flat head ????

hi found this locally and was wondering what is worth , i might buy it but dont know what it's worth or if parts are available ,
any info appreciated thanks Joe

((1946-48 Ford flathead 100HP. V8. '59 motor w/A heads. Motor free moving, coupled to 1936 Ford 3 sp. transmission/))

 

I saw that one too. Parts are plenty available for that one. I'm wondering if "Aheads" are aluminum? I wouldn't give much over $100 or so if you can't pull the heads first. If you call him find out about the "other parts" you didn't list

Bill

 

Pulll the heads and drop the pan if the owner will allow. Otherwise i agree 100 for the engine and 50 for the tranny.

 

hi I dont know much about these engines what should i look for when pulling heads and pan / thanks Joe

 

"A" heads usually means one of the several variants of 81A head ('38-42), usually marked only with an "A" to distinguish them from the commercial heads.

 

List is not nessesary complete:

- Corrossion on aluminum heads, if that's what it has
- Cracks on deck, around valveseats, ports etc.
- Cylinder condition
- Cracks around main journals - crank bearings
- Look for ajustable tappets if you remove the intake.. It will encrease it's value.
-

You don't have to look hard for the grime, though. It will be easy detectable.

Fill in on the list fellas.

Good luck
Paul

 

I also have a 59a 24 stud flathead with "A" heads that came out of a '36 sedan. The guy I got the motor from said that it may have been a factory replacement motor and maybe a 221 c.i. not 239 c.i. I have not measured the bore so I don't know of yet what the c.i. is. It has good compression and does run good. Is it possilbe these could be 221's?

 

The late catalogs list a "41A" engine as a universal 221 replacement, and list various brackets and pipes to help fit the early applications. As far as I can tell, this replacement counter crate engine is a 59 block cast with smaller cylinder castings (that is, smaller outer diameter too) but with the "59" designation still on the bell. There are few of these engines around--99.9% of 59's you see will be real 239.

 

So what you are saying is that if it's a 59 block and 221 c.i. 24 stud, don't try to bore it to 239 because of the cylinder wall thickness. Am I thinking right? Are these good motors?

 

The 41A's are just about like prewar 221's in thickness, apparently. They can be bored to 239 bore, but not much beyond. Bore castings were adjusted to actual bore, not left at regular 59 diameter. Such a 59-41A is rare, and if your engine says 59 it is MUCH more likely to be a 239 than a 221.

 

hi thanks for all your help , he emailed me back and said he wants $1500 for the motor and trans , little steep for me thanks joe

 

Holy smokes! was the motor just rebuilt or something or is he just retarded?

Bill

 

I think the '36 tranny is a crash box and probably not worth much. But the case does have some value as it can have later guts put in.