Technical Cured My Flathead’s Occasional Overheating (The Hard Way)!. Updated 1-17

Very nice!

 

HA! That’s some funny shit.
Maybe some day over an adult beverage. It moved me up on the dumbass award list quite a ways.
That could be mis-construed as a positive.

 

Or possibly a false positive
Or a true negative. Not sure, made sense earlier. Not do much now. I’ll take you up on that zesty beverage. I promise not to laugh
…much

 

After all, “It’s only sheet metal”. Plus some Benjamin’s.
Sounds good! Tipping one with you would be a positive, positive. Providing that you buy.

 

Sorry, nothing to report.
Been sick with Covid(?) or some other alien crud respiratory plague.
Put in a couple hours yesterday and it about whipped me.
Fiddled with the new Borgeson box and CE mount and started cleanup on the SP Delco.
Baby steps for now.

 

Just picked up on this thread so I am a bit late. Sorry for your troubles but it sounds like you are getting better and everything is squared away. Get healthy so you can “have at it” once again and have it back on the road ….

 

Thanks, Tom!
Getting better, just not much energy at 75 and 11/12.
Did feel good enough to make one good Delco single point out of two donors.
Glad I saved those NOS Delco points.
Get that dialed in next week.

 

Wrapped up the rest of the ignition parts on the list, plug wires arrived, and got some gaskets.
Time for more cleanup, derust and start the paint job on the 283.
What color? White firewall and inner fenders. Thinking red, like the deceased flattie.
A memorial of sorts. HA!

 

No, not red.
Decided on black with off white VC script to match the under hood colors.
Well, after hours/days of getting the 283 stripped and cleaned, I had today to get it painted before more cold and rain, followed by Christmas.
It was one of the nastiest engines I've ever had the displeasure of doing!
Three Chevy orange paint jobs plus one blue job, paint over rust!
Leaked bad it's entire life apparently, which doesn’t account for the rust, and had caked crud from top to bottom. Original gaskets from the 60's!
Still have to put color on the bolt on pieces: VC's, WP and timing cover.
Stay tooned.

.

 

Back it up a couple days.
The pig after several days of labor and a bunch of Scotchbrite discs and wire brushes. #%!@!!&
Unfortunately, more to do!


Had a spare chain set in my parts.
It BAD needed it. Should really scream now!





Finally!

 

Not that it matters much now, but your flathead doesn't have sleeves in it. Those little grooves at the top of the cylinder is where the top lip of the original Ford sleeves used to sit. The 40 engine came stock with tin sleeves in it. It was common to remove the tin sleeve, cleanup hone, then install bigger pistons.

And that crack could probably be pinned, then a regular style sleeve installed in that cylinder. Flathead blocks aren't disposable anymore. Having one sleeve is not a reason to turn it into dishwashers.

 

Thanks, Alchemy!
Good point about the sleeves. When I get it out and tear it down, I will know more.
I have several sets of new pistons, including some for a 4” crank I have. Opportunities await.
I do have two more if this one is history. It’s all about time and energy these days.

 

I really like what you a doing using the 2barrel and all. I see from the rear photo it has the stock PCV system too. It’s nice to double the original horsepower with what Chevrolet used for almost everything from 57 to 67. Cruising down the hyway will probably get 20 mpg too.

 

looks great, hopefully I will see you at the Nashville swap meet.

 

When the sleeves are removed I think the are .083 pistons out there for them or are they for the thicker sleeves?

 

Thanks @jimmy six. Here’s hoping.
Hey David @SPEC . Undecided on N’ville. May just go to look and buy.
Last year was too much by myself, and I was stuck to the space all day.
Thanks @TomT, I’ll check that out.

Merry Christmas everyone!

 

Just curious; was the cam gear you replaced aluminum with molded plastic gear teeth? I'm glad you're getting the 40 back on the road. I'd suggest finding a different rear end ratio.

