Thought I'd post some pics of the flathead I just finished for my 40 Ford pickup. Took me a LONG time, has to start over twice due to machining errors. Goes into the pickup in a couple weeks. Thanks for all the help and advise many of you provided. Specs: 276ci 59AB block (3 5/16 bore, 4" Merc crank) Block ported using Mike Bishops guide here on the HAMB. 1.6 Chevy valves intake and exhaust Johnson adjustable lifters, late guides Schnieder 270F cam ORD heads, 8.5:1 after minor massaging for valve clearance Twin 97's on Edelbrock slingshot (new one) Stock 6v crab dizzy with Mallory coil. Will go into 40 pickup with stock 3 speed, columbia rear, dropped axle, reverse eye springs, lever shocks. Thanks again for all the help. Jody
Now you're talking flathead! Nice to see that someody else *gets it*.....flatheads have soul and yours has plenty........nice build! CB
Good on you for keeping the flathead. All of my plans for my '48 F1 included a SBC/BBC and a T-400 or 4L80E. Lately I'm taken by the notion of redoing the flathead with a few performance upgrades and keeping it a local cruiser instead of the highway bullet I invisioned. Frank
Great color combo which shows off those freakishly simplistic yet advanced looking heads and smoooooooooth look too! Shame to cover it up inside that pickup's engine room. It really looks like a fenderless hoodless roadster motor to me.
Anybody who's messed with flatheads much, knows that's where the thermostats go. Not really worth mentioning. Now, original-style coil, and fabric-covered spark-plug wires...that's worth mentioning! That's one of the many little details that make an engine such as this one so nice. Jody...may I ask...what were the specific machining errors? I'd like to know for future reference. Thankyou. Just goes to show, that if I get lazy, and don't get out the micrometers to double-check the machinist's work, Im asking for trouble. Glad to see you finally reached your goal. It's obvious it was worth it in the end...beautiful engine...and beautiful truck. - Rick
Thanks for the compliment Rick. Machinist errors were: 1) not test fitting the cam with the cam bearings in place, it wouldn't spin when I put it in so had to take apart and have machinist lightly scrape the bearings with a special tool to allow the cam to spin freely. 2) When installing the valves I noticed that the valve seats did not apppear to seal all the way around. Marks from valve lapping showed only 3/4 way around the seat. Everything had to come apart so he could touch up the seats. 3) Installed pistons/rods and found that piston heights were much too different (some chambers would require redoming for piston clearance while others had alot of room). Took everything apart again so that machinist could check rod lengths. Found that they were poorly matched and had to use alternate set that I had. I had the damn crankshaft in and out 3 times.... PS, regarding the cloth wires, I had them special ordered in custom color and striping. I can forward the name of the company in Oregon if anyone is interested. They can do anything you want and don't charge that much.
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