because I know nothing about them! Can you tell by these 3 crummy pic's what this Flathead may be, ***uming that it's the original motor to truck? Would it be a desirable one to go threw? It turns over nicely but would rather spend the time pulling it out than jerry rigging it to start. Might not be a good idea to start it before I look in her anyway. It's a freebe, just have to dispose of the truck, no ***le, maybe a big hole!
8BA/RT engine the last of the Ford flathead V8s. Might be the most desirable. I would take it for free. Sell the cab.
It's a late flatty. I think the trucks had 8RT instead of the car 8ba. The only differences are external, different water pumps and wide belts. It looks like it has fairly new spark plugs. If it was mine I think Id see if it will run before pulling it out of the truck. What do you have to lose? I could be a great score.
Biggest problems with 8BA blocks in cold climates is cracks from freeze up. If the radiator is full of water and the oil pan isn't, that's a good sign. If the hood was on it and it turns over by hand, that's a good sign. It may still have stuck valves, broken rings, cracks in valve pockets, etc. so running it may or may not be a good idea. If it has over 75# compression on all 8 it will probably run. Less than 50# on one or more cylinders is a risk. I would pulll the heads before removing the engine if that's the plan. Or at least loosen them. Sometimes they are rusted in and take a whale of a lot of torque to loosen. It's much easier if the engine is bolted down while you do this.
Do/check what rotowrench says and you've got a good chance of making sure it's a good deal -big trucks of that vintage usually had factory relieved blocks in them but I'm not sure which ones ....
Hey brigrat, I have the same motor in my Roadster. It came out of the same truck as yours flat bed and all. I sold the truck for 500.00 with out the motor.. It fired right up and has good oil pressure... It looked like it had been rebuilt at least once.. It was bored .30 over... My block was not relieved.. I say go for it....D
If you do pull the heads, swap them out for a set of EAB heads - the 8RT are the lowest compression heads from the factory.
I need two of thoughs teeth, and some misc. if you got it. The problem with checking the compression is it will probably show up flat as hell till you get it running. The best way is to give that ****er 12volts till the starter begs for mercy, and keep it running with starter fluid. I am willing to come help, where you at?
You can have the hole jaw bone, hell you can have it all. Come on over, pull the flatty at my shop, haul the rest away!
I would be very interested in it, depending on what part of the state you're in, and how I could get that beast to my house. Let me know, either an email or pm, please. BTW, what are your plans for the engine?