I am looking to put a flatty in my 36' and just went to look at a (carb to pan) totally rebuilt 47' 59ab a guy had for sale.It was 80 over,no cracks water tested,dry and bone stock and he told me he wanted $4750 and I about S**T... So thats why Im curoius to know whats in yours.Post some pics and descriptions of what has been done and how much $$$$ to get it there,to give me an idea of what I'm about to get my self into.
machine work, merc crank, potvin 3/8 cam, french rods, 3 3/8 egge pistons, all bearings and gaskets and im sure a few other things.. about 3500. keep in mind there is still all the fixins that are not in this amount. assembly, heads, induction etc.
I could have bought a crate 350 for what I have in the machine work on my EAC. But I got the motor for $150 and most of the parts were free!
4" Merc crank, .060 bore (265"), L-100 cam, all the machine work and all the goodies on top around $5,000. I don't think that you can get much cheaper than that and do it right. Of course, the sky is the limit!!
ive got a little more than $4500 in mine, its had lots of machine work, its been ported, balanced, bored etc. 40 over pistons, isky cam, basically everything inside is new, all the bolts etc. are new, new gaskets etc. etc. you get the picture... for me it was worth it though as I ended up with this.
99A block ported releived decked line bored big valves johnsons 340 217.5 cam-(8ba style) 60 thou up with lumpy top pistons,8ba rods 4 inch crank-weiand heads,mallory twin point(8ba style)edlebrock early high rise runs like a raped ape-stroked36 http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k208/grant_036/000_0010.jpg http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k208/grant_036/000_0019-1.jpg http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k208/grant_036/000_0002-1.jpg
4 1/8" stroker, 3 3/8" pistons, MCF cam 21a rods Offy heads, Headers, Mallory electronic Distributor.MCF oil pump, adjustables, Uncle Max's 97's (x3) Machine work and all I'm thinking probably about 4500 or maybe 5000. Dam that seems like a lot, like he said, "never spent so much to go so slow".. Actually the old thing runs pretty good especially for a flathead. It'll surprise the hell out of ya.
ORIGINAL MERCURY FLATHEAD 8,Dipped, cracks fixed, bored over, howards cam, adjustable valves, full flow oil filteration, new water pumps, rebuild with aluminum heads, $4,500.00. fuel injection, aluminum pulleys, polished and jet coated fenton headers, blah, blahn, blah TOTAL= APPROX. $12,000.00 click on thumb nails to enlarge. Just glad I did the work while I was single!
59a std bore--merc crank--potvin 3/8 cam--cyclone heads--pm7 intake. i'll have a hair over 6000.00 when it will run, but that is counting everything starter-pumps-carbs-ign. and etc.
I'm having a 59AB built for my 37 Ford slantback. I don't have much experience with flatheads and wanted my first one done right so a friend is doing the work. Here's what I'm getting: all the machine work, .060 bore (265"), 4" Merc crank, Isky 3/4 cam, good used Weiand heads, Offy dual carb manifold, 12 volt alternator/starter, new Fenton headers for around $5,500. I looked into the costs before starting this and it isn't cheap to build a flathead. Sometimes I look at the pricing for a crate small block Chevy and think - why didn't I just do that? But then, I go to a car show and see hundreds of SBC-powered early Fords compared to a handful of flatheads. It confirms I made the right decision. Flatheads sound awesome. They are unique. There's a history and heritage to them that you don't get with a SBC. I love to see how everyone stops to look at a flathead but will walk by the cookie-cutter SBC rods. Flatheads forever!
I want one!!!!Thats exactly what I needed.$4-5k doesnt seem tooo bad.Just not for a stock one,But I know myself and I know whats I get started I wont stop until Im broke or my girl leaves me. I just dont understand why that guy would ask so much for a stock motor. His builder must of stuck it to that guys then. If anyone has a good rebuildable flathead let me know.Im anxious to get started. keep posting to give me a few ideas and thanks alot for the responses. Those engines are bad ass guys thanks
I have $5800 in my 40 Flathead rebuild. In my 48 Flathead I have about $4700 with the intake and carbs.
Depending what you are doing, you may want to run a Craigslist ad "wanted". I did and found a gent close to home who was going with a new 350/350 setup so he sold me his running drivetrain; flathead complete, tranny, new front end and rear including juice barkes from his 35 Ford for 1K. NO smoke. Starts up first try.
I know it is distorted by the fact that I end up paying more by way of import costs etc, but my motor consists of, French block and 4" crank,Edelbrock heads,Isky cam,Johnson lifters,stainless valves,Egge 3 5/16" pistons,new french rods,speedway pumps,nos 59a oil pan,new oil pump,95% oil flow system,Eddie Meyer inlet,new 97 Strombergs,powergen alt/dynamo,mallory dizzy,hi torque mini starter,new fuel pump and stand, hilderbrant oil filter,block is ported and relieved and all the block has been smoothed,Fenton exhaust manifolds,stainless wire looms,stainless linkage,speedway adaptor,T5 box,new clutch,.....basically it is a new motor...cost so far including machining...about $10k I guess. I try not to think about the cost, and it has been done over a period of time so it does`nt seem as painful....if I was to contemplate stumping up the whole wedge in one hit, that would be a different matter. I have gone with the T5 and Quichchange out back, to try and utilise the power it makes and of course get some decent(ish)mpg from it...at $10+ for petrol I would rather give it up to parts than give it to the oil companies and the taxman.
I put a wanted add on Craigslist and got a call from an old man 3 days later and got my 59ab for $350 I am stoked everything is there and she spins free.
Back when I started (2004?) I bought a '47 ford chassis with stuck 59L motor for $300. Got it running, built my coupe and drove the shit out of it. Took it apart for a rebuild last October. Cam reground to SuperTopSecretSpecs= $150 Weiand Alum heads= free from Dad's friend. Bought entire Merc Motor for the crank= $300 Machine shop: hot tank, magnaflux block & crank, bore 60 over, turn crank 10/10, rebuild/recondition rods, balance entire rotating assy= $900 Parts from the Hotrod Company HAMB Alliance member: Flathead head stud kit and one case of Brad Penn break in oil=$173 Head porting kit & carbide burr set from Eastwood Tool=$98 Bearings from Vern Tardel HAMB Alliance member= $158 Parts from Riley Automotive HAMB Alliance member: #1. 4 ring piston se, rings, pick up screen, cam bearing set (haha!), gasket set=$422 #2. valve changeover kit, lifters hollow adjustable, 5/8 crank plugs= $508 Correct cam bearings for 59L from Baxter Ford= $50 So what's that total up to? $3058 so far. Just finishing up porting the block now and it's ready to go back together.
I took your advice about the craigslist and had a couple responses but one seems a little shady and the other was a running 8ab with tranny still in his 36' and he asked me what I would offer for it. ???
Cad you got a 50/50 shot i got mine blind and scored if it is stuck i am sure you can part out what is salvagable and get the dough back see if he will take less.
ya i didnt think it was going to cost me the whole 200 and between parting out a thing or two maybe scrapin if needed could come out even and get a free flat head. but beings it an earlier one doenst sound like its worth the time.
That has to be a later model flathead (not a '34) because of the water outlets in the center of the head. I can't see clearly, but it looks like at 21 stud engine (late 37 through '38), but my old eyes fail me when I try to blow the picture up. When I looked at it again, it may be a 24 stud, but I just can't be sure. Looks like a '34 truck chassis though (wheels, etc.)
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