Flat Head V8 how much should I pay?

I know there are many different answers to this question, but in my case I found a flat head in an old ford 4 door maybe 50 or 51. The guy said it may have a burnt valve and the thing has been sitting about 40 years. He said he would take 400.00 for the flat head v8 and he would also throw in the ******. Now I don't know the first thing about flat heads. And I hear not to many people do, I was wondering realistically what it's going to cost me to get the the running. I am willing to do the work myself. How hard are things like gaskets an replacement parts for a flat head v8? I can't see putting say an additional 500 into this motor, but maybe thats what it takes.

 

What is it worth to ya? Does it turn? Is it full of water?

 

Last complete one I bought (this past summer) I paid $125 for. It was stuck-had water in some of the bores.

 

Forget it,for $900 you aint gonna get a running anything.

 

I would think it's a little on the high end. Can you turn it over?? If you can it's right there in price range. If you can't your going to spend at least another $100.00 freeing it.

If I was spending $400.00 on a flathead it better spin and have all the components like starter generator intake etc etc.

 

I'm selling mine,turns over by hand complete from air cleaner to oil pan, with the trans,and radiator for 600, I don't know if thats fair or not but it seemed about average for up here in NY.I think your location has a lot to do with prices too.Seems like they're cheaper out west.

 

Depends on what flathead it is.If it was a merc, those years, the 4" crank is worth about $400 to $500. Depends on how bad you want a flatty. They can be nice and have a great sound. Depends on style of car you want but I've seen late model tpi corvette engines including trans go for $900 to $1200. They sound really good.LOL Matter of preference.

 

P***!

 

I can not tell if it spins. Like I said the car has been sitting for about 40 years. The car is totaly rusted but the hood has been covering the motor. I took some pics. I will post later. I need to get them from my phone. I really want a flat head as I am trying to stay true to my traditional hot rod them, but I don't want to get taken either. THanks for your help. Please feed back after you see the pics.

 

If its any help, my flatty was sitting under the hood since 1977,and its turns free,had to help get it free but nothing major,You'll want to pop the heads off to look for cracks though.If he won't let you do that than let it go.

 

It would be a miracle if that engine turns over after sitting for that long. You would be better off to try and buy a better condition engine even if you spend more money for it. It will come out cheaper in the long run.

 

True !! Do not buy it without at least pulling the heads and checking for cracks . Better still ,, ask if he'll let you have the block magnaflexed ( at your cost ) to be sure the it good before you buy it .
I bought a real clean 53Merc flathead drivetrane , complete and running , never been bored , ran great . Pulled the heads ,, Yep ,, it has several cracks between the valves and the cylinders . Don't let it happen to you . Cracks can be repaired , but at what cost .

 

Here are some pics. Sorry for the ****py phone pix.

 

Not over 100.00 without looking inside.

 

I bought a rebuilt one for $750...the deals are out there if you're willing to wait. If you've got a project that it's going into and REALLY want a flatty, then it might be a deal. Like everyone else says though- if you're going to spend the coin you better be DAMN sure the ****er'll run!

 

If a flat head motor is what you want? Then be prepared to spend some dough, couse they aint cheap to build. I was quoted $3000.00 for a rebuild. Then its extra for the hop up parts like intake, carbs, heads...

 

I never pay over $150. If the block is cracked or has more than one bad cylinder, its basically junk. You're going to spend a couple thousand on a new rebuild......so don't spend too much on a core.

 

We go thru a lot of flathead blocks around here. They ain't worth **** until they have been dis***embled and checked. Usually 1 out of 3 is useable. The going price for an unknown engine is 150-200. Do your homework before deciding on a flathead. They are expensive to build and are not for everybody. I build them and run them because I have some sort of mental disorder.

 

how do you repair a crack i have a real nice back up motor but has a hair line crack from the vavle to the cyilnder the motor is super nice its a 59 ab and is 30 over it would be a shame to chuck it. can the crack be fixed? and if it was to be run is there something to put in the motor like bars to to help it. or jb weld type stuff qiuck fix.whats the worst case of running it? billy

 

The motor in that shoe box is only worth $100-$250 max, thats what you would pay for a good set of rods if thats all you could save out of it,,,,,, and to billy, 59A/B's are getting rare and look for a good machine shop that rebuilds flatheads, they will know how to fix it....Roach.

If the guy wont go lower on the 8ba, then p***, its been sitting to long with a burnt valve and all.......Roach.

 

I payed $150 for mine this fall. It's stuck but it's rebuidable. So I think it's a bit to much. Thats just me..

 

I was given an 8BA last year. Popped the intakes and heads off, looks like a very recent rebuild. The lifter valley was as clean as a whistle, and no ridge ream in the cylinders, just a slight amount of carbon to show it had been running. I think the reason it was pulled was it made noise, evidenced by the valve guide clip that had come loose. No visible damage, however. The fellow that gave it to me had no idea of its history or if it even turned over, he just had it sitting in his shop.

 

Without the heads off it is worth s****e iron price. Nobody that knows flatheads will pay any more. I have gambled before and lost. Now I know about flatheads too.

Neal

 

Up till a few years ago, Ford of Canada was offering rebuilt flatmotors with a Ford Motor Co. warranty of 12,000 miles. I was selling them engine cores for $75.00 each, 6 out of ten were useable! The blocks that got discarded were the ones with cracks down the cylinders (small or large). They would not sleeve one of their engines, but fixed the rest of them, and guaranteed them! Unfortunately the market dried up, they discontinued the rebuilt flat head line.
Burnt valves are no big deal, the asking price for your engine though is too high!---

 

Well friend of mine is giving me a 302. maybe I will use it untill I find one that is in good condition. Free is hard to beat.

 

depends on how far into the port the crack runs. usually a s***ch repair to the crack, new valve seat and a sleeve. ok for a stocker but i wouldnt sink 6k into one like that for a performance build.

 

GOOD FOR A LAUGH!
I bought a late Merc flathead years ago for $50., at that time the going rate. Guy swore it ran great! I guess new it did, but.... Took it home and started taking it apart. Balancer was on loose WTF! Pulled it off and the dopey SOB had taken a real big pipe wrench to the nose of the crank to try turning it over. Reason it was stuck was 2 holes full of water. After I kicked it off the back of my el camino onto his garage floor and put some fear into his heart, he returned my money, but had the balls to ask me what am I supposed to do with it now that it's apart. I told him where to put it and left! If you can't see it with your own eyes, p*** on it. If it's sounds too good to be true, it is.

 

I paid 400 for mine but it is a complete running engine that I know the history on. On that engine I'd say 100 to 150 for what he offered to let you have unless he will let you pull the heads and see the insides of the engine to make sure it isn't cracked or full of water.

 

Careful guys, the post is over 3 years old. Any advice given will be falling on deaf ears.

Mart.

 

what he said