1931 model A

You already have one Mark.

 

The car was for sale, that is how I know the condition. I went and saw it and had to p*** on it. It may have drove ok back when it was built but when I looked underneath it, it scared me out of the deal. No offense to the builder but it was a hack job.

 

No offense to the builder but it was a hack job. quote olskool34.
funny!

 

I know, I just don't know how to put it nicely. The guy who it was willed to was a super nice guy and you could tell he really didn't know anything about the car. I just want him to be safe.

 

A few old timers from Burbank who grew up in the 50's told me a few years back when Chevy came out with the overhead valve engine, and they were affordable compared to any other makers, that everyone couldn't wait to get their hands on the 265/283 sbc. That they tossed out the heavy, powerless flatheads for lighter and more powerful sbc. That's why you see them everywhere, not only does it make sense for more power, that's just how it was in the 50's. most "hot rods" ended up with a sbc unless you were a rich kid.
source: multiple old timers from those days

 

One day's labor gets the body off - a friendly HAMB'er will come over and help you decide how much work it will take to get the frame structure corrected. Motor mounts are easy to replace; trans and rear-end mounts pretty easy if the body is off.

Pull the head on the broken-piston side to see the condition of that and the other cylinders - that will tell you how much it will cost to get the engine running. If the broken-piston cylinder is not scored badly and the other cylinders are not rusty, you've got a good chance to have an easy repair.

 

Creepjohnny,
What they did in the 50´s is not what i ment, sure a 265 is same family as the 350, its more that 90% of all hotrods built 1970-2013 have a 350 and that i dont like, 60-70´s or 2013 GM350 is no cheaper than a 60´s Ford 289 or a 318-340 Dodge bla bla bla, i give up cause i ride a 85hp flathead before a 350 or 454 any day....

 

Use what is there to do a quick swap with a decent small block and then get it out on the road, Take the flattie in the back of the garage on a stand. Drive the car with the sbc install, and as you gain knowledge about the engine and some coin to boot...