Boring a 59L Flathead with 3-1/16" Bore: Data and Pictures

I like how you detailed every case in your second paragraph! The previous handful of 59 blocks I have seen aound here were stuck solid.

The interior of this 59L is the best I have ever seen and I can't wait to spray wash and penetrant inspect it. I s****ed a few areas of the oil pan clean and found nice bright metal. No dents either! Must have been a generator for a long time.

If it is a good block and bore it, I will revive this thread with an update on whether or not it was possible. Thanks everyone!

 

I took my block from my old original 51 Merc (been in the family since 1954-2nd owner car) to a Redi-Strip shop to have it cleaned out. The guy hadn't cleaned too many flatheads and was surprized that he had to remove near a large coffee can full of what he described as bailing wire and sand. He figure someone had put the stuff in there. It was all core wire & sand from the original casting process. It is hard to believe all that **** was in there until you clean a few of them out and find the same thing every time. Some blocks were cleaned on the shakers better than others but a lot of the wire stayed in there until it rusts away. If it is still in there then you know it hasn't rusted all that much.

 

Hey this is Eric from Go Cat Speedshop, I don't get on the HAMB that often,
about once every 6 months! I did a quick 'gocat' search and found your thread.
Are you looking for a 59A? I just posted one on my homepage I'm selling right away,
it'll be a 276 (not a really huge bore), but you can bore it out further in the future,
sometimes that's the bad thing about going straight to 3-3/8's, you're pretty maxed
out...anyway, check out my Homepage, I'll post more pics this morning and I'll post
an Add on the HAMB for the engine. --Eric
http://www.GoCatSpeedshop.com