I'm new to the HAMB. Picked up a 59A and thought I'd document it here, cause I'm gonna have a lot of questions. Wrenching the studs out. Removing the valve train. That was FUN... Finally empty. Now to check for cracks. what are these?
If anyone knows of a Flathead friendly machine shop in the Cleveland area, please let me know. Found a place that will clean and magnaflux, but need someone who has the plates and fittings to pressure test, and knows Flatheads for other work.
yikes! that's a pretty decent crack too- pretty common for the flatheads though. i'd say about 75% of the blocks we find are cracked.
Here's to finding a good one; Check with the local antique car guys in the area, and ask which machine shop they trust with their relics. 4TTRUK
Went Hillbilly Flathead Fishing in Ohio this week. Maybe out of these four I'll have one that isn't cracked. This ones a 51 Merc: One of them is a 99 block. I've read about the 99 blocks, but I thought they were all early 40s with the integral bellhousing, but this one does not have the integral bellhousing:
Not criticizing..... Asking for my own information as I would like to follow in your shoes. Wouldn't it be better to buy more of the same motor? That way you can get enough pieces out of a couple of bad motors.... Unless they all busted the same way.....
I'm playing the same game looking for an 8ba. lucky I know my shit cause the last one i check was covered in 17 different kinds of it. How do you plan to de rust those guys? I don't have an option of block type because it is going in front of a fordomatic. I'm serious about the de rust though. the machinist I have is allergic to lockjaw. Bill
I see what you're saying, but they are basically the same. Right now I'm just looking for a block that's not cracked, then I'll use it as a start. I don't really care about the extra parts right now, they just came with the blocks.
If i was in your shoes and getting hold of 5 cheap flatheads, it would probably get out of hand Its gonna be a intressting thread to follow...
This it great Bronze! I got one out on the shop floor too. Came from a 52 COE. Tore it down and checked out to be a builder. Maybe start it this summer? Following this thread - lets go!
Stripped the 99 block today and sent it off to get Magnafluxed. Fingers crossed. Here's a couple of pics of the markings on the block, maybe someone can tell me more about it:
Do you have any more pictures of the "99" block? From what I can see from what you have posted, the "1BA" maybe more indicative than the "99" on the side of the block.
That 51 Merc crank is a "keeper",....All the Mercs (49-53) were 4" stroke. 8BA, 49-53 do not have the integral bellhousing, and there's several adapter combinations to use late model trans,...such as 5 speed units. Happy Roddin' 4TTRUK
You said in post 11 that your "99" block "doesn't have an integral bellhousing" . As I said before, the "1BA" is indicative of what you have; a '51 Ford block. The "99" is a casting date or mold number.
That 51 merc bellhousing is a 1 year only oddity. That being said, if you're not gonna use it, I would be interested in buying the clutch fork/TO bearing assy from ya!!! Posted from the TJJ App for iPhone & iPad
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