Why does one flathead have a plate behind the water pump and the other one doesn't? Both are 1951-1953 Ford flatheads
A picture of a flathead in your presence is a good enough intro to me. But you should follow the proper channels. No wonder flatheads are getting hot! There is no room even for the impeller in there. Something I havent seen here. Not really a late model 8BA?? Plated to reroute the flow? Redesigned pumps from the stone ages?? Pump in head design ...really a 35-36 block?? I see no weld holding that plate in place??
Just a guess but maybe it was somhow modified as a marine engine and the water intake came in-----but without using pumps.
I've seen this before & even saw something about this recently, but for the life of me, can't remember where... Fordbarn might be a better bet...unless Bruce chimes in with his library at hand!
Is it an actual plate? or is it flimsy? When I took my waterpumps off to relpace them, and flush the grime out, it wasn't comming out of the one side, i took a screw driver and popped it and cleaned it. It didn't say anything in the manual about there being a plate there, and if memory serves correct, 49-53 were the same block and interchangeable parts for the most part. That is rather odd. -Rick
mine in my 53 doesn't have that . hmmm maybe i'll learn something new here ..... you sure it isnt corrosion build up ? mine had something eerily simialar in some of the water jackets in the head and block when i first tore it down to replace the bent valve and guide .
my quess is the block was used in racing and they filled the block with concrete. the plates were used to keep the concrete in till it set up.
Seems like I have heard about this as a Canadian thing...will look in Canadian "Master Service" book and see what's there. But...the piece I'm thinking of is a part of the casting, not a separate part, and sits maybe an inch into the hole, presumably to force water around number one...from the pic, those look like they are actually in the hole, within the rim of the hole, and would block normal pump installation. I assume they are separate parts?? How fastened?? If my take on location is right, they would have to be from something using pump castings just as mounts and water inlets with no actual pump...that would likely mean something like a boat with water delivery by a separate pump or even a scoop on a speedboat.
the one without the plate may be a marine motor, do you think it's ok to run in a car with a regular waterpump
It's a canadian block... look on the back of the block where the bell hsg. bolts on, there should be a C cast there. as for the plate are there slots cut around the edge? I have one of these blocks and the water pumps bolt on no prob.
The Jalopy Journal
