Hot Rods Flatheads, love em or leave em?

Can't have too many flattys,I only have 4.

 

My dad has one in his 51 Vicky with the stock drive line, also has the overdrive. It will run 65 mile an hour all day. 30 years ago it had an overheating problem, punched louvers in the hood--problem solved. 15 years ago, it started to smoke a little. If the motor showed any evidence of being not good, it would be history. Tore it down and rebuilt it. He wanted to put a 302 in it badly, The block was good, so it stayed. He runs a 3 duce manifold, only one carb is hooked up. Very, very few people notice that.

 

Put a 52 merc flathead in my 32 when I was building it. Everybody thought I was crazy. Finished the coupe this past spring and put over 5800 miles on it this summer. Totaly trouble free and it ran perfect. I love the way it sounds and runs. I put an s-10 5 speed behind it, only way to go. Everywhere I take it everyone likes the looks of the flathead.

 

Exactly. Like one starving doberman pinscher saying to another "Listen, I know that's a raw steak he's dangling in front of us, but really, ignore it. Just pretend it's not there, woof, woof...."

 

I ran a flathead for years and have hated them with a passion for 49 years. Recently my Crestliner has begun blowing steam out the tailpipe and I am sure its cracked between the bore and valve seat. The traditional solution is a SBC but I have not decided yet since I have 2 deuces, aluminum heads and the modern distributor for it.

 

If I intended to drive coast to coast I would not try to pull too much horsepower beyond what Henry intended for it. Given that they should not have any problems.

Charlie Stephens

 

Flatheads Forever! Take them and use the good one.

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I have four of them (three 8BA and one merc) on stands lined up in my shop right now. A few years ago I needed a standard bore 350 SBC block for my daily driver, I played hell trying to find one, just because I needed one. After that I vowed to hoard all the buildable motors that were offered to me for free or nearly free. The flathead guys in Oregon told me they will give $500 ea for usable cores.

 

If it was buttoned up (plugs, carb) and running recently, there's a good chance it'll still run. I've had old guys tell me to throw flatty's like that on an old tire and start them

Out my way, a "runner" like that would run you about a grand (running).

 

I love flatheads! Just not those worthless Ford ones........

 

Grab em! Ive got 18 of em around here,if they turn over,theyll run! Some better than others!


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The only problem you can have with a flathead that you can't have with a valve in head is that you can't "drop" a valve.

its just a motor, albeit a little under powered, but it is still just a motor. if it is in decent shape there is no reason not to drive it any place you would like to drive it. If it is wore slap out, and ill maintained it will also leave you just like any other motor.

 

In 49 Merc went with the 4 inch crank. I think your title page answers your question. Flatheads. Love them or leave them for someone who does.

 

building a car with a flathead at the moment but keeping an eye out for the sbc adapter kits and a nice early version of the overhead.

 

Anytime you can get that stuff for free TAKE IT!

 

The Drag-N-Fly needs a new bullet! Flathead!

 

'52 8CM, .030 over, Isky cam, Edelbrock heads, 97s on an Edelbrock intake. Mallory electronic distributor, B-W T5 w/hydraulic clutch, 3.70 9", 65 MPH at 1800 RPM!!! What's not to love??

 

I only flat.

 

I can say that cuz I have 2 flathead powered cars, an over-built 276 8BA and a whole pile of other Mercury xtra engines. If memory serves me, I even gave you one. GET OUT IN THE GARAGE.

 

The weakest link on a flathead is the stock ignition. The cams are gear driven, less amount of moving parts in the valvetrain, overall simple. Mine has been running 10 years with one "breakdown"...the hot wire came off of the ballast resistor, put it back on and continued on. my way

 

I've had two flatheads over the years and wasn't happy over the power they produced. I'll leave em.

Gary

 

I've had flatheads since 1955. Built some 'ultimates', (2, a 304" and a 316") and a couple of 296" ("3/8 X 3/8") then a few 5/16" X 1/4s. (274") Some 'stockers', but always with mild cam and aluminum timing gear.
In 1962, I swore the 274" was my last, when I pulled it out of my '46 Coupe for my Reath Hemi!
Then I built one more, in 1980. (nice 3/8" by 3/8", to go in my '27 Hiboy.
Now, I have ONE MORE! Best bud Larry gave me a '48 59A block, factory relief, NICE .040 over, recent rebuild. DELTA grind (Winfield SU-1A) cam, two 94s, 59 AB heads. Mild, dependable.
I have 4 more, too...'stored'. Just in case.
Flathead fever? Recurring, methinks.

 

If I had the space, I'd grab them for trading stock. I had a flathead powered car once...everything the HAMB says to do to build a reliable one was done...they're not for me. I'm far too much of a cheapskate to overpay for less than average performance... That doesn't mean that other people won't pay good money for them though...so, Free flatties=free money...

 

Roothawg, my guess is from your other posts, you aren't really a flatty guy, and neither am I. How does the thought of spending $5000+ on a motor that gets its ass handed to it by your neighbours SUV sound, exciting? Thought not...
If you do take 'em, take 'em all. You will be lucky if one of the four isn't cracked all to hell.

 

I'd take 'em...And trade 'em to some fool with a 331 Chrysler that wants to be more "trad". Good trading stock, like others have said.

 

Hot rod hero in an s10 pu.

 

You can leave the damn things.........right on my doorstep, thank you.

 

Take them Root! Put the best one in your 36 pickup. Not fast, but fun.

 

I have a little space in Washington state for them if you need storage !
I have a 52 Merc flathead in my 34 5-window coupe, stock except for 2-94's, headers, and truck water pumps.
It's a blast! Bolted it up to a t-5 and can cruise down the road 75.
BTW flatheads like straight pipes!!!

 

I put a MSD box on mine and it's been trouble free for close to 15 years no problems and it will keep up with freeway traffic.