Projects Randy Bowyer Mercury Flathead

Hello, hambers.
I just took a huge risk buying what was advertised as a 1949/1953 Mercury flathead that was rebuilt by Randy Bowyer, a member of the Boneville 200 mile club.
It was advertised as all new rebuilt engine, I looked it over but couldn't open it to see the cylinders.
It's a huge risk but I know I couldn't build it for the same price if I did it myself..I'll open it and will be asking help looking it over .
I'll need help measuring the stroke etc..

It may just be a dud.
Time will tell

 

Wow good for you. Yes tear it apart.
But pull a compression check beforehand.

 

Needs a Hilborn injection. Hehe.

 

Love the chrome oil pan!

 

Hope not..seller sounded honest.

will do,it was a bit tight,had to use a wrench to spin it.

let's not et ahead of ourselves

It looks goon in pics,,,looks a bit old in person...
Maybe just dirty

 

Once the flatty is running and in the car the oil will hide any imperfections in that chrome pan.

 

Didn't know 48 engines had front distributor.

 

Typo

 

Looks super nice. Lots of attention to detail for sure. Judging by the paint on the pulley grooves, missing plug wires, and other things, it seems it was never fired up.
Also, I’ve never seen the remote oil filter mounted like that before. Definitely not the “standard” hsg I’ve seen mounted using the head bolts.

 

Curious about the narrow and wide belt mix of pulleys, dual carbs facing backwards, and the crapy engine cradle. I hope the internals are much better than what's seen outside.

 

I'm going to open it and see..
The carbs and intake are barely bolted down

 

The late 8BA flathead came out in '48 with the new F-1 trucks.

 

If you look closely, it appears to have a 4 BBL manifold with an adapter (bolted on backwards) for two 2 BBL's. I initially thought it looked OK, but the closer I look, I'm starting to wonder. I think the weird oil filter mounting is a piece that Offenhauser used to make to mount an late 8BA filter to the head bolts of engines that didn't have the special filter mounting bosses; see this thread https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/un-identified-flat-head-accessory.1330802/#post-15508678.

 

Hope you didn't get screwed on the deal. Looks pretty, more like a show piece than a runner

 

At least the 8RT truck engines had the oil filter mounted like this.

 

48 and older has the filter mounted to the studs. 49 and newer has bosses in between the studs like shown.

 

Couldn't get to open it today but ir sure looks good.
Maybe I'll open it tomorrow and take a look..
The seller is very communicative and told him to call if there was a problem.

 

I'd put it on an engine stand, hook it up and test run it/break it in, do a retorque and if everything's checks out install it and get going. Before your fire it torque the heads in case he didn't. Got nothing to lose.

 

I think I over paid for a can over sprayed wire wheeled door stop.

 

At least I can't see any "Part number" cracks (at least on this side). Every block I've ever had without them turned out to be good. Looks like stock 3/8" reach spark plugs were used with aftermarket heads, which ain't good. Who was it you said built this?

 

Definitely not a new rebuild.
Did you do a compression check??
I hope this seller makes good on his word.

 

Actually, '49's didn't have the bosses either. (Stock heads; I've never seen a set of aftermarket heads without them.)

 

I am sorry you found that. Going to call the seller before going any farther with it?

 

I don't see cracks either,I'm going to slap the head on again and do a compression test after work.
The seller is supposed to be the daughter and her husband,really nice people.
Randy was an avid racer even raced in boneville.

I got antsy and took the head off before doing the compression check.

I'm going to do a compression test then I'll open the other side and take a look.


Maybe I'm just freaking out.
I expected to find new pistons and new valves but everything looks ok,cylinder walls etc..
I'll do a compression check and check the other side for cracks.
I don't have time to make a stand to test run it but maybe after the car show in April.

I measured the cyl stroke(?) And it looks like 4" so at least that's good.
What should I do with the peeling silver paint? Scrape and re paint the gasket?
Or just bolt it down and run it?
thanks in advance.

 

You now know what you bought is a thrown together painted rebuild, NOT as advertised. I would NOT try and start it without a full tear down, to prevent any damage caused by improper internal assembly, based on how the external assembly has been done. But more importantly, what is the seller going to do to make things right?

 

Wow! Disappointing to say the least. If it were me, I’d be returning it and asking for my money back.

 

I’d clean up the head and block surface, check for flatness of both surfaces, throw some copper coat on them and retorque.
Yes a lot of work but you’ll lose compression for an accurate reading if you don’t.
This just sucks to hear.
Did you damage the head gasket.?
Or…..Good blocks are hard to find.
Talk to the seller and see how serious he is about being fair. And come up with a fair compromise.

 

Oh man, I was hoping this wasn't the case. Probably should decide if you want to keep it or try to get your $$$ back before going any further.
It may run but for sure not what you paid for

 

I agree with @V8 Bob about a full tear down and find that his advice is usually spot on. Also, looking at the last picture, it looks to me that the block needs a good cleaning. Compare it to the picture below of my '51 Merc after I finished two good soaks with Evapo Rust solution followed by a couple of regular flushes. That was a good used engine that I didn't disassemble. If you tears yours down, you have the advantage of a thorough mechanical cleaning first; also magnaflux and pressure testing.

It does look like it has a merc crank, so that's a nice plus. From what I can see, the block looks real good, so it appears you are ahead of the game. I sold my next to last good 8BA bare block 6 years ago for $800, and the guy was very happy to get it after going through 6 that tested bad.

 

I will have to send him a message.

I think i am.

I didn't damage the head gasket and yes very disappointed.

i know man...lota of money spent.

I just want a nice flatty but hard to find around these parts.

After looking at the heads,it seems like they aren't usable...lots of porosity everywhere.