Folks Of Interest And the wining is "Ford"

"Flathead's are expensive", I read this words over a hundred times in the HAMB and no trouble with that!!, another words like SBC asociates with the word cheap, right, many times I read the word HEMI and anothers words, but the word "ford" it's the wining, what I tell with this, I think most of the Hamb members are talking about ford's...... What do you think about this? I like ford's, I like flathead's and I like the Hamb.

 

Well I pull my hair out all day long tinkering with my flathead. People are all about the SBCs because here "USA" they can goto any parts store and find the part they need without a headache. I'm more a fan of the ford straight sixes


My flatty is nothing special but it sounds cool, looks cool and on a good day runs great.

 

Straight sixes are more common than the flaties?

 

Amen brother. I am fond of flatheads myself, have seven of them. And some people who saw him say that old Argentinean in your avatar, "Sat a pretty wheel." ( that is colloquial American for, "the guy could drive.") A legend, wish I could have seen him.

 

The sixes are not, but some of us like them over the V8's......Roach.

 

Only I have one flatie, mi first flatie, the learning flatie, I'm enjoy my time looking for some info about flatheads, I have 3 model a engine, a model a roadster pick up project original, a 32 ch***is and a 32 phaeton cowl and doors I'm thinking to turning to a roadster...

 

Since I sense you are as sick as the rest of us that play with these very unique engines I would like to suggest some reading material. "Rebuilding the Famous Ford Flathead" by Ron Bishop, "How to build a Flathead Ford V-8" by George McNicholl, "How to build Ford Flathead V-8 Horespower" also George McNicholl,
"How to Hop Up Ford and Mercury V8 Engines" by Roger Huntington, "Blown Flathead" by Joe Abbin, "Flathead Performance Handbook" by Joe Abbin. Frank Oddo and Tex Smith also have books out on these engines, Google, for Amazon or E-Bay sources. I also have a very good article from Hot Rod Magazine by Don Francisco called "Building a Flathead, The Right Way", (Don Francisco was perhaps one of the smartest engine guys I have ever talked with), if you are interested I can copy and send it via "snail mail".

Just remember, if God would have intended for the valves to be in the head, Henry would have put them there.

Mike.

 

Flatheads are sound sweet,dress up real nice,dependable,BUT performance?85hp to 250hp and that is pushing it

 

If you want to learn about flatheads, here's 12 years worth of info shared by the "old guys" who drove them when they were new.

http://www.btc-bci.com/~billben/flathead.htm

 

Man, I feel like a lazy *** when I see you guys from other countries writing in a secondary language to learn about hot rods! Good luck with your flathead.

 

Flathead addict!

Things that work for me. Stock dizzy or a gmc bubba upgrade, skips coil, a single carb setup, and an extra condenser, fuel pump, and carb in in the trunk. Don't forget the 1/2 and 9/16 wrenches.

Most every problem I have had has come from poorly overseas made repo parts.

Suggested reading for flatspeed... Flathead Facts: John W. Lawson.

 

we opted out of using a flathead for our 36 ford, at least for now. we're going with a 401 nailhead. lots of power and torque bone stock without having to dump money into it. we can also dress it up and make it look neat too. In our area its hard to find a flathead that is in running order that doesnt have issue or hasn't been sitting out in the woods for 30+ years (there's plenty of those around!). If you find something decent they want you to drop a fortune on it or buy the entire junk vehicle its in for 3K. We opted for the penny saving option. we personally dont have the funds to dump into a flathead that isnt running and then dump a bunch more into it to get powe rout of it. we'd love to run a nice looking flatty in the 36 but right now we're taking an alternate route. I must admit tha ti drool over some of the fellow HAMBers flatheads!

 

Yes, flatheads are a sickness and an expensive one at that. But, they are cool and if you are into the "cruise", the sound of a flattie w/duals is like no other. Both my avatar and my 40 Ford coupe run flatties, both 5-speeds, and I run 'em at speed. My next build is a 40 Ford p-up w/4.3 and 5-speed but that could change. After that, I've got another flattie in the wings for a Model A or 32 2-door sedan idea I've got rolling around in my head ....

