some silver in the lining, and all that. :cool:

[64 DODGE 440]

Finally got to break open the new motor last Sun. We were blown away by what we found. On the outside it looks like your typical scuzzed out rust bomb. When we started breaking things apart, it came apart like it was put together yesterday.

It looks like it may never have been rebuilt. All original Henry parts. Stock bore and bearings. The only ridge was carbon build up. You can still see the paint on the valve springs.

Pulled the caps and only the slightest hint of wear marks. All the gears are square and sharp enough to cut yourself on. An added bonus was finding an aluminum timing gear. I believe they came in the truck motors (this is an 8RT motor).

Gotta get the last of the movin' bits out of it (couldn't find my valve bar at the time) and get it in the machine shop. Hoping we can get by with a hone job first time around. Rings, brgs. and gaskets with luck. Figures the cheapo motor would be the cherry.

Cool...Now and then you find the old ones that look like they will be junk and turn into jewels.

Our '34 Dodge flathead looks like it had been long neglected and has lots of rust in the cooling jackets but turns over smooth with a ratchet on the crank and has a very minimal ring ridge. The bores look great and it should be an easy rebuild, more along the lines of a refresh than a rebuild. It's a fun process when you have a good base to start on.

Give us some pictures of the before and after of it. :D

[Katuna]

Here's some before and after antisipatory pics. Gotta get me a 3 pot intake though.

[Katuna]

Here's a few mock up pics that keep me going. Different motor though.

[Katuna]

There, changed my thread title. Makes it feel more "official".

[64 DODGE 440]

Looking good...You can have fun with folks telling them it's a "truck engine". Like your cardboard box sub-frame. The car is going to look great with that tube front axle.Keep at it and you will have a car sooner than you think. Good to see another "Modified Roadster" coming together.

[Old28]

I can't weight to see you and 440 paired up at a ANRA & Eagle Field race. Two modified roadster like it was back in the days past. Keep up the good work.

[Katuna]

Pulled the rest of the motor down yesterday. Pulled the valves, lifters and cam. Everything looks great. Should get it in the machine shop this week. My machine guy looked at it yesterday and barring any suprises he thinks we can just hone it. Looked at the crank and he thinks it need to be turned. If we need that I'll just have the Merc crank done. Would love to stroke the Merc crank but, you know...$$$. I'll just have to make due with the extra 1/4" I guess.