Technical Not to be left out, the all inclusive Flathead thread

So, I am probably gonna regret this, but I am thinking of building a flathead.
I have always been an overhead valve guy, but for some nagging reason, I am collecting flathead parts.

I have 2 flatheads to pick up next week. One was a running/driving 41 Ford pickup and the other is a 1940 Mercury that my buddy @guthriesmith has in his pile. The guy with the 41 also has a Mercury crank to give me.

My hot rod common sense is screaming at me, HP per cubic dollar, but my nephew is dying to build a flatty car, so I got suckered in.

I have a couple of books so far.



Any suggestions or things I need to know? Books to buy?
Who knows, I may give up Caddys and start building flattys.............

Nah, probably never gonna happen.

 

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/1940-flathead.1210932/
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/blown-flathead.1218585/
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/good-video-of-a-flathead-build.1221637/
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/8ba-flathead-questions.1220205/
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/flathead-diff-gears.1219804/
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/51-flathead-tear-down-and-build-up.1222358/
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/inside-my-8ba-flathead.1218426/
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/1950-flathead-8ba-inital-start-trouble-shoot.1221991/
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/flathead-4-ring-pistons.1216549/
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/better-4-or-4-1-8-flathead-crank.1220988/
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/flathead-ford-id-help-needed.1217339/
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/flathead-dual-exhaust-mufflers.1215608/
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...-lets-rebuild-it-sunday-tech-quickie.1221700/
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/flathead-vintage-mallory-dual-point-parts.1216233/
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/4-71-flathead-hp.1214266/
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/8ba-flathead-stuck-valve.1213747/
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/flathead-question.1210363/
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/whats-the-best-ford-flathead-to-build-on.712229/
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/flathead-guru-whos-your-pick.852427/

 

Ron Bishop's book and Tex Smith's book (by Ron Ceridono) are worth getting IMO.

 

A few magazine type articles.

https://www.diyford.com/build-performance-ford-flathead-engine/
https://www.hotrod.com/articles/hdrp-0511-ford-flathead-engine/
https://www.hotrod.com/articles/how-to-build-supercharged-ford-flathead-engine/
https://m.roadkillcustoms.com/build-high-performance-flathead-ford-engine/
https://www.hotrod.com/articles/bolt-on-speed-and-performance-for-the-flathead-v-8/
https://www.hotrod.com/articles/adapting-the-s-10-t5-transmission-to-the-59ab-ford-flathead/
https://myflatheadford.com/flathead-v8-bw-t-5-conversion/

The authority on flatheads.
https://handhflatheads.com/

 

I have owned a half dozen flatheads.
I love the way they look and the way they sound.
I love the old school coolness.
I love the flat torque curve.
I love cruising down the highway with one.

 

I like the idea that I won't have to make special motor mounts.....or trans mounts, or a rear end swap....

 

If you haven't already done it, I'd pull the heads on both engines and check for obvious cracks and other problems. Good flathead blocks are getting very scarce.

 

The 41 would run like a sewing machine, but then it got pulled for an LS swap and left outside. I have no idea if it is covered or rained on for the last 5 years. I'm scared.

 

Good luck--I'm in the same boat--playing with a 40 with a flathead and Columbia. All others have had Small blocks etc. New experience-last flathead was a 37 Ford pickup 56 years ago-daily driver to work for 2 years. Looking at a fresh stroker motor a friend has too, he has some early Edmonds custom heads for it as well.-must be nuts. The one in this 40 runs sweet.

 

It'll be the best $10k I have ever spent for 175 hp.

 

This stroker is fresh with new water pumps has been in a bag since he had it built 4-5 years ago. Has another merc that he took out of a car 20 years ago as well-has adjustables etc-says it is very clean too and a good running 59AB with a 39 trans as well-all stored inside and covered/bagged

 

Sounds like you are going into the flathead business.

 

Nope-may get the fresh stroker though to play with

 

In case the blocks you get don't work out, look for a late block (49-53) with NO valve seat rings.
They can be made to accept all early parts.

 

Root, next time you come up to Iowa we can show you some flathead stuff. If the yard has thawed off we can drive one too.

 

Hey @Pete1 , why NO valve seats?

 

Because in a performance engine, they will many times come out and that gets very expensive.
You do not need them.

 

Can never go wrong with a flathead.

 

Welcome to the flathead fraternity. Flatheads are forever.

 

If I can offer one piece of advice - drill a small hole in the block where the lifters go so you can poke a allen key in there and 'grab' your lifter when you adjust it. I didnt and it was a pain in the bum (understatement) when I wanted/needed to adjust them.

 

Save some dough and get more revs with less cam wear ,DONT use adjustables . Silver solder a tool steel button on top of lifter and grind to suit clearance on that lumpy cam .set and forget just like Henry made em .

 

Man I love flatheads was freshening my 8ba up yesterday for all the vintage drag events coming up. Hope my new bigger flatty will be done for summer though.

 

Don’t forget antifreeze if it gets cold..
I just tried that

 

There more than one flathead!

 

I also have an 8ba.

 

The late model stock flatties are smooth running and seem more powerful.
aesthetically Never cared for the front mounted radiator hoses on the heads or the intake breather though.
Welcome to the dark side.

 

This is interesting. I need to do more research on this.

 

So, what is the best all around hot rod cam for the flathead?

 

If you havent checked out the book "Flathead Facts" you should. They dyno test multiple modifications and explain the results. Its very interesting, somewhat disappointing haha.
Basically they conclude that the stock cam in their test 8ba is probably a good choice to stick with for a mild engine. The low end torque with the aftermarket grinds is the issue.

I did some research for my new engine which will be a 296 and decided to go with the isky 400jr. Some say its no good on the street, some say its great. Since my car is used around town and will be trailered to vintage racing events I wasnt too worried about it. Im gonna try it out and if it sucks I'll pull it out.