I have a 283 / Saginaw in my 34 pickup. A close friend (totally trust him) is thinking of selling a flattie setup (engine, 42 truck trans, radiator, starter, battery) that he has owned for years, housed in a rig he built that allows him to run the engine on the stand, and he does that periodically. He was saving it for a ground-up build but already has an A roadster and A coupe and, getting older, just wants to drive and enjoy them now. <O</O He wants 1500 for it. Id love your help thinking through a few things: 1) is it a good deal? Looking at flattie prices in the last few days since hes told me about it, it looks like it is <O</O 2) Should I swap a SBC for a flattie? I use the truck for cruising and for general running around and dont drag it (but love to run it through the gears when I drive it).
The Flattie is cooler, but goes a lot slower. What style Flatty is it (8BA, 59A, etc?) Stock or modified motor?
the chevy is the traditional way to hotrod, its dependable and cheap and easy for parts and you want to use an expensive underpowered poorly designed engine with overheating problems??? not me! I have driven flathead V8s for years and will not again
I have one SBC and one flathead. They both do what they're designed to do. I like them both. I have an acquaintance who removed a 283 from a '40 Ford and put in a flathead. After driving it awhile, he took the flathead out and put the 283 back in. He likes it better with the 283. My '47 Ford is a pleasure to drive with the stock flathead. It is smooth and quiet, and will pull up pretty steep hills in third gear, which is amazing to me. If you try the flathead and like it, great! If you try the flathead and don't care for it, you can swap the 283 back in and sell the flathead. A good running flathead usually sells quickly, so you won't be out anything but labor.
I think flatheads are cool in other peoples cars so I think you should swap. if it were my car I'd keep the 283.
That 283 is a good motor for that truck and as said inexpensive to maintain. I have had a flattie that ran really nice (when it was first installed) for awhile then gave me grief from then on.....lots of adjustable liter issues. For me, wasn't worth the money I put into it. I know lots of folks have good luck with the flathead but I didn't. I'm building my '32 pickup with a '55 265 SBC. To me, just as traditional as any flathead.
For local runs, the flathead is great for me. But, I've seen the 60+yr old crowd that really know the flatheads, take them on cross country runs with no complaints. Proper gearing for the flathead is important. The flattie in my 40 w/3.78 rear gears and 15" tires is not happy on the freeway.
I've built, driven, broken, and loved, hated, and tolerated flatheads since 1955. Big, small, extreme, mild, etc. Replaced some with Cads, Oldses, Chryslers, and Chev V8s Giant difference in smooth torque, reliability, and overall peace of mind. Building another '47 Merc flathead as we speak...but I have a large collection of SBC, BBC, Chrys Hemi, Desoto Hemi, Olds, and some others...just in case. LOL
If this was the late 50's and you asked this question, I think you friends would say you're crazy to go back to a flathead.. But since it's 60 years later I will say, You're crazy to go back to a flathead....
I have a similar dilemma. To resolve it, I bought a second 36 Ford pickup to put the flathead in. Problem would be solved if I ever could get around to starting the project.
I love the sound and look of a flatty. I once drove a friends A truck with a 160 hp flatty and it was quick and healthy. But not really reliable and he broke more transmissions than the block sprung cracks. I still want a flatty someday but for now I have 2 nailheads, 3 283s and 4 327 s stored away for future projects... I´d stay with the 283.
Looking cool doesn't do it for me. I'd rather have the performance of an SBC. I've had flatheads before and was not satisfied with their sluggish performance.
I'd have bought it already at that price. Definetely since its a package. It would be cool to have the stand too. Like others have said just get it home then you can take your sweet ass time deciding what to do with it. Hell i'd like to have it even though right now I got no use for it.
maybe it's just me , but i have always had a hard time tearing apart a running/driving car when there is basically nothing wrong with it. keep the 283 in it , use the Flathead for the next project
OP here. Thanks everyone for their opinions so far - very helpful! This is kinda what I've been thinking to do: 1) Buy now, since it sounds like you guys think it's a good deal, too. 2) Tuck it into the corner of the garage and run it on the stand occasionally. 3) Stick with the 283 in my pickup for the forseeable future. 4) Use the flattie someday, or not, for the pickup or another project. 5) Can always sell it at some point.
If you have to ask you already know the answer. You only run a flathead if you just have to have a flathead. Same goes for a generator instead of an alternator.