Need some help with flathead 60 hp. It’s complete and In a friends barn. It’s stuck and is carb to pan. I know nothing about them. Wanted to get one so I can have it for a speedster or cyclecar project down the road with my kids. What do I need to know or what should I look for?
Speed equipment is rare and expensive. They are only 136 cubic inches. I usually give up after that. Charlie Stephens
Stuck or free, so many of these are cracked and need repair. What you should look for is an engine builder who knows them well who can build it or oversee your build. You can usually find a complete free spinning one for well under 1000$. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
While it is true that a v8-60 will not roast any tires, I have a 60 with polished aluminum heads, 2 carbs, headers in my 28 roadster pick-up and the only comments I get are "God, that's cool"
There is a book on them. "The V8 60" Fords little powerhouse by Richard Willim. As far as I know it is out of print but if you can find one it is a must have. If the engine is one of the tin side ones make sure it is not damaged or leaking because it will be hard to repair. I stuck one in an Indian motorcycle and parts are expensive and hard to find but I wouldn't tell you not to do it.
Vic Edelbrock, and others, built them for speed - but, parts and knowledge on how to make them go even 100 at Bonneville takes true talent & skills
I think I'm one of only a few on the HAMB to be using one on a regular basis. My heap is light, 1.500 or so, with a stick and 4:11s. It's no rocket ship but it will pull away from stoplights quickly and go as fast as I dare on the highway. Never 1/4 miled it, I would guess 15s. Doubt I would put one in anything weighing much over 2,000. My old engine, worn, stock with 5 psi boost put out right at 100 rwhp. NOS pistons, bearing, gaskets, rings etc. are on Ebay all the time. Schnieder regrinds cams for under $200. Intakes and heads are around, maybe 50% more than bigger flat head stuff. Also like the larger ones, getting a crack free block is the most important thing. All in all very much like it's larger brother. They rev fast and sound terrific. Mine has been totally reliable.
I bid on one a couple of years ago at a local auction. It was the same shape : complete but stuck. I dropped out at $200. It finally went for over $800. This was in a local small town auction. The carburetor, if it's an original Stromberg 81 or Chandler-Grove 92 is worth a bit in itself. Over the years, most of them got regular Ford carbs as replacements.
Yeah people put the 81s on bangers I hear. I should have mentioned mine had a 97 when it was dyno'ed. Funny story actually, I was driving around and was approached by someone in the video game industry. Said my heap sounded great and wanted to record it for use in a video game, paid 3oo clams. So I showed up at the dyno session amongst Ferraris, Porsches and some other hi caliber stuff all getting the same deal. At the end of the day they all said my pile sounded the best (wide open side pipes) of them all! Smoked like a pig (my old motor). They even recorded the sound of my rattly doors and hood being slammed. I forget the name of the game, Y2K games I think. Oops I see I am mistaken, it was 100 torque and 68hp, but again my old tired motor.
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