IMHO The best flathead is a mixture of various different years. 99a factory relieved block. Late merc crank and rods. Early single pulley accessory drive and distributor. blah blah blah.....
I'd rather drive a French flattie in my German '37 Ford than bolt on any Chinese ****.... and France is just a two hours drive from my house, NY is at least an eight hour flight Lufthansa won't allow me to carry a flathead block in the cabin... last time I carried four white-wall tires home from Motown, that already required serious negotiations with the ground staff
So, there is still existing inventory in France? Those that were involved in bringing these to the US seemed to imply that they purchased everything. Do you know any numbers of the units still remaining in France?
Yes sir, everyone in the world is not only welcome to buy a copy, but I personally encourage it. www.AtomicHotRods.com <iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/9mioo4mXutM" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe>
yes they can still be bought, i had a price for a 'crate' motor the other day 1500 GBP.......+ shipping and all the other work required. If I had the money I would buy one.. .
French flathead army surplus crate engines are becoming difficult to find - but they're still around low mileage engines are plentiful, but becoming more expensive year after year - while stock lasts check this picture - all French army trucks with low mileage flatties still sitting in them
That's weird, the link came up as "http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/www.AtomicHotRods.com" try this one: http://www.AtomicHotRods.com
'49-51 block (Henry was advanced enough to put hardened seats in these years according to the Ford Literature I have read.) '49-53 Mercury crank (four inch stroke (255 CI) versus 3.75 (239 CI) in the Fords) '52-53 EAB heads if you want stock looks (these were the highest compression heads from the factory) Someone said you can put the crab style distributor in the later models. The only way I now of to do this is to change the camshaft and timing cover for an earlier model ("48 or older). I have a '39 Mercury, a $0 Mercury and a '50 Ford and the camshaft is different in the '50 to drive the distributor. A popular conversion back in the 50s according to Ray Marler at ShoeboxFord is to use the Chevrolet V-8 distributor in place of the Ford Load-a-matic. Bubba here on the HAMB converts the Chevrolet distributors to fit the '49 and later engines. Some of the truck oil pans had removable clean out sections that might be handy also. I am sure there is a lot more information available than I will ever know, I just try to remember the ones that pique my interest for my '27 Coupe build.
Ford didn't make changes and upgrades to make an inferior product. In 1953 that was the best flatheads ever got from the factory. The Merc of course is preferable because of the larger displacement but technically the Ford and Merc are equal.
The story they told me about the french flatty's is that the Simca (French brand) carfactory had the army order to develop the flatty's into more reliable engines for the use in army vehicles so they good trust on them.Overhaul the existing engines,and cast the "new french Flatty".This is as far as I know.Maybe some more information by other HAMB members.I've treated myself enough, Zero-mile engines with the oilpaper on in a engineskit and got two of them!
I'm surprised no one mentioned the best flattie being one built by Bobby Meeks. But then performance isn't a factor so if a stocker is what you are seeking just about any flattie would do.
Ford did build flathead V8s up to at least 1963 - not in the US but over here in Cologne / Germany (again to power army trucks) SIMCA took over Ford France in 1954. I never understood why the French choose a pre-war design petrol engine to power their army trucks in the 80s -there were more suitable engines around at that date (even in France!) I guess there must be some HAMBers working in the French defence ministry back then ....
A Boned gave you the true scoop, it has to be the 8BA 49-53 Merc which was 255cid and developed 112 hp except for the 53 which was boosted up to 125 hp by increasing compression and all the Mercs have the 4" stroke. Then call Patrick at Patricks Antiques and get his 3/4 race set-up, with a 3 deuce set up. Get an adapter from Speedway and hook up an S10, 6 speed and go enjoy making some noise and look Kool doing it!
There is still some pretty neat flatty stuff comming out of Argentina we just happen to have a line on Argentina though the latino social group. You can still get the french flatty which is actually a slightly improved model over the original Ford offering but you have to do some mods to them to make them work in a rod. There are some oiling mods that have to happen. I think I have an article on them in an old Speed and Chrome Illustrated if someone really need the info. I may evenh have access to the article in digital form but I would have to pay for it that way I am sure.
A friend gave me a copy and I watched it last night. If it don't make you want to get out in the garage and build a flatty I don't know what will. I enjoyed it although I'm sure newbies to the flat head will get a lot more out of it.
I just don't like 8BA style engines. They are the non best looking in my opionion, and most flatheads that I see that are cracked, are the 49-53 block. I do like the internals, so my favorite is a 59AB with a Merc crank and 8BA valvetrain. Also, I love crabs distributors, too. Lots of guys say they are pain to work on. Just unhook the cap and one wire, take 2 bolts off and you can work on it on your bench. When your done, just bolt it back on, hit the key and go. One more thing to think about- the front distributor engines have the water pump pulleys sticking farther out to clear the distributor. That small difference can be a huge headache when shoehorning a flathead into a Model A...
Best flathead to work with is the 8BA or the Mercury 8CM. Price for a good used motor is not to bad. The 59A is the Holly Grail also very desirable making it much more costly. For an affordable choice any 49 to 53 flathead is the way to go. Ronnieroadster
39 to 48 which is a 59A style block, 49-53 8BA, both of them are pretty relaible. The 21 studs, IMHO look just as good with speed equipment, I just worry about the babbitted lower end,with inserts they're fine. All of them run very smooth stock when well maintained and they all feel very cool when you're behind the wheel.
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=3800&pictureid=31191 KR upper on a WLA bottom, try to fit these valves in a ford!!!
That's a good one. Thanks! edit: That's funny I tried the old one and it works here at home, just not on the "Work" computer I guess. lol
Thanks for all the helps guys. It is obvious I have plenty of homework to do. Thats why i'm starting now! At least I have something to start with.
Anybody got pictures of a flathead they'd recommend? and if you could please, describe a little whats there?? that would be a BIG help. Just remember I dig the stock look... so no "speed" parts really to speak of aside from multiple carbs (2 or 3) also not opposed to the single. Thanks
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