Buying a 59A Flathead?!?!

I was thinking about buying a complete 59A Flathead a friend of mine has, but am just wondering what I am getting myself into. It has been sitting for a long time and is pretty rusty, but the crank does turn. What are the odds that I'll dig into it and find it is beyond repair? Or are most problems (cracks etc..) encountered repairable? I could probably get it for a couple hundred bucks and an old Ford straight six.
-Dean

 

BTTT, i'm not sure of the answer cause i'm not familiar with them, but putting it to the top, maybe somebody will help ya out....

 

I went threw three before getting to a good one. People have told me I was lucky. Just remember there kinda spendy to build, but they do run stronger than most people think. Will your friend guarantee the block?

 

Before i buy one, i always pull the heads and wire brush around all the valves to the piston. they usually will crack in that area. if cracked then p*** on it, or get it for free, as fixing them gets spendy. there are other areas that get cracks, but the valve seat is first on my list.

 

If you can, pull the oil pan to look for cracks where the main bearing webbing blends in with the oilpan rails. mine was cracked almost all the way around the pan rail.

FWIW, it's possible to weld cracked blocks (do a search for the threads), but requires a lot of skill and the cost would exceed that of a good crack-free block.

 

Pull the heads and the pan and if you find a few cracks then he can give you a couple hundred bucks and the flattie for your old Ford six.

 

If there is a crack near the mains you can kiss off the engine. Most cracks around the valves and cylinders are repairable. I just worked on a block that was step drilled and tapped in four places; it runs great and does not leak.

 

You can fix the cracks on the deck surface and do OK..not so with the main webs althoght I have never personall seen 'em crack there. Cool motors..I've got a bunch of 'em.