Projects Stash of flathead blocks on Vancouver Island

I came across this posting on the local Craigslist:

https://victoria.craigslist.org/pts/d/chilcotin-ford-flathead-v8-blocks/7515655914.html






I don't know the seller or the precise location, you can search for "Lake Cowichan" British Columbia and see about where it is.
The seller says he counts about 80 blocks(!)

The seller has a couple other ads for early frames (and wheels):

https://victoria.craigslist.org/pts/d/chilcotin-model-to-the-50s-frames/7515656350.html

 

Holy ****, and its been up for a month. Tempting to throw an offer for enough parts to do a couple engines at least in case whatever, you picked didn't work out.

 

Well Holy **** is right! That's some serious cast iron weight sitting there. I'm sure he figured out the land is worth far more then the parts and decided to cash out, but moving it was the problem.

 

I bet ol @Stogy will chime in where this is,, the mother load for sure

 

Yeah...its way over yonder......BC

The value of flathead parts will go down once these flood the market...truly its nice to see stuff get a chance to be recycled the right way...

 

I'm wondering about the implications of importing this stuff to the US.

 

I wonder if @IronTrap would take a trip north

 

Probably very few as far as the govt is concerned except what tax they would put on it. The US customs dudes would probably go through the whole load looking for stuff you don't have that they think you do though .
Have slips from a scales that give the empty weight and loaded weight of the truck and then you are hauling s**** metal . Especilly when you have the worst looking of it where it is very visible.

 

I recall a guy on the Ford Barn, Bill Boomer, who years back, maybe 15 or so? Was always on the hunt for FHv8s. He’d post about trips and hauling several home at a time. He was from Canada, but don’t recall where.
I wonder if it’s him, maybe he’s aged out of the business and wants to get rid of everything now.

 

The fellow who owns all this flathead stuff is well known around here. Terry has a huge collection of 1928 to 48 Ford mechanical parts, all of it for sale. He has been collecting for many years, and usually has that part many of us need to make progress on our hot rods or restored cars. To my knowledge Terry is not interested in shipping these parts, but if you are coming to Vancouver Island and want to see what he has for yourself then message me and I will give you his contact information.

 

I think you're looking at a ferry ride to get any of this stuff off of Vancouver Island, aren't you?

 

I don't think border situation would be a big deal...it's either refurbished, nos or rusty and would likely be treated as antique parts...but obviously there's a protocol...and receipts/bills of sale as mentioned are critical...

 

Terry is also a friend of mine. I have bought many parts from him over the last 20 years, from engine parts to NOS 1939 pedals. He’s a valuable resource and very reasonable. The Coho ferry out of Port Angeles Wa. Docks in Victoria BC. Customs services ingoing and outgoing p***engers at the terminal. U.S. customs officials on site. From there, its a scenic 1 hour drive, up Island, to Terry’s. You could be back on U.S. soil the same day if you time it right.

 

You call it s**** metal for recycling, get it for $.35 on the dollar cheaper, and flog it in a country that still can afford the cost to rebuild them. Smart money doesn't flood the market, it slips it into the over priced food chain and makes a profit.

 

Best to be honest and call them antique auto parts. Customs isn’t going to buy the s**** metal excuse, because you spent $200 in ferry fare to get it.

 

Dang, man. I wish I lived closer. I think I also spy a shoe arching machine. I'd take that too.

 

That might be a better call because of tariffs and duties, and maybe even a bit better sleep at night? But $.35 on the dollar, ya can't beat that with a stick and not expect to come out on top. Ya just can't.
And s**** cast iron... keep a few head sets, a few of blocks, ya don't even leave the island with the rest of it.
Victoria, BC S**** Metal Prices (priceofs****metals.com)
Seattle, WA S**** Metal Prices (priceofs****metals.com)

But really, if flat head engines were a great investment, why are we not hold them in RRSP's and 401k's? Nah...like the s**** yard that didn't sell the stuff, it's going to go one way or another and the cash I'm sure will be spent on the essentials. The question is, how long will he, can he, hold out for more?

 

If I wanted a tractor trailer load of Flathead blocks I’d drive a few miles down the road haha. Not worth the h***le to bring all the way back here sadly!

 

Well there goes 'No Man is an Island'

 

Bill "Boomer" bought a lot of parts here.
The lad that is actually doing the selling is Lawrence.
He has an agreement with Terry. I can walk over to this place.

 

Bill is from Saskatchewan and definitely not out of the building business as of yet anyways

 

Did Ford ever cast blocks in Canada? Because there is no import tariff/tax on US goods returning to the US. If they were cast in the US, there will not be a tariff to bring them back over the border. It'd be different if any of the pieces had "Made in Canada" cast on them. I know some heads are that way, not sure about blocks or cranks.

 

It seems that they were cast in Canada, but I don't know if they are marked "Made in Canada" on the blocks (vs. the well known heads).
Generally the casting numbers would have a "C" as the first digit.
Here's some discussion on the Ford Barn:

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=188312

 

I don't believe blocks would have cast or made in Canada on them. Some OE aluminum heads, yes. Blocks, I don't think so.

 

Better start early DJ, lunch is at 12.