Technical 8ba flathead

Looking at a couple flatheads and weighing my options.

The first is a 49 unmolested block with a small pin hole in the exhaust valve guide for cylinder one. It missing everything. No main caps, crank, rods, pistons etc. But it also only costs 50 bucks.

The second is a 1937 tin side v860. For sale by a fellow H.A.M.B. member. This one still has the ford certified reman stickers on it and has everything from pan to intake intact for 700.

So should I run the smaller engine since it’s all there and available. Or go with the later v8 and buy the whole damn thing over again in missing parts? What would you guys do.


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i would keep looking

 

Yea. I’ve always been a small block ford kind of guy. So I’m new to this whole flathead thing and man can it get expensive fast. Saw these two options and they seemed the most bang for my buck around where I live.


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Can you even get main caps for the bare block? I myself would negotiate for the complete engine - unless you can still get everything for the bare block.

 

I found a couple guys on eBay that have a ton of original main caps fairly cheap. Now if they will all be usable I’m not sure. Yea the complete engine is a good deal compared to what I’m used to seeing. Normally complete flatheads around here are 2k and they look like they picked them up on a diving expedition.


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My avatar had a V8 60 in it and it fit great and looked like it belonged there but was a dog. they are 136 c.i. and have no torque. I was running a 3:78 rear gear and my banger powered 30 pickup would out run it until it ran out of rpm's. The V8 60 cars had 4:44 rear gears and low top end. They used them in sprint cars and small race boats but kept them at higher rpm's, they wake up over 2500 rpm's but not good for a driver.

 

IMHO the 1948 and earlier engines are where it's at.


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That’s what I keep finding the more I research them. Seems like a good fit but building the banger that’s in the car could bring me similar results.


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I’ve been reading that a lot too. Seems your opinion is widely shared lol.


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in PA dead flatheads bring 2 grand? i should bring you a truck load. 2 to 500 bucks on craigslist, any time you look. usually atleast 10 at all times

 

Wow,2k for a builder flathead. I just bought a complete 50' f5 with 25k original miles for scrap weight ( $200). For 2k I would be going on a road trip.

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I talked to a very old Ford mechanic once about the V860 and his response was that it was o the only engine that he could replace spark plugs in while running and never notice a loss in power! kinda says it all about power output with a 60. Unless you go all out midget specs......forget it.

 

Pre-48 flatheads are cool, but can be more expensive than the later ones. If you want an example, price rod bearings for one compared to a set for an 8BA. Of course, you can always put a later crank and rods in a 59A. Around here, decent 8BA's can be found any time you want if you look hard enough; 59A's are another matter altogether. If cost is any consideration, the older 21 stud engines can be budget breakers, especially if they have the Babbited main bearings. Of course, if you find a later one, it may be a Mercury with a 4" crank.

 

• I vote nix on either . Don't be in a rush , they pop up regularly on here. But as to be expected its hard to be100% certain on block condition.

What does hole in exhaust valve guide mean? I presume it has no valves or guides , so do you mean through exhaust port? If so its scrap really.
There is lots of main caps available if you ask, but that means finding matching ones and getting the block line bored. $$

 

I agree with the others that you need to continue shopping. Missing main caps means you'll need a line-bore even if you find some.
The V8-60 would be cool as a novelty or transplanted into a small light car like a MG-TD or TF, or even a newer MG or other British sportscar. If I had a V8-60, I'd be looking for a Triumph Spitfire to put it in. The result would be similar performance to a 1500cc four, but the sound alone would be a head-turner.

 

Hi,...in response to the specific question,...$50.00 for a builder block , ... look for a complete engine....,
V8-60,...sort of a novelty engine, cool for an antique,...
As for unsolicited FLATHEAD ADVISE.... 8 BA IS THE WAY!!



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The block has a pinhole that you can see on the outside and it goes all the way through into where the valve would be in that cylinder. Quite strange really that it’s not cracked near the pin hole. It’s just a perfect hole all the way through.


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The block has a pinhole that you can see on the outside and it goes all the way through into where the valve would be in that cylinder. Quite strange really that it’s not cracked near the pin hole. It’s just a perfect hole all the way through.


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The block has a pinhole that you can see on the outside and it goes all the way through into where the valve would be in that cylinder. Quite strange really that it’s not cracked near the pin hole. It’s just a perfect hole all the way through.


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Yea the nicest one right now in my area is 3k and the ad says “ should run, ran when pulled Year’s ago” so I always look at them as they will probably need work as well and for the price.


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Yea I’ve been watching craigslist from where I live past Cleveland and right now there’s a few but they all need some sort of overhaul procedure and they barely dip below the 2k mark. The most promising is one that said it did run years ago.


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A new listing of the top 3 lies :

I'll respect you in the morning.
The check's in the mail.
Ran when parked.

 

Hahaha exactly my thoughts.


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Hahaha exactly my thoughts.


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Get in touch with pinstriper40. Joel has a huge selection of flatheads and parts. Me and a Buddy just bought 2 engines from him, 1 Merc and 1 Ford. I tore my Ford down for inspection and found a perfect block and inards, it had a rebuild tag on it from Nov. 1964, .30 over and 10-10 on the crank. It will end up in the '46 when finished!

 

I've been thinking about the O/P's statement about 2-3K for core flatheads. At first, I thought he must live in the wrong part of the country, or doesn't know where to look or something. I then realized that it's been a while since I've looked for something like this (I already have two spares), and maybe the market has changed. What I do know is that the market for reasonably priced vintage speed equipment is gone. I cruise eBay and Craig's list and every once in a while I'd find something like an $180 Navarro "Universal" dual manifold, or a set of unused Edmunds 8BA heads for $300, and on and on. Over the last ten or so years, I've got a lot of cool stuff sitting on the shelf without a lot of investment. I used to be able to buy core small base 2GC's, Carter WCFB's, and Rochester 4G's for less than $50. Over the last 6 months, I don't think I've come across anything that I wanted to buy at anywhere near the asking price. The only set of Edmunds heads on eBay have a "Buy it Now" price of $1200! I regularly search "Edmunds Flathead" on eBay and all I've seen lately is stuff like a Studebaker 6 dual carb manifold for $995 or a dual for a flathead Cad for $3995. I know "askin' ain't gettin'", but these prices have to be an indication of something.

I guess I'll have to get off my ass and start haunting estate sales and swap meets, but it was so much easier using the internet. There is a finite supply of this stuff out there, and we may be nearing the end. I guess I'm kinda surprised it lasted this long.

 

Yea craigslist around here is mostly whole cars that have a flathead. Or when you find them they are questionable at best. I haven’t really looked at eBay for the whole engine since I’m not sure if I want to know the shipping logistics for that heavy hunk of iron.


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Well you guys must be good luck. Scanning through craigslist just now and 2 hours ago two where posted in central Ohio.

The first one is 500


And the second posting is 2 for 1000




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the two for a grand look like later motors, one i can see the 59ab on the head, and one with the side load tranny which you use the guts in your top load case for the better syncros. heres a link to a current thread on the barn about cost of rebuilding https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=235044 good luck

 

Got these two from Pinstriper40. One Ford, one Merc. He has a bunch of Flatheads and parts, some Merc cranks. Might have what your looking for, Good Luck!