Hey guys I joined yesterday when I finally picked up my new/old Flathead from a guy in South Jersey. Loaded it up and brought it home. Yanked it out and (weather here in Central Jersey is awesome today) left it carcass outside. Here are a few pics. Please give me comments and thoughts on how to proceed. I have a Flathead book and have been studying it from cover to cover like a ASE exam. Again I included a few pics for some feedback. If anyone is from Jersey and wants to help wrench or spread some knowledge the beer is always cold at the shop. Sent from my iPad using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Nice looking old motor. But I don't think it's a flat head. Judging by the colour, it's probably a small block Chevy.
Based on the water pumps and the 8rt on the heads you most likely have a 48-53 truck engine with an 11 inch clutch. the numbers on the back of the block mean nothing. But, things get changed around over the years. You may get lucky and find a 4 inch crank when you open her up.
Yeah this was in a truck. What’s the issue? Plan on putting this in a ‘29 coupe. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
No issue. The 8rt truck heads are the lowest compression of the available stock heads with EAB heads being the most desirable IMO. 8ba heads are in between the 8rt and EAB heads compression wise. You'll need the truck pumps anyway to make the install easier in your '29. What trans are you planning on using? If you run a '39 or earlier top loader you'll need a 1/2 bell housing from either a Merc (stamped steel) or a truck (cast iron). A '40 or later side loader will need a full bell housing. Or there is always the automatic option with an adapter.
Thanks!!! your the first person to give me some great answers. If I change the heads and go aftermarket I should be able to increase compression? I was planning on a top loader trans but that option is still open. There is a guy in Pennsylvania offering one. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Oh man,,,,I am excited for you. I just got mine a couple of months ago. Your engine looks like it is Ford Tangerine color,,,I’m just guessing. Welcome to the Flathead club,,,,it is a sickness ! Tommy It looks good,,,,will it spin over ?
Oh yeah,,,,you might consider adding a clue to your thread title. Add the word Flathead in there somewhere,,it will get more views,,,and more advice. Tommy
Yeah it was running. Plan on pulling the heads and checking the valves. Gonna also drop the pan and check the bearings. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Tell us what you want to do with your flathead so we can give better advice. And welcome to the flathead world. Sent from my SM-G973U using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Plan on putting it in a ‘29 coupe my father drove when he was a kid. Thinking on putting a top loader trans to a modern 9 inch rear. Gonna put a K member in the stock chassis. Juice breaks with 5.00’s in the front and 7.50’s in the rear with a 4 inch chop. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Not to Hi Jack! but are you guys saying that a complete cast iron bell housing will not accept a '39 transmission?
A '39 trans will bolt up to an 8ba with either a cast iron 1/2 bell housing from a truck or a 1/2 stamped steel bell housing from a Merc. Not sure what you mean by a complete cast iron bell housing. IIRC there was a full cast iron bell housing that was used in Mercs for a short time but that used the narrow bolt pattern Ford trans not the '39 and earlier pattern.
A '39 transmission bolts up to a 59ab block. This one is an 8BA; doesn't have the bell housing that the earlier ones have. The '39 transmission will fit onto an 8BA with a 1949 or 1950 Mercury or truck bell housing, I think. The 1951 Mercury had the small bolt pattern transmission so that bell housing is different.
Original flathead type ROGL-rolling on the ground laughing. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Just gonna give a really good overhaul. Check the valves, rods, cam and new head gasket..etc. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Early model year 1951 models used the same transmission design as the ‘49/‘50 Mercs. Mid-year’51 Mercury switched to the ‘49/‘64 Ford small bolt pattern transmission. That particular bell housing is a half year only item as the clutch throw out shaft design was same as prior models. In ‘52 Mercury adopted the lever arm that Ford introduced in ‘49 and shared the bell housing design with Ford. I am pretty sure that bell housing is not a ‘49 Merc item. It is either a ‘49/‘53 Ford bell housing or a ‘52/‘53 Mercury item......see comments immediately above your quoted post. Ray
Don't forget the bottom plate which the starter bolts to on the 8BA type of bell housing - if what you look at doesn't have it - you need to source one. That's on all the 8BA bell housings - they need the corresponding starter plate.
Oh....nice looking engine - there should be a code on the left side - driver's side of the block between the intake and head just behind the back of the carb....might tell you what year. If it turns over - with the head off - measure the distance the piston travels down to bottom and back up - 4" and you have a Merc crank....good for 255 cubic inches !
Another note to note. Six cylinder's had a pressed steel bell housing but is different. As I remember, the face where the transmission bolts on is angled or something like that.
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