Technical Cured My Flathead’s Occasional Overheating (The Hard Way)!. Updated 1-6

Well, the forensic autopsy is complete.
It’s terminal.
Pulled the head today, and it wasn’t pretty.

#5 Huge hole in piston.

#6 burnt piston, rough wall at top.

#7 crack between valve and bore

#8 lots of deposits around valves and rough wall at top.

And an old crusty thermostat up in radiator hose elbow.


Lots of loose chunks and crud in water jackets.
From what I can determine, a shade tree rebuild by the son of the original owner.
Four owners since then.
Disappointed to say the least.
Time to move on.

 

Hey, that old flathead, lived a good long life and fought hard to the very end!
It's earned its rest.
I think the SBC 283 and a newer transmission is the way to go.

 

Bummer..

 

Try looking for V6, 4 speed Pinto and Bobcat S/W's. I've found a couple of 3.50ish gear sets in them, albeit it was several years ago.

 

Sorry, the paint on the end of the studs looks nice though.

 

HA! Always a bright side, right? At least all the nuts came off.
It is a shame though. The little motor ran good normally, just didn’t have the beans to pull the long hills around here with that 3.00 rear gear. Downshift to 2nd and the revs ran out and you chugged up the grade at 40 mph. It was a good flat land runner, though. RIP.

 

@hotrodA
If that old block is toast and not really viable as to be reused, I saw this great article, as to how this individual, made a table out of an old ford V-8 Flathead block, that he had powder coated and some other trick elements added to it. PM me if you want the full article on how he did it. That is glass being held down by the acorn nuts.

" Everything old, is new again "

Thanks from Dennis.

 

Hate to be an asshole…but sometimes I can’t help myself. The 1950’s solution would many times be a swap to the new kid on the block…SBC!

 

Heat generally helps stuck nuts come off, and you had plenty of heat!

 

Here's the candidate for the transplant.
'63 283. Came out of a Jeep pickup, even has the Hurst mount, for just $200.
Ran good at the time. (So did the FH, LOL)
Low HP, yeah, but an increase over the FH.
I have some Powerpak heads, C4B intake and all the rest of the bits needed.


I do have an 8BA, but can't make up my mind on it. More opportunities!

 

Some of those even had limited slip. Not found in the junkyards anymore though.

 

@ekimneirbo Good point. Thanks!
I'm going to do a comp check first. If that passes, swap out the heads for the Powerpaks. Check out the bottom end and new gaskets.
May crank it on a stand before I turn a wrench on it. Probably time well spent.
I did hear it run, in the Jeep, and it ran smooth and didn't overheat.
If it's borderline, then I'll go full tilt with the new 350 and auto.
We shall see.
Time is scarce if I want to keep on the pickup.
I'm tired just thinking about it.

 

Took a closer look today at the boat anchor.
Looks like it has thin wall sleeves in every hole.
Is that correct?

 

I’m also in the 283 camp. Even stock with a two barrel, it probably makes twice the Flathead horsepower. Hopefully you have upgraded the brakes?

 

Yup, it's been sleeved.
On the bright side.... it fought the good fight, and gave its all for you. The least you can do is give it a proper burial and pour a fifth of fine whiskey on its grave...... AFTER its passed through you!

 

Brakes are non-power discs up front and 10” drums on Maverick rear.

 

Hi Everyone ,

Many issues I spot them in a minute upon looking at all the science that's occured under the head and some of it has been occuring for awhile such as the pitting of the piston tops . Also the detonation at the accumulator areas ( top edges of the piston tops ) , and may I add not bad for a backyard build 4-5 owners ago . Has anyone lifted a head for inspection ? Seems unlikely or was passed on upon true findings perhaps perhaps perhaps .
I've done and still do and will continue to do Flatheads and I start by what is my pavement . Hills and long highway oh cool well I get an 8BA/8RT with the larger sump ( Flo's is huge deep sump with a long arm pickup ) I'm running both my Flatheads are 8RT and designing them to be Highway Stars . We got the technology today and yes you add a couple grand to a build but I'd rather shove my money in the guts instead of a fancy 3 deuce gas unit for starters . 8RT/8BA has oiler rods so more splash in the cavity and underside of piston . Yes yes yes your head is cooked and remember heat rises so if you like to put your 8BA in your 40 it's a grand idea put throw in the SBC for now and take your time and build the 8BA right by designing a Highway Star seems most of these flathead cam grinds and rebuild packages are for street and or strip not designed for highway pulling hills and that's why I'm designing my own flathead now and in this modern age highway roads are more demanding than they were 40 years ago when all these pistons and coolant systems and cam grinds were designed . So like I said throw in an SBC and take your sweet time and build up the 8BA in right fashion and check out new technology for coolant systems we got Flatheads running at 120 to 150 out here and you may find your having to update your cooling system in some way or another to accommodate the SBC .
Well good luck and keep your foot in it

 

Thanks for the sage advice, @Flathead Freddie.
I have a 40 radiator for SBC, Hurst and/or CE mounts, Cragar adapter, correct pressure plate, so it won’t be a stretch, just a time sucker.
I experienced the occasional over heating (220) ever since I got this car back in 2019. Stop, cool,off, and add water and motor on.
I searched and searched for a cause, to no avail. No visible leaks, no bubbles in the coolant, nothing out the tailpipe, new pumps, always ran great. Checked for t-stats, there were none, but somehow missed that old one wedged up in the hose. That and the block crack on #7 were probably the initial culprits. Every overheating event added to the current demise.

