I want a flathead, am I crazy??

If they say your Crazy for wanting a Flathead, Then i must be INSANE for building my Daughters "T" Roadster Pick Up with one !!

Fuck the Nay Sayers, The damn speed limit is only 65 (75in some areas).

If the Motor is exposed, Or building a Hot rod... I would build & run ANYTHING before i ran a Small Block Chevy.

Ya Ya ... Ive heard ALL the reasons, Cheeep, easy, Everywhere ...

Sounds like some Women i have known & sounds like all the reasons i have BANNED Small Chevy's from my house !

Thing is, Hot Rod bodys arent cheep & everywhere, Niether are brake parts, Steering gears or any other Traditional parts... So why wimp out on the engine ?

Now about the T-5, Sell that & get the Quick change & a '39 Box and build a REAL Hot Rod.

 

I wouldn't have any thing else. This one is in my 40 and I have an unblown 276 going into the 24 tall T cpe I am now building.

Go for it.

Fourdy

 

Good advice De Soto

I actually have two T5's I could sell.

For awhile there I think I was building an arc, I seem to have 2 of everthing.

Flatty, '39 tranny, quickchange.....its all coming clear to me.

Vern would be proud.

 

Vern Tardel is the Sith Lord of flat motors.... Come over to the DARK SIDE!!

Flatman

 

Nobody wants to see another sbc in a ford hot rod, or most any hot rod for that matter, they are boring to the max. Flatheads are very cool and a built flattie can wipe out most sbc's off the line for a ways (which is very fun). Everyone talks about spending big bucks on flatheads but I don't see that at all. You can build a very decent motor pretty reasonable if you don't get all goofy with it and do some serious shopping around and if you and your friends can do most of the work. If you want to do the ohv thing there are excellent options with character, nailhead, rocket, sbf, etc.. Or, as SlamCouver said hop up a 4 banger, I have seen some of these little buggers that are very, very, fast and look great. If you are going to build a car and invest time and energy with $$$, do something interesting. Whatever you decide, take a look at the next show you go to, watch the people, they walk quickly past all these chromed up sbc's and head straight for the flatheads.

 

I did the same thing. I set up my 30' coupe for a flathead, then I realized I couldn't afford or justify building a hot rod flattie the way I wanted. I bought a complete 283 for $300. May not be as cool or traditional but the horsepower per dollar is perfect.

 

If you think an "A on '32 rails running a flathead is the coolest hot rod ever"...then build it that way!

 

If you can see if Tardel can find you a good already built flattie try it. If you don't like it swap out for a SBC with a saddle style front mount. should fit right in. Bet the flathead bug will bite you though. Having said that I've built at least 10 40's and 32's since 1956 all flathead powered,one supercharged. I'm now collecting parts for a 32 full fendered roadster. want to guess what the engine will be? Yep a SBC!! I've paid my dues, the NAPA store is just down the road.

 

I too had a sbc sitting here...but I got a flatty instead. You're not crazy. Real engines dont have valve covers lol

 

Sorry...I couldn't help it.

I suppose you know where we stand

 

period hemi in an A ,,, period .

 

Flatheads sound good, look good, and they're unique. Just don't expect to go real fast.

 

i like where your head is at now congested. it is very rewarding building a car like this, and honestly its pretty simple, but best of all, its all ford. i just sold one that i have been driving for the last 3 years. its only been about 5 days and i already miss it..

 

WAIT!!!!!!! All of a sudden it's about how you look? I thought we called them there kinda fella's STREET RODDERS!

 

thank you, this is it right here..

 

so how much power can you make out of a n/a flathead on pump gas? Say one with 10:1 (if there is such a thing) heads, the biggest streetable cam, adequate intake and carbs. Modern rods and pistons with really good balancing. I never hear of how much power people get out of them.

