Let me start by saying... I don't know much about flatheads other than the obvious and what the name implies. I've done a few searches and can't really learn anything about what flathead ford is best, most reliable, most beautiful, most affordable, or most sought after. Which I guess would most likely be the flathead that has the best mix of all that stuff. I do know that theses engines have a distinct, very old timey, very tinker-toyish look that I love. Not until the recent GNR, I also now know they have a distinct, very old timey, very tinker-toyish sound that is just totally kool! What I want to know from The HAMB is if I were putting together (and I'm not yet but have the body and hopefully it will be a project of mine one day, remember I'm just hoping to learn a thing or two and give some of you flathead guys a chance to rant about your flathead of choice) a '29 Roadster with a pretty stock stance, primitive, and totally un-billet look, hopefully closely resembling something from "long ago", what would be the flathead of choice and why? Thanks!!
49 & later engines, not only because the distributor is a lot easier to deal with, but they have more cubic inches.
ohh and I probably should have added, for this type of dream build (I guess you could call it) I don't really care to go fast nor do I care to spend money on spendy extras. So pretty much bone stock, which is best?
They're all good in my opinion. But the 24 stud flatties are better than the early 21 stud mills. Arguably the best flathead V8's are the 8BA type 49-53. These have the 24 stud heads with the water outlet up front and the conventional type distributor at the front of the block coming up on an angle towards the left hand side of the motor looking at it from the front. The later 49-53 Mercury flatheads have a 4 inch stroke crank and have 255 cubes as opposed to Ford's 239 cubes. Nothing sounds as good as a nasty hopped up flathead V8!
Latest series 49-53 becaues they are cheapest and easiest to work on, can get stuff at NAPA and the early engines forget it. 8BA Rod bearings are 100 bucks, early full float bearing are $400, and it all go's like that.
Yes, they're all great, but if I were looking, I'd definitely try for a 49-53 Merc. We've got a bone stock, low mileage '51 Mercury and it has adequate power to haul that tank around fairly effortlessly....would be great in the little hot rod you want. When I was a kid, dad had a stock '37 flathead in his model A coupe with the '37 gearbox. It was OK,but later we built a '50 truck flathead for it with pair of 97's and a t10 four speed behind it...BIG difference. Gear box choice is important with a flatty.
I've always been partial to those wonderful straight 8 Pontiac flathead mills...... There is one anchoring my raft up at the lake...
I'm partial to the 59ab motors, I like the look with the distributor down in front and the center outlet heads. Just simpler and cleaner looking is the reason I guess. I do agree on the later Merc 4" crank and the insert rod bearings but all that will go into the earlier block easy enough, best of both IMHO.
best Flathead - must be a late French Flathead - never saw any cracks on them (some of those blocks were casted as late as 1987!) they are 24 stud and some have a 4" stroke crank there is also a nice alloy sump for them still available at reasonable prices in France, we'll haul another truck load later this year (some of you folks are already waiting for them...)
theres no reason u cant put an 8ba dizzy on an earlier block , theres aftermarket timing covers to convert these now, so to not put the original crabs back in, problem solved, the bearings are a good reason to get 8ba, i put early heads on my 8ba , the water jackets at front of block have to be blocked off to fit these heads, always look outside the sqaure, my advice is get as much info as you can, familiarise yourself with what they are ,the different models, head stud numbers, waterpump styles, talk to flatty specialists Handh flatheads, buy some books, and dont believe everything you read on the net, if building yourself watch your knuckles when installing valve springs, check the million cams they do for em (dont just get an isky with the biggest lift, may not suit your heads or work at all for your driving style) , checkout speedway motors site, handh flathead site, and anyone else u can find in relation to parts for em, add up the cost and yes they are expensive to build up (more than a 350 crate motor), all the best with the way you go
I am a complete newbie to the world of Ford Flathead V8s. It has taken me 40 years of playing with GM lumps to realize that Ford had produced the most prettiest little motor in America in the 1930s. Consequently I went about searching for an equally pretty vehicle to install one of these hot rod jewels into and after considerable searching and many unsuccessful auction bids I and am now faced with the enjoyable dilemma of deciding on what Flathead to put into my wonderfully rusty 27 roadster. I initially thought I would just pop out and buy a flat head V8 to drop in between the anorexic legs of my T but this turned out to be no easy task. Like you, I was admittedly more concerned with aesthetics than power however some degree of compromise was of course necessary. I read all the available published literature and more importantly the relevant HAMB threads to assist in my decision and it immediately became apparent that there was an enormous choice both in the multitude of years and the various configurations, modifications and improvements of flathead V8s and there were many factors to consider, not least of which is the availability of after market upgrades and availability of NOS parts but ultimately it was about the look I was endeavoring to achieve balanced with the practical need for reasonable performance and reliability. I am attempting to build a traditional rod of the late 30s or early 40s with limited skills and even more limited budget largely dictated by the dictates of 'her indoors' so my choices were clearly limited. For practical and economic reasons I eliminated early 30s Babbitt bearing motors however I cannot deny that I am just a little enamored with the clean, functional and simple look of the stock 21 stud rounded heads and find the after market 24 stud finned heads are a bit busy for my taste but that may well depend on what you are putting it into. I also like the embryonic divers helmet dizzy albeit incredibly difficult to maintain as every Flathead text will tell you but I felt that this was the price you must pay for a clean symmetrical look avoiding the later unsightly disemboweled distributor protrusions. The water outlet in the center of the head was also a visual conundrum but I believe there is a lot more scope to make the central radiator hoses a defining feature of the under bonnet landscape than a front of head outlet particularly with a sneak peak of naked copper pipe showing between the clinging black radiator and head hosiery. The early head mounted water pumps were always a non starter for me looking like an ill conceived barnacle on the otherwise proportioned fetal block and again narrowing down my choice. So I finally whittled my decision down to a 1937 21 stud dinosaur that I feel will at least accomplish my desired aesthetic of period symmetry if not my midlife crisis need for speed which is admirably accomplished by my daily drive anyway. A 37 lump is certainly not going to be most chaps choice in the engine department but it is mine anyway for the moment at least. So what flat head is best? I guess I will find out when the damb thing boils over on its maiden voyage. That's my naive 2 cents worth and that's probably all it worth. Post script - If I were a more sensible chap I would probably have sought an 8BA or failing that any block with no cracks.
The best one is the one that doesn't overheat, burn a ton of oil, or require a second mortgage. Kinda like the '40 flattie in my '34. My ideal would be a well-built 59AB with a Merc crank. .
This one right here would be best for you and I could even deliver it. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=632651
Lets keep it Ford/Mercury Thanks! As far as looks I too love the centrally located water ports and the distributor down where it doesn't "stick out". France?? really.... to each his own I guess. I'm all for improvements and taking this from this year and that from that year to make it reliable/affordable. i wouldn't do any swaps that just add to over all cost for power. I'll pay for function and looks, not power. It sounds like you want basically what i want. Only you know alot more by now!! I'm with you on the finned heads being to busy.. Keepin it simple is the name of the game.
Cubic horse power. The late merc was larger displacement than the Ford unit. I had a '54 in a 54 merc, what a nice car to cruise. The Lincoln is a nice one as well, but hard to find speed parts for.
Some how I missed thsi the ULH was a better motor. I do like your choice of car motors though. The Hudson Twin H, 1 less cylinder head and head and shoulders above the Ford 8 in performance.
The Jalopy Journal