“Remain calm and carry on.”

 

Don't you have a truck to build?

 

I think you've written my story (Clarence; the avatar).

• bought in '73
• drove with the original flathead 'til '92
• replaced flathead with '66 283 that had been in my family since new; replaced rings and bearings and drove the snot out of it 'til '16
• had non-power front disks; 8" Mustang rear with drums; T350
• replaced now tired 283 with GM crate 350 in '16; rebuilt the T350 and 8" rear at that time; all new brake parts

Never once did I regret replacing the flat motor with a sbc.

 

HA! And to top it off, my old faithful OT daily driver 99 farm pickup with 250K started to miss today.
Fuel? Ignition? Getting ready to blow another spark plug out the head? When will it end?

“Stay calm and carry on”

 

"If you build it, the SBC's will come" Field of A-beams"
"A time to cast away flatheads, a time to gather small blocks together" the HAMB Bible
"It's a small block world after all..." Irritating Disneyland Ride
"Chevy, the final frontier. These are the voyages of the small block Chevy. To seek out strange new cruise ins, to boringly go where everyone has gone before" - J.T. Kirk
"this is not the engine you've been looking for" O.W. Kenobi
"All the kings horses and all the kings men couldn't put that flathead back together again" Humpty's mechanic
"Build back better"- no one, I made that one up. Replace it with one that works

 

looks to me it was well past rebuild time a while back, if it has 8 cylinder sleeve's , rebuild it or give it to someone who will.

 

HA!
He’ll be here all week, folks! Straight from Vegas, the Catskills, Miami Beach and Dubuque!
He’s got a million of ‘em. Let’s hear it for BANDIT BILLY! Remember to tip your waitress.

My fav: “All the kings horses and all the kings men couldn't put that flathead back together again"

THANKS for pulling a smile outta me

 

Well, the executive decision has been made, and that is to use the 283 and adapt it to the existing open drive trans. After an inventory check, it looks like all I need to buy is the Speedway supplied pilot bushing and the usual radiator hoses. I have a set of 265 exhaust manifolds that will make the pipe routing around the box easy. Think that would give it an early vibe, along with some script VC’s.
I know that there are other manifolds that will work, but I don’t have them, only ram’s horns. Dorman sells new that C-10 right side that is used on the left side to clear the box, also the left side early Chevelle piece that works. While I’m in there, it will get a new Borgeson 525 16:1 box. Final exhaust decision will be made after the box install.
I have a 40 radiator that is converted to SBC, boiled out, and has the top tank reinforced and pressure tested.
Right now I’m in the midst of converting an engine cart to a test stand. Need to check out the 283 for compression, cooling and oil pressure and if that’s all good, new gaskets and a carb kit.

So, do I stay the course on this toe stubber, or park it and get back on the 41 pickup?

TAKE THE POLL AT THE TOP PLEASE

 

This ol girl has a 305 SBC, Wilcap adapter, 50 Merc pressure plate with a stock 39 Trans and a banjo. I love it because it still drives like an old Ford, but has more power and reliability, and parts are readily available. Do the 283 and don’t look back.

 

HotrodA ,
I think you will be fine with the SBC,,,,,,they are great engines .
It’s kind of obvious that you really want that all along ,,,,,,so go for it .

However,,,,,,I didn’t really see any terminal damage to that Flathead .
Yeah,,,,it will need an over bore from what it is now,,,,,,but after a good tear down and cleaning,,,,,it might be okay after a very professional hone and new pistons .
They are not making any new blocks yet,,,,,,,be a shame to scrap it .
And that small crack can be pinned and should be good to go .

That’s an interesting poll you have there,,,,,,model trains are fun !
Lol .

Tommy

 

Honestly... it could be okay, do an autopsy before calling it unfixable, if you cant fix it, i would get either another flattie or a Y block/FE

Edit: Didnt notice the second page... thats not a healthy engine at all...

 

This is a thread about the saga of your 40 coupe, which you obviously drive. Make it a driver. Everybody needs a hooptie. Make it run by August, and then go back to the pickup. You don't need a model railroad, you have toys. You already started. Keep going.

 

Poll seems simple to me. Get this running by August, enjoy it and make the Hemi project pickup be a winter project. Unless, you can get the ‘41 running on the road satisfactorily by August