 

I for some reason allways repect people that build flat heads and put them in there car. because they are old engines and belong in old cars and they have a symetrical look. when you get the car done and people ask you what motor is in it you can say "its a flat head ford one of the first ford v8 ever made the most power full engine in its time" If you put a small block in the car when people ask what kind of motor is in it. you will say" a small block belly button every one has one"

 

Over 60 and had flatheads for 45 years and think you can't get in & drive whereever/whenever you want?

You were doing it wrong.

 

you know what they say when there's a small block Chevy and not a Flathead in a ford hot rod " the guy must of run outta money "

 

"Over 60 and had flatheads for 45 years and think you can't get in & drive whereever/whenever you want?"

"You were doing it wrong." Ernie..Doubt if he's been doing it wrong..just getting tired of hauling all the spare parts in the trunk. Now I know you carry spare parts for your flattie when you venture out of town. Right?<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

 

$$ 10k=200+hp ,, 25k+++,,+++(and not period correct)=300+hp,, then your done from what i've read.

 

Thanks for all the feedback.

Yes, I feel like I need to prove to myself that I can build a hot rod like they did back in the days when hot rodding was evolving.

Whats great about this forum is all the different views.

Whats not so great about this forum is trying to figure out what direction to go in because of all the different views.

Everyone says........stick with a plan and dont stray.........thats hard to do when you're new at the hobby and a couple of trips to Billetproof can make your head spin with all the different cars and options.

I think that going back to basics might just be the best for me.

It probably doesnt make the most sense.

The SBC, T5 and 9" combo might just be a bit to common for a guy like me. I seem to like to learn things the hard way.

 

Oh wow! I didn't realize they were that bad. Man... Well thats dissapointing. I kinda wanted one.

 

WELL, I'M JUST A FNG, BUT ANTONE CAN RUN A SBC! I'M DOING A '38 CAD COUPE WITH THE CADDY FLATHEAD, AND I WOULDN'T RUN THE SBC IF IT WERE GIVEN TO ME. THEY ARE CHEAPER, BUT YOU CAN'T PUT A PRICE ON CL!

 

I've got over 20,000 miles on my blown flattie and have had literally no problems.I have no reservations about getting in and going anywhere. Took it to Bonneville and back this year(3600 miles) and only had to add 3 quarts of oil. But I have to admit that I took a bunch of spare parts with. But I think I would with a sbc also.

 

By all means go for the flathead! You'll enjoy doing it and you'll definitely be proud of your work. Some of us old farts have had so many we're just getting a bit tired of them (in our cars). You'll be working on the stuff that made hot roding what it is today. Have fun.

 

I've done that numerous time only cheaper with flatheads and bangers...shit even my 226 flathead six in my pickup. If they turn over, 99&#37; of the time they will run

 

well holmes I gotta be nutz too if that building a flatty is crazy...Im doin one for the Pie Wagon......backin it with a c-4 a/t..........hell we got a couple guys in our club runnig flat motors in arizona heat and they go everywhere and dont waste time gettin there.........this is what I gotta copy

 

WTF ??

Where do some of you guys shop for Flathead stuff ?

I got mine, A '46 59A from a running car the guy just HAD to a 350/350 combo so he could "FIT IN" with his Street Rod Buddys, For $300.00 !!

Drug Out my old trade deals & add'd EDMUNDS heads & 2x2 Manifold, Winfield Cam, Harmon Collins Du~Coil Dizzy, Chrome water pumps, Timing cover, Starter, Aluminum Timing gear,Headers, Scheifer Aluminum Clutch, 12v Generator, Chrome 94s, Slant cut stacks... I bet i got $6 or $800.00 in the Whole ball O'Wax.

Aint gonna be a race car but i aint trying to keep up with all the Cell phone Homo's in there BMW's doin 95 on the freeway.

I also have a '41 Cadillac Flathead V8 i paid $200.00 for, out of a Running '41 Cad my buddy sold to a guy who did the same 350/350 swap in.

Guys who Love SBC's are GREAT !!! They sell the Good stuff Cheeeep !

 

those are "heres my credit card number, make it happen" prices.