Technical The 33 Ford pickup is getting a heart transplant- the birth of a flathead

For over the past year I have been collecting parts to put a mean lil engine in my 33 pickup. It started with a Merc crank I got in trade from my friend Logan. I decided I was needing a little more power then the camm'd 21 stud was pumping out, so I decided to slowly start picking up all the parts needed to build a flatty.

My Dad is an engine builder by trade and specializes in older engines. He has done a TON of flathead fords including the white one in my buddy Russ' purple "Take out T". The man knows so much about engines of all makes and vintages it boggles my mind. I had the crank turned and he bored my block and I started ordering parts. These things are not cheap so it has taken a while to get it all. I had these *****in block letter SHARP heads saved and the mill will be topped with a PM-7 and a couple 97's. Tonight we ****oned up the bottom end and installed/set the valves. I am getting an oil pan cleaned up and I gotta twist all the new head studs in, make sure the heads clear and then should be ready to go back to my place.

It's a 59AB with a 4" stroke and bored .030" making it somewere around 265 CI. Has a Winfield SU-1A cam, johnson's, stock valves but all valve train is 8BA, aluminum cam gear mentioned heads, inatake and headers. Nothing earth shattering but should move the lil hauler right along, especially comparing it to the stock banger and 85 horse V8.

I gotta admit I have had some recent thoughts about tossing this baby in the 34 roadster. I just bought a *****in lil flatty that I am gonna put in the roadster a lot like this one, but it has a Ford crank in it. Either way, heres the work of my Dad. He's a humble guy and does this for a living, but the man is my hero and his work is the best.

Thanks Dad, I owe ya



I'll keep updating this as it makes it's way into the pickup (or roadster)

 

damn!

 

i think i need to meet your dad. My motor is a long way out.

 

You and me both.

 

My favorite flathead heads. I sold them when I left the flathead world.

 

that flathead sure is purdy

 

All that work and you could have had 265 ci's right from the get go with an engine like mine.......geesh!

I love it it dude, I think it's going to be perfect in that truck and now I want that damn thing even more. Is this your first set of finned heads you're ever ran? I know you've had a lot but I can't recall ever seeing them being ran by you. Like I said last night, I'll take one just the same if you're father is taking orders!

 

Very nice. This may be a dumb question, but is there a reason for the notches in the tops of the pistons?

-Mitch

 

Love your truck.
You are very fortunate to have your dad involved in your project.
Nice !!!

 

No, belive it or not this is the first V8 i have had with aftermarket heads that runs I have had a lot of flatheads, but most of em are either stock or just ol worn out runners. Even with the machine and ***embly being "pro-bono" and getting a discount on parts, these things are still not cheap to put together!!!

 

to tell you which way points forward on the piston.

 

Thoses Sharps are so *****in! My Dad is really hunting for a pair to run on his 32 roadster!

 

Love it.

 

damn

 

Awesome work on the new V8, those Sharp heads are totally *****in! Regardless of which project it finds its way into, should make for a great engine. I'm still happy with the performance of my "roll of the dice" 21-stud but the power to weight ratio is probably a little bit better in a little T roadster.

I also think it's really cool being able to have a piece of close family members in your projects. I can totally relate with my Dad's cars and my own. It makes them a lot more special!

 

Looking good Chris!

 

Thats some sweet stuff right there.

 

It is looking good Chris. It looks like the new mill is going to have some real bite to it.

 

Chris,you have gone power crazy since the banger days, lol lol Looks like a sweet motor

 

.....Those Sharp heads sure are sweet.....

 

Nothing like firing a fresh motor for the first time. Best feeling in the world. You are gonna love it. The smell of metal and fresh paint getting hot for the first time, and oil burning off... It always makes me think of Gene Wilder in that Frankestein movie. ITS ALIVE, ITS ALIVE!

 

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, put this one in the pickup. It's almost a duplicate of the one my neighbor put in his '32 pickup when I was 16 and spent many a saturday roaming the back roads looking for old cars. That little pickup would drift the *** end at just the slightest tickle of the throttle.
Now as to the roadster..........that little hottie has GOT to get a blown flathead.............either a SCoT or a 4-71......are you listening? Be sure to PM me if you need any further guidance.
BTW, having dad do the engine.........................PRICELESS!!!!

Frank

 

The 21 stud runs awesome!! But just runs outta steam around 65 MPH. My Brother is buying the lil 21 stud and 81 carbs to run in his 29 roadster, it should scoot it pretty good.

I started building this Merc to dump in the truck, and planned on building a new engine for my previous 34 roadster down the road. Now all of the sudden I have a new roadster that is going to be on the road, and I wonder if I should put this pretty (and spendy) merc in it and put my newly aquired 59AB in the truck. Both have finned heads and tall PM-7's, both have performance cams, but one is a Ford and one a merc. I really dig those Sharp heads and wonder if it would be better suited in the roadster as my truck is kinnda my "daily driver". I dunno guys, choices choices!!!!!

Remember, my dad built the Merc, and my grand dad built this Ford back in the 60's!!! So both will have sentimental value

 

**** man, if it's your budget I'm game

 

I thought what I paid you for the heater (which arrived safe and sound today) would be enough to get the parts for a blown flathead In fact with your scrounging ability I figured you'd have money left over.

Frank

 

Those Sharp heads are boss! Having your dad build your flathead? To me, that would have been mind blowing. So many questions I would have wanted to know right then and there.

 

Put the merc in the truck and run Grandpa's motor in the roadster....after putting a 4 inch crank in it.....

 

Looks great, you better thank your dad!

 

You ****.....But you already know that! LOL I wish my dad would get more involved with his car, my car, or any hot rod. He could care less as long as I put an Air Conditioner in it.

 

I have the perfect vintage intake for that engine

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=40378&highlight=red+greth

I don't have pictures loaded on this computer, so heres a link to an old post about it.