Well I bought a '49-'53 Ford flattie the other week for my Model A sedan and have heard from a number of people "I really love flatheads but they really aren't that reliable" blah blah blah. I'm sure it's like any old engines etc but wanted some feedback on the most important things to do to make it more "reliable" short of a full rebuild. I've heard about using a better waterpump for cooling but any other things/tricks to know of? What ever "they" say I'm running it. Damn cool looking engine, great sound, and awesome history.
dont listen to the haters,roll with the flathead,unreliable my ***,those things can run a forever and a day when done right. you could pull the heads ,put some aluminum ones on same for the manifold,add another carb,change out the distributor,convert it to 12volts,time it right then peel out down the street. alot of people will talk **** about the flathead and you will find either they dont own one or its all hear say. i own one and drive it everyday,have i had a problem NO. i have made changes like described above and its a work horse of an engine,they sound great and look even better.get yourself one of the many books about them and read up,you will find alot of supporters here on the hamb and alot of great advice..welcome to the flathead club!
Read read read.. Everything you can get your hands on about these. Sounds like you've been bitten by the bug. Yes they are reliable. Many here and others drive these for 70-90,000 miles without a rebuild. Lots of areas to work with top improve.. Ignition, waterpumps, you could even install a late model four barrel if you'd like. But the strombergs and holleys work just fine. You will find alot of posts here on heat issues and ignition issues. Every one of these has a fix. Look in the techomatic area too.
I run a Flatty in my Track Roadster,its never let me down. I do not abuse the engine however. Like others have already said,convert to 12 volt,i like the Mallory electronic ignition myself{ive run this on several Flattys} when set up right a Flatmotor is fine and relaiable. Biggest 3 improvements are exhaust,carb,and ignition that you can make.............read read read the Hamb, way too much info on this engine
Me and MBL have them in some of our hot rods...no problems, and we've driven them all over central Florida. 12 volt...new waterpumps...I have an MSD... Everyone that drove up to Billetproof with us had flatheads except my Hemi and a Lincoln with a 351...No problems with anything except a buddy's electric fan...new parts!
Thanks guys. The good news is it's been converted to 12 volt already. I'll be changing the heads and adding a 2 2-barrel carb manifold before it goes in the car. Til then guess I better grab some books so I can trash the haters!!
At least 91,000 plus on my Popper, runs better then my everyday cars. Historically speaking, Flatties run forever and who can't enjoy their own type of sound. Reliable, hell ya.
im thinking about picking one up and storing it for a future build(dont have the car yet but its gonna start in the right direction). i heard that they over heat but i heard that was a problem with the first blocks. the builkd already looks good for this engine if i do get it because a street rodder friend of mine is giving me 2 97s, now not all gold chainers are bad
Not reliable???I took a 36 Cabro from Disneyland to downtown Manhatten in the 1986 Great American Race..never ran hot..stock 6volt ign.everything box stock.....dont know exact mileage from Calif to New York but I call that DEPENDABLE!! FLATHEADS FOREVER!!!!!!!
Yep they're basic design is so simple it makes them very durable. I drive the heck out of mine. They really benefit from a good transmission and gear combo, and the carbs can be finicky. Most flathead problems come from them being 60+ years old and used and abused.
I ****in LOVE flatheads... I have several... I've put lots of miles on flatties... and they're VERY reliable... Tuck
Drove cross-country 1800 miles in my '40 with an engine I'd previously never gone farther than around the block in. Still running strong & a daily driver. Reliable.
Ran a 3/8sX3/8s 296incher in a T RPU years ago. Only problem I had was a female driver lugged it 3 miles up a mountain at 800 RPM and broke a center main cap. New one from a junker fit perfect ,ran for several years longer untill I sold the car. Saw the car several years later still running OK. A crack free block to start and a cooling system that works and you are good to go.
hows this for reliable::i own a 2007 toyota tacoma and a 99 chevy tahoe. my tahoe has 36 thousand miles on it.. my tahoe was in the shop for repairs and my new toyota was at the dealer with a leaking rear output shaft seal on the transmission. my 1951 ford with the original flathead was my savior !! it always runs and always starts..its more reliable than both my newer vehicles.. there RELIABLE for sure.
Yah me too man !! Although not a daily, I beat on mine when I do drive it. How can you NOT beat on it when theres a hefty lung sitting on top of her? I LOVE my Flathead !! Rat
I just bought a running driving 1950 flathead 8 and transmission. still in the car . I gave 600. for the combo with a fenton aluminum 4 barrel intake and carb too. I want to make a roadster for this motor.
A good friend of my Fathers, that owns a business that specializes in rebuilding antique engines, told him that Flatheads sometimes run hot because they get a build up of corrosion sludge that settles in the water jackets in the block. This sludge basically insulates the cylinders from the cooling process. He said that after he hot tanks a Flathead they tend run like they are supposed too. He also highly recommends the new efficient type water pumps. I have a '46-'48 59A (not sure which year) and I am thinking about looking at '49 I know of that's for sale. No car yet, but it will be Flatty powered.
We have a total of seven Flathead powered cars/trucks, one that I've put over 140,000 miles on in the last 10 years. Reliability is directly related to maintenance. If you take care of a Flathead it will run for a good long time. In my opinion, no engine looks or sounds better then a warmed up Flathead. Have fun with it.
As the Rollin *****s about FH reliability, they been back and forth across the states how many times?, and their website says they are doing it again this summer.
A great line that I heard at the Heshey swap meet many years ago... After the old guy told the story of flat towing a hot rod project car across 2 states with a flathead running on 7 cylinders. The old guy said them damn streetrodders think nobody ever drove across country until 1955 when the SBC came out. ********! Simply wives tales from someone with no real world experience with them.
Our 8BA can run 100 miles at a clip and when you pull off the freeway.......it just sits there going "poketa-poketa-poketa" idling like a Swiss watch. I NEVER worry about that thing.
Mallory ignition is a great idea. I also highly recommend the alter-generator from Powermaster (available thru Honest Charley's). Ya, they are a little pricey but I don't like to sit on the side of the road. Also don't skimp on parts, new waterpumps are a must! Remind the haters that Ford did use that motor for a LONG time and people drove coast to coast, thuosands of miles everyday with stock flatheads! Long live the flattie!
French used them in their military vehicles up into the late '80s - they wouldn't do that if they weren't reliable. ...they needed something to cart the white flags around with!
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