Any recommendations for a machine shop north of Seattle? We seem to have lost most of the experienced flathead shops over the last few years. Rob at action looks to not want to do any flatheads I am told.
I've never quite understood it because in truth, they are just a simple V8 engine that needs a couple of different pieces so that you can grind the valve seats unless you get into porting and relieving the block. If anything the hassle of getting parts though normal supply chains and the more tedious process of grinding (and adjusting if you don't have adjustable lifters) the valves is the only big difference from working on a SB Chevy or Ford engine or most ohv V8 engines. On the rest of the short block every other process is going to be relatively close to the same. I know there will be a bunch of "But, but, but flatheads are different and you have to______" but in the real world you strip a block down, Clean it by what ever process you use, figure out what if anything is wrong that it isn't usable, and the figure out what you need to do to properly rebuild it. From there you align hone the block if needed, bore it, fit the pistons, grind the valve seats and either do what is needed on the crank or send it out or replace it plus rework the rods. Then carefully assemble it. Thing is that many machine shops can probably do four sets of SBC heads in the time it takes to do the valve seats on one flathead block. Plus the block doesn't fit up in the fixtures that you set OHV heads in to cut the valve seats with the cutters they have now rather than grind them with stones.
Don't recall the area but I recall a guy named Dave Tatum in the North. Well, a little digging and seems Dave has retired, but don't quote me. Here ya go. https://www.google.com/search?q=tat...msung-nf-rev1&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8
The problem is boring plates. Not everyone has them. I had to make a pair for my machinist out of a set of heads when I had mine built. I know a couple of good shops down here in SW Washington that can bore, relieve and build as much engine as you can afford.
Are we talking about torque plates for honing? How much they're needed depends upon the final bore diameter. Flathead cylinders are small diameter and the walls are thick. If one is just doing a cleanup bore rebuild, the cylinders will be round without a torque plate. If doing a 3.375" a torque plate is necessary. jack vines
Yeah, but I am talking about going large or going home. I took mine .125 over and had it relieved. If the OP wants that kind of work, it may be worth a drive down south.
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