Reasonable price for a flattie?

I just got off the phone with a guy that has a running 40 ford flathead and 3 spd toploader for 1500. Says he still drives it around his farm and it always starts and stays cool. What do you guys think?

 

i just picked up a complete 50 merc motor, and trans for 500 (its been under the bench for 2 years, came out of a running car) my brother picked up another running Merc flattie for 800..My other 2 flatties i got for free..one was in a driving car but needs some love, the other is a bench piece... Take these for what you will...maybe im getting killer deals...haha

 

This is a proven runner, I can drive it if I want and the trannies alone these days are scaring me price wise. This is why I ask. You got some good deals I think. I know this isn't the saught after 59 motor but I was looking for a early 24 stud for my model A. Plus is is near me which counts for a ton. Should i do it?

 

Ask the seller if he will refund your money if the block is cracked otherwise I would p*** at that price.

 

Flatheads that run are hard to come by around here.

 

Sounds like you've made up your mind. But, It's always a gamble. $1,500 not great but not bad, how's that for not answering you question.

Go check it out. Without a complete teardown, hot tank, and magnflux you won't know if the block has any problems.

 

I think a little high
Ive been looking for 1 for a while and just came across a 1949 with a 3 spd manual trans, complete clutch bellhousing setup etc.

also comes with radiator, driveshaft for the trans, and 3 rebuilt (never used stromberg carbs)
$500 for all of it
motor runs as well
$1500 seems a little high to me but if its worth that to you then grab it up if you feel it wont have any issues

 

Drive it around the farm for an hour. Put a blanket over the radiator until the water temp is up, then decide.

 

You should buy it. Stromberg 97's in good condition will go from 100-200 each.

 

Sounds like you already decided.

1940 Ford flathead would be 3 1/16 bore. Nothing wrong with the block but I wouldn't pay extra for the small bore. Does is come with any speed parts? I would have a tough time finding the value in it but i think you are looking more for us to tell you it is a great deal. Sorry.

I bought one a few years back. I tried to justify the price by the fact it ran. It blew the water out of it when ran hard. Guess where the that block is now? Looks great as a flower pot.

Neal

 

Sounds a bit high but availability/price are joined at he hip. I wanted another this summer and there is always something on CL. I found a complete, running 59A that did not smoke. "Running" means we started it and it ran, I paid the $650 asking price for it. He was a NUT and non-negotiable on the price, I wanted it and purchased it, he DID NOT CARE, whether it may be cracked, non-rebuild able, stuck valves or otherwise and thought I was foolish in thinking it may be less than perfect as "ÿou saw it running, what could be wrong?" After getting it home and trying to free up a couple stuck valves I realized the exhaust seats where pitted BADLY from it sitting so long (tightly covered). We took it apart for a re-ring and valve grind but a few exhaust seats where beyond grinding. Long story short it is now all apart and just had a hot tank and mag today (great shape). It is a nice rebuild able 59A. I had intended to clean it up, paint it, gaskest etc and in the long run I bought a verified running core motor. The lesson for me being they are all just a running core and you'll probably have to dig into that mill somehow after purchasing it.

 

not the best price in the world. be a lot sweeter deal for $1000. no matter what you ***ume the risk. if it turns out the motor isn't all it's said to be, that unit becomes a $500 thing real quick. i don't know, i wouldn't pay $1500 for it myself. but that's me personally. i have seen plenty of flattie motor/****** "pulled from a runner" style for $500-$1000.

 

"Oh no, to much", as an oriental friend use to say.Drive that ****er around & check in the rad. to see if it has any air bubbles in it.Check the oil & see how clean or dirty it is.Do a compression check. All the above before plunking down any $$$.

 

Too rich for me. I'm continually amazed at how many flatheads are still out there. If your patient I can believe you can get a builder (or a weak runner) for less than $500.

Frank

 

$1500 NO WAY all flatheads unless they have been magnafluxed are just cores probably 50/50 chance its got some kind of internal flaw but its your money do what you want

 

a very well known flathead performance shop in the So-Cal area (not to mention names) charges around $11,000 for a completely ***embled and running hopped up Navarro equiped 59A flatty...(wipe the tears from my eyes).....now, back to reality...if its running, and in damn near great condition...it sounds like a good deal, performance parts for flattys are really top dollar though, sounds like you have to see what performance parts you would like to get, tally up the prices on that alone, then add the cost of your engine, and the costs in diagnostic tests like magnafluxing and such, and then see if its worth it...if you end up with a great lookin, reliable, hopped up flatty for under 3,000 then its worth every penny.....then again I have a soft spot for flatheads!!!

 

try 300-500 each! them little babies are worth a preety penny now days!...

 

Driving around in what? Truck? car? whoopie? you want the banjo, bones, axle spindles, brakes, rad., anything. Also the number on the trans, pad at the top of the bellhousing is the VIN and should be the same as on the frame and the ***le. If he keep's the vehicle and has a ***le for it you can't use the matching numbers on the trans to prove VIN to get a registration. See how much to git it all

 

mmm! some real good advice about buying it for $1500. why not put a wanted ad for one. i still see them that somebody is upgrading the complete running gear and selling off stock stuff.

 

you know what you want,, are you building to suit your needs or ours, if i want something for my car, i buy, i have had people give me advice, you know what you want, just because others have had problems doesn't mean you will, good luck.

 

Good opinions guys. This is a 40 ford coupe that was restored and somebody pulled the body off to make a street rod. This guy ended up with the rolling/driving ch***is. It is complete right down to the steering wheel. He says he sits on a milk carton and drives it once and awhile. He was saving everything for a 32 ford he has but he needs cash. I could always offer lower. He is sendig me more pics and getting number for me. I owned a crazy built 59 flathead that I regretably sold to a guy in Japan so I know these motors. We'll see what happens.

 

Yeah I am sent the money out to the guy already and Im picking it up in about another week

 

I was lowballing the carbs. Yes, if they are in great shape/rebuilt you could pay $300-$500.

 

I see your point 55 dude. I have a add on the ford barn but so far everything is too far away.

 

When I bought my '37 ch***is out from under a soon to be street rod, it was $1000, but that was 5 years ago.

I just bought a '41 for $800 missing the carb, generator and starter. It was SUPPOSED to be a complete, 10 yr old rebuild, but I got ****ed on that deal.

 

If he needs cash, the other option to offering less is to get he to throw more in on the deal like the complete running gear and frame that he has. Do the whole thing for $1500 or what you can get him down to.

Neal

 

If he were to sell you the complete running and driving ch***is that you could drive up on a trailer I can see it being worth 1500.

That would give you a complete drive train and 40 brakes for another car plus a few pieces to sell to someone else along the way.

I'd still want to run a cooling system pressure test and a compression test on it before forking over that kind of cash though.

 

He wants 2900 for the rolling/driving ch***is.

 

What year is the trans ?
Are you sure it's a toploader.
If it's a 1940 engine and ch***is, it use to be a colomnshifter and not a toploader !
Engine is a 221 cui. and not so desirable as a 239 or 255

 

221's ****, 560 pouynds and 85 horsepower on a good day. Floe job flywheel and cam carb maybe 100. Thank you sir, may I have another!!!!
Really, I love my flathead and enemies will pry it from my cold dead fingers when I am gone....