anyone running a stock v8 flattie in there rod pics please

i love flatheads.multi carb supercharged detailed etc.i am building a 29 ford delivery on a budget hence the stock standard 1954 f 600 truck flattie.that i hope to use .i was hoping to see other standard flatheads in rods .what have you done to make it reliable.what transmission works best for you.any pics or info post it here.love to see those old rusty or non rusty flatties

 

Isn't the motor for the F600's the big Lincoln motor?

Very, very few speed parts for that motor.

 

you may be right jr but over here things are a little different .i believe in 1953 the last flathead was produced in the u.s.in 1954 we got the canadian lineup i think was different .search v8 flathead identification under my username and you will see the engine(8ba or8rt)

 

Not mine but here are a couple of pics........

 

thanks mate love it

 

I run a stock late model flattie - stock is probably the most reliable form. When guys start adding improvements, then they have to tweak things that weren't made to run that way. That's hotrodding. But if you want reliable, the 8BA in stock form is very good from my perspective - I've run one as a daily driver for the past 7 years in a 48 F1.

fyi the F6/F600 used the small 239 ci V8. The lincoln 337 was only used in the F7F8's and only 48? thru 51 and were replaced by OHV's 279/317 in '52 trucks in the US.

 

This is Flower's 8BA.......just got a new set of plug wires complete with Raja clips.

 

I'm running a stock 53 Merc 255 (sorry no pics). I would spend the money on a good radiator, upgrade the stock fan, use a low-pressure radiator cap, and run thermostats (obvious but you'd be surprised by some people).

The reliability of these engines is, in my opinion, phenomenal (knock on wood). I have done minimal tuning/maintenance over the last nine years and have had no problems running points, mech. fuel pump, etc.

Converting to 12V (I did) makes starting a cinch too.

 

Had this stock 21 bolt in my coupe for three years before it lost oil pressure and I pulled it.

 

thanks for the pics and advice as i need it.my first experiance with a flathead came when my father purchased a mercury 35 kva generator(ex air force i think because it had these fluttering guages.it was previously used as a back up generator for a drive in theater but only used twice .we used this on our poultry farm every day and provided 3phase power for a feed mixing plant.it was reliable and in 6years it never missed a beat i remember because when i walked past the (gennie shed)i would hear a majic burbling sound boy i wish i kept that motor

 

Mine is bone stock internally, and buried under the hood of a F-1, so pics don't show so much. The 3 changes that make a big difference IMO are: alternator, electronic dizzy (MSD w/mech and vac advance), and a gear reduction starter. 12v operation is a part of that. An electric fuel pump is 4th on the list, but not as critical for a stock engine.

 

Stock as a rock of unknown mileage. I just added the 2 97s and an old Mallory. It's a little tired but it never let me down.

 

Stock 21 studder in here for about 7 years, never even had the heads off. Only non-stock item is the distributor-less ignition. Head gasket eventually let go so I put in a stone stock french engine. Only change to the french 24 stud engine was to fit 81A heads and truck pumps to reuse my Allard mechanical fan set up.

 

Even in stock form, the best looking motor out there.

 

my v8-60

 

My V8-60 in 30 A roadster

 

Our 8BA got 12 volts and a Pertronix kit after a complete overhaul and balance job. It runs perfect and it's really happy with it's T-5 trans.

 

Mine is a bone stock '40-'41 merc. raised deck 239, .020 and.010 on the crank. This engine was built in 1969 and sat til I aqquired it and started it up in 2003. It has a Ford remanufactured distributor complete with NOS points/condensor (they were just off the shelf parts when it was rebuilt), it stiil has the little Ford reman sticker on the front of the dist. I rebuilt a 2-brush generator and converted it to 12volt. '39 top loader, '46 rear end with 3:54 gears. cruises at 60-65 (it'll go faster, but that just means I don't get to drive it as long!). Gets 17 to 18 mpg and runs between 140 and 160 temp. I've been tempted to change heads and manifold..... but I just can't seem to get around to tearing into into it!! It runs like a watch!

 

its good to hear other rodders are happy with the reliability of thier relatively stock flatheads.it sounds to me if i rebuild the carburettor convert to 12 volt use an aftermarket (non loadamatic)distributor and change the waterpumps and run new thermostats i should have a reliable flattie.thats all i want

 

great plan Dave,
I highly recommend performance ign. in mitcham(ithink?),
they did an electronic 8BA dizzy for me and it rocked.

 

did they use the stock distributor and what did you have to change

 

nope brand new body machined to fit. uses a standard bosch module and pickup parts. vac advance, curved for a flatty.just drop it in. about five hundred with a coil and the best money you will ever spend on a street flathead. trust me.

 

like to see a photo of that sounds interesting and probably the better choice.but i cant help asking what is so wrong with the original 53 ford distributor and can it be modified to be reliable.many threads on here advise an upgrade on the dizzy.having never owned a flathead v8 i am listening to others who know

 

The stock dizzy is plenty reliable if you can get good 6v condensers. If you stay with the stock carb, you'll be bucks ahead to stick with the loadamatic and just reduce the current through the points with something like Pertronix. The vacuum advance p***ages in the stock carb are specific to loadamatics. I'd for sure go 12v alternator before converting to any electronics, though.

 

thanks to eveyone who replied with pics and advice.finally found my engine number (thanks to flattattak website)stamped in at right rear of intake gasket face and reads as follows ( & arf2874 &)this does not relate to vanpelt numbers probably because its canadian and also truck. it also has raised numbers reading c 1 b a cast into the bellhousing.the motor is definitely canadian truck (c 8ba c 8rt cast into the inlet manifold.six bladed fan .8rt cast into the heads 94 carb with hand throttle control etc)some say the 8rt heads are lower compression than 8ba and that truck motors after 1951 had hardened intake and exhaust valve seats.i was told this engine is 1954 but i am not sure .hoping someone will have some information for me .thanks in advance dave

 

Bought a 52 F1 last yr, so far put in a petonix , alt and had starter rewound for 12V. so far so good The granny gearbox ****s, want to put in a T5 and S/10 or Ranger rear. all aside the smittys sound real good on it and I'll never get a speeding ticket with it. It's that slooo.

 

any canadian truck guys want to help me with this one

 

8RT not unique to Canadian applications. Used in trucks & they are the largest Ford combustion chambers (ie - lowest compression) for the 8BA-style engine. 8CM heads are large too.

Find a set of EAB heads, clay your pistons & then mill the heads to end up with .050-.060" clearance over the pistons - you'll have a nice, crisp running flatty.

 

What is involved in putting a pertronix in a '48 flathead? Is it as easy as in a modern distributor?

 

Here is my Merc I'm running the original motor never rebuilt it, but it runs very strong. Driven it 3200 miles this summer so far. It even survived a trip thru the Utah desert in 100+ temps.