Technical flathead should I or shouldn't I

Isn't that really a truck adapter and not a true hogs head.

 

C8RT/C8BA numbers would indicate that this flathead engine is a Canadian Ford engine and not a Mercury. For $200 this flathead is most certainly a worthwhile investment. Go get it before someone else does.

 

At worst, even if it's broken to pieces inside, this easily has more than $200 worth of spare parts.

 

And at $200 you are still asking??
BUY IT, BUY IT!!!!

and if you don't like it give it to me . . .

 

That isn't the hog's head you are thinking of. That is a run of the mill 8RT bell housing. Worth $50 with the correct starter plate.

OP: Well, this is a game changer. Not running means a lot. I would tell the guy two things: squirt some MMO or ATF down the plugs holes to see if he can get it freed and started or $100.

If you can't get it to spin, it is a core at best. I can't tell you how many "rebuilt" flatheads with 4" cranks I've gone to look at very much just like the engine you took a picture of.

From what I gather, those 8RT heads are the same as EAB's (please correct me if I'm wrong) which is a good thing.
That said, I highly doubt there is a 4" crank hiding in this engine. This is a run of mill 239 c.i. flathead.

Good blocks are hard to find and this may indeed be a good one, but tearing down a flathead to find out is a hell of a lot of work; especially if you don't have flathead specific tools to do it.

 

If I was closer I would buy it stuck or not!

He is practically giving it to you. HRP

 

Flattie would be great in your T, (I am partial to Flatheads). They are much more expensive to rebuild than SBC but are the origional Hot Rod engine Parts are available. I would buy or build an trans adaptor and put e n S10 5 speed behind it. If you want to make a few bucks on your deal, e mail me at springgrange@personainternet.com I am about 75 miles from Toronto

 

If you are using an "original Hot Rod engine" because it is an original hot rod engine why would you put a late model transmission behind it?

 

Can't really see the bolt pattern, you may be right! Not sure how that would work as an adapter, never seen one with the transmission off, might work as well? Saxon, do you happen to have a photo of one?

 

Would be interested in a little more information on this. There are two pieces there, the half-bell and then the adapter behind it. The adapter does not have a starter plate, that is part of the half-bell, so that is a little confusing. I can't tell from the photo what the bolt pattern is on the adapter part, looks a little more rounded than the hogshead adapter but hard to tell. Not sure I have ever seen this style of adapter.

 

It's hard to see, but that is simply a side shift Trans mated to a truck bell. I'll get some pictures later to show the difference. The "hogs head" everybody wants came out of big trucks and allows you mate a T5 with an adaptor plate.

All in all, $200 isn't bad but it is not a steal. Flatties can run with cracked blocks. A running engine helps to you to get a better idea if it MAY be cracked. Go in to with the understanding you may be buying a $200 boat anchor. More than likely it will check out, but it's possible it's no good.

 

The photo posted is not a one piece bellhousing unless my eyesight is a lot poorer than I think. Know all about hogsheads, I have four of them and have done the T5 conversions, including making the adapter plates. I just have not seen the style of adapter on this engine, is appears to be more round at the transmission . Is that part of front of the transmission and not a separate piece?

 

OK, maybe I understand your question. The different between a truck bell (8RT) and a car is two fold. One, truck is cast while cars are stamped. The 8RT is bigger since it needs to accommodate an 11" clutch for the truck vs. a 10" for the car application.

Does that help?

 

"What we have here is a failure to communicate" Cool Hand Luke, LOL. I know what a half-bell is, both steel stamped and cast. Bolted to the half-bell is a cast part that has the clutch fork and shaft in it. Now, I'm old, so cut me some slack here. That is where the hogshead would normally be, but with my poor eyesight I can tell for sure what is going on. Is this part cast as part of the transmission case or a separate bolt on adapter in this photo.

 

THERE IS MORE THAN YOUR MONEYS WORTH .

COLUMN SHIFT TRUCK TRANSMISSION/QUITE RARE.

 

Just so everyone knows what were talking about, the first two photos are half-bells. The first photo has both a steel stamped and cast example. The second photo is a steel stamped half-bell. The third photo is what is often called a hogshead. The hogshead is used to adapt a Truck 4-speed to the half-bell. The question on the current photo (due to a poor photo or my inability to see it clearly) is what is attached to the half-bell, a transmission with a cast in clutch fork ***emble or a bolt on one.

 

Cool Hand Luke, love that movie. Yes, that other half of bell you see in the picture is cast into the trans. Just like any other car or 1/2 ton truck trans.

 

These trans. have the more "car-like" ratios v. the heavier duty top (aka low first) shift one, right?

 

Thanks, at first look they appear separate but then never seen one that style, so thanks for clearing that up! So, can delete that from the parts pile. I have no idea what the transmissions are worth. It is hard to say on the engine, if it is a good block then it's a very good price, if not and only parts, not sure. I think I would take the chance for $200. That would reduce your looking to a block only as you would have all the parts. That is the best why to buy a flathead. With a bare block you can see what you are getting and have it tested.

 

Well? It would be in my garage by now!

 

from a Flat Ernie's post:

In order of preference:

EAB - arguably best flow/compression of any stock head
8BA - garden variety head
8RT - Truck head - low compression

Mill the EABs to get .050" clearance over the pistons, check your valve clearance while you're at it.

 

Maybe my responses are jaded since it's been about 10-15 years since I bought one. Back then, I bought three within a short period of time. All were standard bore and all three blocks checked out good. One (an 8RT ironically) ran and I should have never taken it apart. Lesson learned.

I didn't pay more than $100 for any one. I guess times have changed and a $100 in 10-15 years isn't so bad after all.

Heck, take a chance and I truly hope it all works out. Always good to see another flathead brought back to life.

As far as parts, go in knowing most of the parts would be for a "stocker" type of guy since most of guys want the 59AB style stuff (heads, generator, water pumps etc.) for a period look. Reason I say this, don't think you'll make a mint off of the discarded parts, but you should be able to get your money back.

Last, I forgot to ask. Does the oil pan have a rear sump with a large circular plate bolted to the bottom? If so, this is a desirable truck pan. That's a good thing.

 

Saxon:

I'm not proclaiming to be an expert, but I do recall reading (maybe Ol Ron told me this) that 8RT's were very similar if not exactly like EAB's.

I could be wrong and would like to know definitively myself.

 

The truck trans adapter and open driveshaft adapter are worth the 200 here I say go for it then send it to me......

 

banjorear, you might be right... but I'm pretty sure that the 8rts were the lowest compression head available. Now what you do to it by milling could change that. If O'Ron definitely said that, then there is no question.

 

Let me see if I can find it. It kind of stuck with me b/c when I moved I sold a pair of EAB's for a nice price. I literally threw a pair of 8RT's into the s**** guy's truck. After I read that I thought now that was a dumb decision.

Kind of makes sense since one would think they'd try to give the trucks all the help they could get.

 

Just looked at Ron's Nostalgia book nothing there on the question at hand. Post up the results if you will. I would be interested also in knowing for sure.

Trucks never had to go fast, just lug through those 4 gears.

Okay here we go:

http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=84870

so don't feel too bad about throwing these heads away...

 

Yeah, you may be right and I could be thinking about something else.

 

That'd be a first for me...
I think as mentioned in the link. You have to check cc on the heads to really know what they are. As all of them are all over the map.

 

BUY IT ! Parts alone are worth more than $200.
If you don't buy it NOW, someone else will when he posts it for sale on the internet.