 

yeah i like fords i to have my first flathead that im learnin with

 

flatheads make 4 cylinder power ..museum piece lol

 

Two 59ABs and an 8BA in my shop...

 

Here is why they get expensive:

My 40 had a good running old flathead in it.



Then the carb started acting up. After getting stranded a couple times, I decided to fix the carb. How do you fix the carb on an old flathead? You do the following: Remove old carb, get 2 new Stromberg 97's (Thanks Uncle Max!), get new fuel pump and new fuel lines, get a cool old Fenton polished 2x2 intake manifold, get a mallory electronic distributor, get some finned aluminum heads, new head studs, and VOILA! Carb is fixed!



THAT'S why these can be expensive! But they sure are cool, and there's just something about cruising around in an old flathead powered hot rod that can't be explained.

 

Now, here's a guy with firm HAMB roots... and BBC mentality

 

I think this goes far beyond, not to mention it was one of the engines that were used more in the early 50 by rodders in street and dry lakes compe***ions...
What I mean, remembering the word of the the Burbank choppers guys when they say that parts of their cars have a soul because they belonged to other cars that had their story in itself.
I believe in these things so I also like old cars and all this things for me have a mystic, When you rescue a flathead engine is not only a way to save the engine, also remembering all these pioneers of hot rodding and a form to promote hot rodding ...

 

Oh please let me breathe at least for a while because I still have a lot to reach the goal friend, that engine is on fire, very good!!

My 59 have a later crankshaft with two holes per journal and 8ba connecting rods and fully floating bearings...

 

I would go to a museum to see this wild 60...

I would guess this engine had maybe 125 or so hp, not a major power house for sure, but the cool factor is off the hook. Sometimes looks are as or more important than function ie. bias tires, first gen juice brakes, generators etc.

 

Yeah so Mr Gm can be appreciated this, or may be is to busy fixed your 6 inline...

 

Yeah... Proclaiming hatred for the SBC is a very trendy thing to do...



Not every SBC is cool, but there are some awsome ones.









I'd take any of those over a stock unmodified Flatty.

But like any other engine, Flatty's get cooler when they are modified for more performance...

 

Why can't we all just get along...
I have three cars and 59AB engines in all three. No other engine for me.
Maybe an earlier flattie, but no later.

But we still can have fun together.
Here's me and my new built flathead having fun with my friend and his smallblock
last weekend in Germany after a few beers on our 1000 mile round trip to
Headbanging in Finsterwalde together with 4 more Model A's....

<iframe width="560" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/iWY-Yq7dkG8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>


Video by Serhat

 

I'll go with Ford too! Although I lean towards the Y-Block myself. Wouldn't mind a pair of Argentinian heads. I would need a cam too.

 

I've probably owned more Ford engines than Chevy's.

I've had Car Engines ranging from a 500cc Fiat to a 500 cubic inch Caddy.

Flat 2 - 2 inline, V4 - flat 4 - 4 inline (overhead valve, SOHC, & DOHC ), v6, V8( overhead valve, OHC, & Flatty ) - inline 8.

Italian, German, French, British, and US made.

They all had something that attracted me to them.

In that long diverse line of engines, the SBC has earned its place as one of the good ones, as far as I'm concerned.

 

I think when picking an engine there is a division of style.

You can go for raw engine power and torque and build a 60's engine (hamb 64 limit) or go crate. Maybe a new coyote.

50's style I think you have to go with a ohv.

40's well that's a flathead zone. Ford or not.

30's you could even consider a banger. I do.

Each has a style attached to it and a different vibe and experience. All are good in my book.

Last flathead I brought back cost me about $400- bucks. One new burnt valve replacement, rebuild carb, flush/clean fluids, rewire, and a rebuilt dizzy stuff and coil. Runs great and strong. Not a crazy wheel burning monster but I dig it and it moves just fine.

 

There's always one!

 

50s style... OHV????? I dont think so. How many regular guys in the 50s could afford a late model engine? Not too many, I'm picking.

 

It's a generalization. But yes the 50's includes flatheads and ohvs.