I want a flathead, am I crazy??

I am in the process of building my first hot rod, a 1930 Model A coupe. Right now the car is in pieces in my garage, awaiting fuel tank and engine/radiator choice.

I want it to look pre '60's. I have a SBC waiting for me and the goal was to make it look like it came off a '57 Chevy.

I have a '36 banjo rearend that I want to convert to a quickchange down the road. I realize that this rearend is not a very good choice for the SBC.
But I like the way they look.

I have a T5 tranny. I went this route because no ones going to see it.

I have a '32 frame.

The problem is that I met Vern Tardel a few months ago and he changed my way of thinking about "traditional" hot rods. Very cool dude by the way. He called me a "waffler" one who flip-flops. I am a waffler.........

I love the way the flatheads look. But I've never wrenched on one and I am a rookie builder.

I have owned a few SBC's.

With my lack of experience and low budget, would I be crazy for thinking of putting a flathead in my car?

To me a Model A on '32 rails with a flathead is the coolest looking hot rod there is.

Like Ryan's.

If there is anyone in the Santa Cruz Ca area that would like to give me some pointer's, I'm all ears.

Thanks!

Waffler

 

Yes your crazy! Come and join the rest of us crazy flathead owners. We're nice, really we are!

 

Is there a place to sign up, or do I just keep drooling?

 

You are ABSOLUTELY out of your frigging mind! Flatheads are only for people who want to spend a lot of money to go real slow and think they look cool but are just kidding themselves. OHV ALL THE WAY!! The only good flathead is the one I just replaced with a SBC.

 

anybody can run a sbc. real men run the flatty!!!!!

 

Personally i think that flat heads are pretty gnarly looking, i like them. But I beleive that small block FORDS are where its at! recently built a 400 ford long block thats absolutely mean! 302's are also one of my favorites, theres SOOO much you can do to them. But of course, everyone has their own opinions.

 

Flathead FTW!

 

no, you are not crazy, not even misguided. Your budget, your ability and your desire for what you want should be your guide. Like the TV ad says, "when you turn your car on, does it turn you on?"

 

I'll run my sbc against your flatty any day.

 

Hey, WannaB how's it going?

 

I'll be getting mine back from being rebuilt soon and I can't wait!!!!

 

Gearheadbill, you just wrote exaclty what a friend of mine is telling me.
I have to respect his judgement he has built a lot of cars and pretty much hates flattys.

He's telling me if I want to do something different and stay '50's maybe a Nailhead would be a good option.

There........I just waffled again

 

Good Scott, Thanks.

Vern IS the coolest.

Run the flathead, you can always "upgrade" later... Or sell it to me!

We need a traditional A Roadster around here. Just do it.

Lance

 

I have a personal reason not to use a Ford flathead V8: there's nothing you can do to it that hasn't been done already; the only questions are decor and budget.

The Pontiac 239 owner (other post) will be breaking new ground, spending less money (because no priceless antiques, or horribly expensive billet bling is available), have something very personal, and advance the sport by assisting future owners. The Pontiac also might produce some serious power if the owner wishes to invest his time & money.

Yes, I have a H-D flathead, rather than a knucklehead - for the same reason. I made or designed every piece of speed equipment on it (except the ignition).

 

Depends on what you want, and how much effort you want to put in to do it. I've got plenty of wrenching experience, but never took a flathead apart in my life. I've now got 3 of 'em in my garage. And now lots more books.

My opinion... A Model A with a flathead Ford V8 is where it's at. There is absolutely no other choice. ('cept maybe a hopped up orig. banger)

Pete

 

If you want a flatty, build a flatty. They are a 70+ year old design. There isnt much to them. If you can wrench a SBC, theres nothing to say you cant build a flathead. Since you are on a tight budget, i would advise hitting the HAMB marketplace, ebay, or even local salvage yards or barns (etc.) to find a decent engine for a block. If you only payed 50 or 100 buck its probably stuck. Push out the pistons, get it boiled out and magnafluxed. Get it bored by a machinist to anywhere from 20 thousands up to over an eight inch depending on what you want. Also, while its at the machinist, you probably will want new hard valve seats installed for todays fuel. These can be gotten from speedway motors very reasonably. You can use the stock crank (may need freshened up) and buy new rods and pistons. Use an aftermarket intake. Offenhauser, edelbrock, eddie meyers-- once again, your choice. One place you don't want to skimp is water pumps. Do yourself a BIG favor and get new water pumps from speedway motors. They have ceramic seals and sealed bearings along with high flow impellers. The originals were a far cry from adequate. This can probably all be reasonably done for $2000 or less if you are in the right circles. Buy a book or two on the subject. This book i recommend. GOOD LUCK!!! http://www.amazon.com/Ford-Flathead-New-Frank-Oddo/dp/1931128111/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

 

I had the same choice. Went with the flathead and did not look back. Old Small blocks look cool . But a hood and fenderless rod with a big ol flattie or hemi , thats the stuff.

 

I bought a complete (pan to air cleaner) 283 a while back for $300 thinking that I'd probably have to rebuild it. We changed the oil/filter, put it new plugs and put it on a test stand. It fired right up, ran cool with good oil pressure and no leaks. So now I have a ready to go hot rod mill for $300. I doubt that you could do that with a flathead.

 

Yes! I always wanted one and got one, but for MY purpose, it was not the right fit. I wanted a driver in 108 degree heat to 40 degree weather and it just did not work in my 40 sedan. I love their sound, their look and their place in history, but not for my application. Love/hate relatsionship!!!!!! GO for it!

 

get a bit more crazy and hop up a 4 banger!

 

Overhead valve motors are just a passing fad.......

 

Flatheads are the coolest motor ever .

 

try looking for a decent priced tosser.. meaning one you know runs but you dont know much about it, if anything at all. i have found these are the best. keep oil in them and dont beat the living shit out of it, you will be very surprised with the durability. i would suggest 48 and earlier but thats an opinion. as for the T-5, i have no comment.

 

Fifteen years ago, I told Flathead Jack that all of my friends told me I should put a SBC in my '37. He said, "Get new friends". Never looked back.

 

and can beat a lot of those silly looking valve covered motors
http://s31.photobucket.com/albums/c371/chonga311/?action=view&current=RaceWeek2232008013.flv

http://s8.photobucket.com/albums/a48/stratosfear1313/texas%20thaw%2008/TTvid/?action=view&current=Picture461.flv

 

I like that

 

If your crazy than i'm crazy cause i'm in the same boat with the same project with a low budget and have been thinking about one... I think I need a ride in a flathead powered hotrod to inspire me to save and do it 'right'..

 

Bottem line it is your car and your Dollar. You do what you what and dont worry about what everyone else has to say. I own 3 flathead motors all of them 1950 Merc 255. I love the look and sound of a good Flatty.

You build you car with a Flatty and put it in a show and the car right next to yours is the same, but they have a mouse under the hood and you have a Faltty. You are going to win hands down, I have seen it a hundred times.

Do what you want, if they want to pay for your build then they can put in their two cents!!!

Ronnie

 

Hey J Ripper,

You have a point there. If I'm going to go for all the fuss of keeping the car "traditional" I might as well go all the way and do the '39 tranny too.

The original goal for this car is to make it look like it just came out of a garage in the '50s.

I dont care about horsepower for this project, just the look and feel of how they did it back in the day.

When I talk to some people in my area about the H.P. issue, they just dont get it. If I want HP I would build a muscle car or something.

Options:

SBC, done many times, and for a good reason
Nailhead
Caddy
Hemi, big and heavy
Olds

 

not about how fast you go its how good you look doing it