Here are some pics of the project that I have been working on the last year or so. I hope to have it finished soon and drive it to California to see some of you guys!
I was never comfortable driving a flathead far from home, but I never had one that was all new. Beautiful car, have a great trip!
You must have never lived in the flathead era. My father was a Navy pilot and we traveled across the country several times in a 1953 Ford station wagon with suction cup roof rack and pulling a trailer. No air conditioning or power steering but we had a load of brothers and sisters and plenty of water to drink. Until '53 every Ford built had a flathead, either six or V8
I grew up with Dad's '50 Buick and learned to drive in a '59 Plymouth wagon. My first car was a '51 Ford 4dr, flathead and overdrive that I traded an $80 guitar for. A good runner, but being in high school never got out of town much. Then I got into '57 Chevys and the real fun began. I had a couple of Merc flatheads later, a rough '47 and a '40 that was an older restoration, but always had some reliability problems. It would blow the water out at freeway speeds and I hesitiated to pressurize the radiator. Changed to a Mallory electronic dizzy and 12 volt, and was always tinkering with the 97 carb. It would stop for no reason. Finally chased it down to a faulty pressure regulator. Eventually a legal California medical marijuana dealer made me an offer I couldn't refuse and he cut up a nice survivor coupe to make a custom like all the rest.
Are you on the Virginia HAMB board? If not, check them out at : https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/social-forums/virginia-hamb-ers.62/ Lots of nice folks there. P.S., your Ford is stunning!
wow....nice....your so far ahead of me....even to spot me a state or two.....sure would love to drive my 39 coupe out that way.....
I wouldn't worry about driving the flathead as far as you want. Dad and Mom drove this '39 to California from Lincoln, Nebraska in early '41 towing his midget. Made it with no problems.
Lots of fine Fords have been built over the years in this garage but this one has got to be one of the best. Love those Grancor heads. Congratulations on a spectacular build.
The knob on the left side of the speedo is the headlight switch.I don't use the bail at the end of the column. I just run the horn wire thru there. When I wire the car I use fuses and relays on the horn headlight and fuel pump. Also the original ignition switch has a relay to control it to take the load off the switch, it just acts as a trigger.
Dean Lowe I love the photo of your dads 39 with the sprint car in toe . Thanks for posting that. I also like the skirts.
I am using the original columbia valve that bolts to the steering box. The blower wrap will work thats the reason for double belts. Boost will only be 6 pounds . If it does not and you can't see it in the picture I have machined a idle pulley with bearings I will install. Will have to change the belt length.
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