Technical late 40's flathead with thrown rods, is it salvagable?

I have longed to own a flathead for years and when a block showed up on Craigslist for free I couldn't p*** it up. I was told it's a 59 A-B which the block confirms with the 59 on the bell housing. The guy I picked it up from had it in a 41 Ford sedan and it spit a few rods.

The block is standard bore and is pretty clean other than some surface rust in the bores from sitting outside for the last couple months. My concern is the bottom of the bore on one cylinder, it's pretty beat and not knowing the engine very well I'm looking for guidance. What are the odds that this has damage making it unusable? I know the true test will be tanking and magnaflux but if it looks like a done deal to you all it will just be garage decor and I'll hunt for another down the road.

Thanks in advance, Rick

 

A pressure test might be the best first test. You can do it yourself with the stock heads, some rubber from old inner tubes, and a bit of time. Make sure the water p***ages aren't leaking, and if they p***, then have it magnafluxed.

Note the two sides p***ages are totally separate.

Block off the deck surfaces with rubber underneath the heads. You won't need every head stud in place, just a nice ***ortment around the surface. If you have an old head gasket you can use it to cut the rubber gasket's stud holes.

Then block off the water pump surfaces. Might be best to make a plate to hold the rubber gasket in place for this one. Same plate can be used for each side, just flip it over. Drill a hole in the plate and insert a tire valve stem to fill the block with air. Then listen for hissing, not only at the damaged areas but in the other p***ages too.

 

Appreciate the feedback, didn't even cross my mind to pressurize it. I don't have heads but they seem to be available for a small investment. Worst case I could make a plate and seal it off that way, I do have a head gasket for a pattern. Thanks again.

 

I can't see your photos, but even if it's really bad (it's probably below the ring travel and not even an issue, but I can't see anything) I wouldn't think twice about a sleeve. As long as the rest of it looks good, it's probably usable, good 59a cores are hard to find.

 

If you don't have a head just ask around, somebody near you has one you could borrow. Anything from 1939 to 1953 will fit. It could even be cracked or slightly warped as the rubber gasket should seal that up.

 

Exactly. You might mag it to look for cracks. Other than that if it doesn't clean up boring it, lots of sleeved engines running around and doing fine.

 

Did you happen to get the motor from a guy named Randy?ThanksBruce.

 

I did, Randy or JR. Has a 41 two door sedan and a Model A in his shop. Would love to have taken the 41 home for my dad, he had one as a first car.

 

I figured a sleeve would be an option, I just wasn't sure how much meat there was in the area before the water jacket was opened up.