Technical Flathead interchange question

Are 59/59A and 8BA crank pulleys interchangeable? Not interested in all the wide belt, narrow belt, one pulley, two pulley challenges. Just the way they fit the seal and the crank. Thanks

 

Yes I fitted a 8BA crank in my 59AB and used the 59AB crank pully.

 

The 8ba pulley uses a sleeve pressed on the crank for the seal, the 59 pulley is one piece.

 

All '39-53 long crank stuff interchanges.
Actually, three flavors, each with numerous variants, all usable on all '39-53.
'39-48
'49...all, truck, passenger, Merc...seal part is integral with pulley like earlier
About '50-53, the little sleeve is separate.

(an edit...when interchanging all types fit all cranks from '39, but remember the inboard pulley sheave is considerably farther out from the block on '49 up engines so whatever pulley you choose must be used with waterpumps of the same family. Pumps can also be interchanged between generations with minor mods, but if you want to use early setup to shorten a late engine for better fit in a hotrod you need to add in early ignition and cam)



Long ago in a dark, cold, and really dark garage I spent most of the day trying to install a '49 truck pulley on a '52 engine. Boy, was I pissed when I discovered the seal ring that had been lurking just out of sight until I ripped off the front cover to explore my problem...

 

Great information. Thanks

 

Are 255 merc engines only in cars or trucks also?

 

Cars only, BUT most surviving flatheads by now are mixtures of parts and many Ford ones picked up 4" cranks during their history. They can turn up anywhere as the swap has been known for a looooong time now, and I would guess truck owners realized the benefit of a cheap swap at rebuild time as early as hotrodders did.

 

Lots of 255's in Canadian Merc trucks. I have a shed full of 'em!

 

I'd like to ask another related question. On many crank pulleys the seal register area is very worn. Has anyone had any luck in hardsurfacing or otherwise repairing this area? Of course turning/grinding the area after resurfacing would be necessary. I grabbed a pulley to use as an example. Not offering it up as flathead or even Ford...just an example of the area I'm talking about.

 

You can get sleeves to press on after the surface has been turned down slightly. One of the oil seal companies sells them, C/R, I think.

 

Speedi sleeve all bearing suppliers sell them, if you are going to use the new 1 piece lip seal instead of the old rope seal you will need to install one.

 

Exactly what I wanted to know. Just trying to learn a little about flatheads since I have crossed over to that side of the hobby for a while. Thanks!

 

there is just so much to learn about these old flatheads....I dont think ill ever get it all...

 

Link to Speedi sleeve

https://www.google.com.au/search?q=...&ei=2s-qUtKUA8OMrQeZzYDIDA&sqi=2&ved=0CDUQsAQ