evidently you dont pay attention on here. flatheads and hemis rule the roost, with nailheads after that. its just "being different, by following all the other people that are being different".....
So Blue Oval, what did you finally decide? I too, am stuck in this same dilema. Just by screen name, I love flatheads. I originally built mine around 1992. At that time, finding speeds parts was a lot harder, but the prices were not out of this world like they are now. I was 18 at this time and the only one crazy enough to run one. The first maiden voyage was a drive to Reno for Hot August Nights from San Diego. It was a blast, but of course we had our share of problems. We even pulled the hood off to drive in the nightly cruises just to show what we were running. Fond memories. Almost 20 years later, the flathead is in major need of a rebuild, (low oil pressure that requires 60wt oil to keep her from knocking) and I need a gas mask while sitting at a stoplight (fumes from blowby in the rings). I think the rings are just stuck because when I pulled the heads, there was no ridge in the bores. I even have a 4" crank that needs cleaning up. My dilema is the same. I could pull the engine, stick a better crank in it (the 239 crank is already at least 30 under, but closer to 50), buy new pistons and rings and roll with it. But just the cost of the bearings, new pistons, rings and gaskets would make my wallet $1,000 lighter. What makes the dreaded decision worse is that I already have a Muncie 4-speed adapted to the flathead and a 8" out back. I have a 327 engine that also needs to be gone through. It feels great shifting the muncie, but I have to keep 3.00 gears in the back or the flatty feels like its going to blow up at 70 mph plus. Needless to say, it is very slow off the line, the only thing that saves me is the low end torque of the flatty. I have a set of 3.55 gears that would go great with a 327 and the muncie. I would like to be able to spin the tires once in a while. Sigh, I would love to drive my car everyday, without worry of it overheating in the 110 summers here in Phoenix. I love the look of my engine, but am so tired of the constant fiddling with it. I want to be able to take my family on a long trip with out fear of asphyxiating them. The flatty: 239 with polished 350 Offenhauser heads with MotorCity Flathead pocketing of the heads, Polished Sharp Intake manifold with 3 Ford 94 Carbs. The two end carbs have Vintage Speed's aluminum bases without idle circuits and blocked off power valves, Fenton Manifolds, Mallory Dual Points and a GM alternator. Like I said earlier, this stuff was a lot cheaper in the 90's then now.
BLUE...I understode the flathead needs rebuild. but i'll tell you that change over is no picnic. If it were mine i would get the overhall and drive it. that old car is an antique, and is worth more in stock form. but as you say, you'll do what you wan't. but something tell's me your about to make a HUGH blunder. and me telling you this is what i want...POP.
i know this is an old thread, but do the SBC and give me the flatty! They just look cool. I get so jazzed when I see the right engine in a car.
The flatty is cooler but sbc is the easy and cheep way but why not a old hemi it cool too and have the power but not cheep
Your car is way cooler and far more interesting with the Flatty. I don't see how it could possibly be cheaper to change the entire driveline compared to just rebuilding what's in there. All them Chevy boys got some explaining to do on that one. If the sbc really is a 327 you could probably get some decent money from a #'s concerned Chevy musclecar guy. Take the money and do a sensible rebuild on the Flathead or if you wanna try OHV put a small block Ford in there because they actuallly fit easier (they clear the drag link with the proper oil pan). Why *******ize another Ford?
It is very traditional to replace a flathead with a SBC. I would do it in a heartbeat! (pun intended)
Use the flathead in another Ford project... Put the sbc in the shoebox till you get tired of it...and the meantime you can look around for an SBF, Hemi, rocket etc... The sbc is the better option for the stuff you have in mind in my opinion.
put the sbc in it and have fun. it,s a car you want to drive keep the flathead for a open hood project plus look how many die hard ford guy,s you would pissoff
Sounds like it is running (ok) now. New Rings and bearings, and grind the valves would be less work for me than an engine swap. I'd be done in three days with the overhaul, kind of a routine job. Setting up for a completely different motor would take a lot more work.
I am a huge ford fan, but I have a 51 chevy pickup ill be working on after my A-V8 flattie build, and the chevy will have a bowtie motor in it. I could not own a vintage ford with a chevy motor in it, but thats just my take. Now, that said, I am not paying for the motor rebuild, and I'm not helping with the engine swap, so if you dont mind having a chevy motor in a ford, and it is the best financial option for you at this point, its YOUR car, do what you want. Hot Rods are supposed to be individualized by their owner, regardless of what everyone else thinks.
With a SBC in it you can beat the **** out of it and it won't hurt it, the flat head is yet another story.
Good question. Probably not. I mean I drove it in San Diego everyday from about 1992 until 2000. I got married with children and the car became a bit unpractical for what was currently going on in my life. I also had gotten tired of the whole "street rod" scene and sitting on lawn chairs polishing the bumpers. The car sat for 8 years - 4 of those outside - until I found the HAMB one night. I dusted off the car and got it started. The engine was a popping through the exhaust for a while until the valves got unstuck. I guess I should be thankful has been on the road for almost 2 years since then. I noticed as I get older, I am little less patient with stuff as I once were. I also look at repairs I did 15-18 years ago and have to wonder what hell I was thinking at the time!! Blue Oval - did not mean to hijack your thread if you are still reading this.
Are you going to put billet rims and gray tweed interior too? Hell, paint it bright yellow or pink while you're at it. Oh yea, don't forget the graphics stripes either.
Nothing wrong with a mid 60's 327! Especially if you robbed it out of a Corvette. NOW, if it came in a wooden crate, direct from the Auto Zone floor.............eh then I could see it!
Ahh, don't get me wrong, I had a 327 in my first '64 Pimpala. With the four speed Muncie, it was fast as hell for a big land yacht. But, I just think with so many other cool choices, why do the same ole, samey?
piss of the snobs and run a sb. I switched out my flattie to a 265 in 3 day and I don't have a clue in what I'm doin.
I'd keep the flattie but after all its your car and do what YOU want. If you listen to others they have you paint your car chamelion pearl and put 20's on it or worse, lambo the doors...
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