Projects Picked up my first Flathead.

Ive been wanting to do a thread for a while now and I thought this was a good oportunity to get one started. My uncle has had this 8RT Falthead sitting around for years in the back of his shed. I have wanted and dreamed about it for as long as he has had it and after lots of dealing and conversations about who needs it more, I finally made it mine. And so I went and picked it up on Monday.

 

Well done!
(and your Mum may be right).

 

Just pulled the heads off and Its a little worst for ware. It has obvioulsy gotten wet at some point and the bores are a little rusty but the seem solid. A few of the valves are stuck but ill smash em with some WD40 and get em out. Im sorta hoping to throw a bore and hone at it and ring,bearings and gaskets after a clean up. Fingers crossed. I think its Time I start putting that Model A Ive always wanted together.

 

Decided to chuck a Stromberg 97 I had layin' around onto the manifold for sh*ts and gigs.

 

'Tis not a 59A you have there but an 8RT, from '48-52 (8RTs went to '53, but yours has the non-53 water pumps). The 8RT was the truck version of the 8BA. Same block, intake, etc., just different heads, water pumps, exhaust, and carburetor.

 

Indeed you are correct thank you for correction. It was made in 52 As far as I can tell. From what I have been reading these have relieved valve seats. can you confirm that? thanks.

 

Your engine doesn't have the factory relief, which is a good thing. They took off too much metal, and it was just a crude job all around. It was done to stop cracking the block, not so much for flow.
BTW, you can't run that 97 with the stock distributor.

 

Thanks Nice to know. Yeah I was just stickin' the 97 on it for looks. Ive got a an offy dual carb manifold on the way and I have some offy heads in a box somewhere . Im gonna whack em on and see how they go. About the distributor Ive got some Ideas what would you suggest?

Thanks.

 

http://www.lindertech.com/bhrs/



looks in pretty good nick..................Check for Cracks before you do anything else.....!, plenty of good threads on here about what to look for


have fun

K

 

Thanks man.

 

Just out of curiosity why cant you use the stock distributor with a stromberg 97? I have had friends put them on and assumed it was a bolt up. I guess I should have been more nosey? Any clarity would be useful thanks.

 

I think it's because of where the vacuum advance screws into the stock carburetor.
Make sure you read all of the pages of this link.
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=265289&highlight=94+carb+vacuum+advance+port
Then read this and call up Jim Linder at Bubba's Ignition to find out all you need to know and how to do it so your engine runs just fine and dandy.
http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=46431

 

Thanks Man that helped Alot.

 

A few thoughts. Since the heads are off, get a rotary brush in a drill and thoroughly scour the block between the valves and pistons to visually check for cracks between valve seats and pistons. Not a good place to have them. Some cracks between water passage and head bolt holes is OK. If it checks out OK and you continue disassembly, prior to hot tank, spend some time with wire rods, poking down and around the cylinders through the water passages to loosen, remove as much casting sand, rust and crud as you can from the water jackets. There are several good books on flathead rebuilding, Speedway offers some. Good luck, an A-V8 is cool!
RB

 

Thanks man, will do and let you know how I go.