 

@joel, nope the gear was iron, but with a good bit of wear and a lot of chain stretch.
I’ve looked for some time for a replacement center section, and I have another 3:00.
They’re pretty pricey when they turn up, and if I can ever get to it, probably just buy a new R&P
and rebuild one of them.
The most pop that this engine will get is a set of “PowerPak” heads, a C4B and small 4 bbl, and maybe a slight cam improvement.
Keeping in mind that the trans now is 41 pickup open drive, what ratio would YOU suggest.
If I go that route, I may get a low enough gear and add a T170 3+1 that I have.

 

By coincidence, I have a T170 3+1 going in my 41 pickup. I have a 3.78 banjo rear and 8.20x15 rear tires. I am assembling a 59A +.080 engine for it. As you know, the 283 and FH have different operating
ranges. For example , I put an L79 cam and Carter AFB on my sisters 57 BelAire Power pac and ran it over 75 going back and forth to school with 3.70 rear and 14in. stock size tires. The chart shows running at 3500 rpm or above. To reduce the flathead rpm at that speed, I can run a 29 in. tall rear tire and the .78 od in the T170. those 2 things should keep me between 2700 and 3000 on the highway.
I think you could run the 3.70 with a non OD trans and larger diameter rear tires, but I also think you would love the 3.70 and T170 combo. The only real downside is the 3.00 first gear ( compared to 2.54 first with a T10 wide ratio 4 speed.) Check my truck thread to see how I managed the T170 mount in a fairly stock frame.

 

@joel
Good info! Thanks for the suggestions and the link on the trans.
Bill

 

If u really get serious about the h20 overheating in a Flathead, here is something I will do on a serious build. Take a coat hanger(straighten in2 one long rod) make a true 90 degree bend on one end and sharpen the end of the short 90 to a very sharp dagger or point. Insert the pointed sharpened end in 2 the large holes where the h20 pumps would attach and DRAG the pointed end in2 the silt,dirt, and crap that has accumulated in the pan rail. Even after a machine shop SOAK, you will be surprised how much “schmegma” will be pulled out. Keep pulling out stuff until it comes clean and continually flush with water along the way. When u are satisfied it is clean, stand the empty block on its end and push it over with a heavy hand on an old piece of plywood getting more “schmegma” out of the pan rail area.I have had 8-9-10 hot rod fords(always strong flatheads) and have NEVER had a fan of any kind—mechanical or electrical. A mechanical fan takes 5-8 hp away from a not so powerful flathead. I have a very accurate S W water temp gauge and my motors(using stock radiators) will idle at 180-185 for a long time b4 starting to build heat. Get ‘‘em rolling at a few mph and the temp comes right back down. People at the shows always ask”where is your fan”— I tell them I don’t have one and they argue u have to have a fan—I tell them I haven’t run a fan in 60 years and they don’t believe me!! Flatheads Forever!!

 

Been gone for Christmas, but tested out the alt. mount and belt tension.
A new 45" OD. belt I had adjusts tight at 50% of the slot.
We'll see when I put it back on the test stand to check for any leaks and put some revs to it.


​

 

Will that alternator clear the front cross member or front fender brace? I couldn't figure a way to mount it down there. I have it just above the valve cover, but have to swing it out of the way to remove the valve cover and adjust the lifters.

 

@joel
Hmmm. Good point! I’ll double check, before I go any further. Thanks!

 

@joel
Back to the drawing board, i.e. a top mount.
Jitney Jake (if available), VintageAir, Alan Grove
Thanks for the heads up! Better now than after the engine’s in.

 

Decisions...decisions...decisions
Painted...


Edelbrock...


Cal Custom...

 

I like script best, followed by Cal custom, but which ever way you go, it is going to look great!

 

This is a short water pump, right.? Looks like the stock swp ps pump setup would fit right in there from the 60s?

 

@TomT. I threw in the towel and ordered a VA upper alt. mount for early SBC. Ran out of patience.