Hello, I wish I had a photo of my reliable Flathead motor that was in my first official purchase of a teenage hot rod. But, that motor was very reliable and for the years I owned the 1940 Ford Sedan Delivery from 1960 to 65, it was the nicest running motor and gave me no trouble, other than putting in some oil. Although it did not burn oil, leak oil or show any signs anywhere of a leak or two. All of the mechanics local and our expert in Los Angeles checked the whole motor/trans combo and said they were in outstanding mechanical shape and had no leaks. They also suggested that if the oil addition after miles of driving was a bother, to rebuild the whole motor and then start from scratch. We had no money for a rebuild and new parts, so we continued to have 1000s of happy miles of fun driving up and down the So Cal coastline surf spots. The only thing the Flathead powered sedan delivery could not do was to go up into the local popular mountain cities/lakes/camping areas due to being under powered. It had no chance of getting up those steep roads to the higher elevations of 6,000 to 8,000 feet. It was not the elevation, but the steep roads to get there. It was just a lack of power coming from the stock Flathead motor. Hop up? Of course, Reath Automotive had a bored and stroked Flathead motor with 3 carbs sitting in their shop. They told me that my stock Flathead could have the same horsepower and make it fast if I wanted to spend some cash... which was a rarity at the time. If I traded in my stock flathead plus cash, I could have the bored/stroked 3 carb motor running smoothly in my 40 Ford Sedan Delivery. HA! Then, it would not have been at the bottom of the "Cherry Avenue Drags" scene when funny things happened during our Friday/Saturday night escapades after the countless surf movies in So Cal. Yikes! Jnaki But, point me in a direction on flat land and I would have driven across state lines to get somewhere, like the original surfing wave park in Arizona back then. The many miles of coastal roads were the most fun for a teenager surfer/camper and cruiser. The mostly sea level roads were easily handled. But we had to plan our trips if we knew there were alternate routes on level land. Luckily, it was a lack of power that was the problem. We endured the slow first gear climb in the slow lane, backing up traffic near several popular surf spots. But, it was not fun. A lack of money prevented us from more horsepower additions to the Flathead or an SBC motor in its place. The sedan delivery originally came to the cruising scene with a powerful 348 Chevy motor and that had lots of power for anything… but, it was costly. I bought the same sedan delivery minus the 348 and a flathead was installed for my low price offer. So goes the trials and tribulations of a low key, no money teenager’s escapades of having fun and a ton of excitement in those early days. For the amount of total miles up and down the So Cal coastline countless times for the search of excellent waves, I could have gone to the East coast and back a few times... If anyone was one Highway One or PCH from 1960 to 1965, it was a daily happening to see the "Salmon Pink" flathead powered, 1940 Ford Sedan Delivery parked on any of the top surf spots along the So Cal coast, or cruising down to the San Diego region to taste the new surrounding of great waves, too. But, the lack of pure horsepower was a no brainer after 1965. A 300 hp 327 in our 1965 Red El Camino was the power road trip car for the next 11 years... 125K miles !!! No more flatheads for us after that sedan delivery and even to today’s next purchase… YRMV
I know the thread was about dependability (I think) but took a slight turn I’m the guy who drives on the freeway, anywhere actually, and or just above the speed limit. Some of you may have been behind me in a 65mph zone riding my tailgate to make me go faster. I won’t. I don’t do it to piss anyone off, I do it to be safe. I guess if I get “run over”, well, fine. Maybe both of us will wind up ****ed up, but you’ll be paying for my angst
The Jalopy Journal
