Flathead Jack Is A Crook!

Hmm, maybe the Nazis smuggled in a Liquimatic to sabotage the thinking of European engineers... I had a Motor Repair Manual that showed the design of that thing. No wonder Ford didn't revisit the automatic 'til '51- unless you count buying from GM for the Lincoln, now that's desperation.

 

I will say this once again. The slanted starter plate goes with the FULL stamped steel bell housing. This bell housing goes all the way from the back of an 8BA to the front of a late model transmission. I believe it was used on 1951 passenger cars and maybe other years. It is NOT the same thing as the partial stamped steel bell housing used in '49-'51 Mercs. I couldn't remember whether the slanted plate went with the partial stamped steel Merc bell housing or not, but Bruce has confirmed that it does not. The mating surface of the stamped full bell housing angles away from the engine below the block mounting surface. The angled starter plate compensates for this. Presuming Bruce is right about the Mercury partial bell housing, and I have never found Bruce to be wrong, then there is no way the angled starter plate can go with anything on the Flat-O-Matic conversion since neither of the partial bell housings match the angled starter plate.

If you want to see a picture, look in the Ford Passenger Car Shop Manual, 1949-1950-1951 on page 31. You can clearly see the angle in the engine drawing on the left hand side of the page. I don't have time to scan it right now, but I will if necessary.

(Edited to reflect the correct years. Can't type in a hurry!)

 

sounds like a great topic for a tech dah dah dah...
Keeping the ball in the air on Jack. He's expesive, but my experience is that the product is better than average. He's accessable and will talk for as long as you need him too, he will tell you anything you want to know weather you buy from him or not. If you visit his shop, and I have, he will walk you through, chat up a storm, and pop the hood on the Merc. He gave me a tee shirt....his book has a lot of great tips for flathead dudes.....really
One bad experience doesnt necessarily make him a crook.

 

According to Flat-o-matic installation instructions (I have used two Flat-o-matic C4 adaptors) ....

"There are four different starter mounting plates. To check for a correct one, place on a flat surface (trans side DOWN) and measure from the starter mounting surface around the starter opening to the flat surface. The starter mount face MUST be the same distance to the flat surface ALL the way around the opening." "If the distances are different, DO NOT USE!"

 

damned "asshole" hambers!

you know i bet the goober on here who started this thread talked to "flatdick jack" just like he talks on here.

btw: hotrods are supposed to be purchased complete and driven tenderly. everything that must be purchased is supposed to be picked up in a box neatly packaged and bolts right on...all parts are to be clean, presentable, and free from any oil or grime.

 

Flathead starter plates, almost the FINAL WORD; somebody fill in the missing info:

51 Fordomatic/Mercomatic Use ONLY with aluminum housing Part 1M7991-A
51-3 Fordomatic/Mercomatic Use ONLY with cast iron housing Part 1M7991-B
49-51 Ford Part 8BA 6366-B
52-53 Ford & Merc Part EAB 6366-A

There are 3 others which I dont have part # on.

49-51 Merc stick shift
48-52 truck with full cast iron adapter ring; 6366 series
53 truck uses the half bell. I believe this was only on the F100; 6366 series

This offers us 7 different possibilities of which at least 4 are uniques

Sources I used:

49-53 Passenger Car Chassis Parts Catalog
48-56 Light Truck Chassis Parts Catalog (missing some critical pages!)

 

well thats what you get for using a ford flathead instead of a sbc.

 

It amazes me of the statements that so many have without the direct experience! All I can say is, thanks to those who supported my effort to educate.


Cheers, Lucky

 

Forget Flathead Jack for a minute...did you identify and correct your problem with the starter?
Lots of info here to work from, and then a decision can be made over where the mistakes lie.
IF it turns out FJ sent you incorrect parts you now should have enough specialized information to argue your case with him or the courts...or whomever!!! (once you identify the problem)

The car should be the point of focus...NOT blind acceptance of your statement about Flathead Jack.
There's no business in the world SOMEONE doesn't think are a bunch of crooks...

 

What about the effort to "be educated"?

 

My direct experience with Flathead Jack has always been positive. I usually don't order much from him because I consider his prices to be way too high, but that's another issue. He will talk to you and help with any problems you may have (like the soft lifters that I got from HR&CS) and will help trouble shoot. I suppose that if you gave him a hard time he could get grouchy; that could very well be.

pigpen


"You better stay away from that guy.....he's.... grouchy."
(Tommy Jones in Men in Black)

 

well i dont know about your current situation with that part, but i have bought from him for years, talked to Jack on the phone several times for help and he has always come through for me,hell i even talked to him one day as he was riding down the street in his Merc. He has never been egotistical with me , and always helpfull. He ships quick, and every part ive ever got has been primo......and fit right......guess sh.t happens

 

Thanks for the useful tech info; lots of knowledge free for the taking.
Steele

 

I personally know Jack he is a good guy im sure you may have been a P--ck on the phone with him and he was done with you,

Jack is the man! he's probably forgotten more than allot of us know about Flat heads and on top of that he's held many top speed records with flat heads and Hemi's I believe.

Just like RF said educate your self.

P.S Always remember be "smarter than what you are working on"
Later!!

 

it has been hashed out here on the hamb in the past. Anyone that lives in the east bay area knows that Jack is the biggest**** god ever created. I lived 2 miles from his shop for 10 yrs and never seen him at a local show ever!!! He is a self proclaimed flatty guru and he is so arogant he belives his***** smells like flowers. His only saving grace is mail order and the*****ers that havent heard of his reputation. if he had to live on service and integraty like most people he would have been done yrs ago

 

P.S Always remember be "smarter than what you are working on"
Later!! That is the very reason I had to give up bowling.

 

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14088&highlight=flathead+jack

 

Have been dealing with him for many years....Never a problem as I never challenge him. He is sharp & have helped many times. In my book..a straight up good guy unless you abuse him.