Hot Rods Just noticed this last night.

Yeah, maybe a good machine shop could fix that, but I still think you did the right thing but getting the premo virgin engine to replace it. Maybe someone on the HAMB would buy it off you as is, seeing all the goodies on it and get it fixed (or not..) If you're like me if I attempted to fix it and was successful I would think I wasted money on the better engine. If I was unsuccessful I would think I was stupid for wasting money on the repair! I would sell it and not look back. Of course then if the buyer got it fixed he would probably make sure you knew about it and rub your nose in it! Seems human nature....

 

I defiantly won't think I wasted my money on the new motor if I fix the old one. After selling the transmission to my friend for $500 (which is a great deal) I'm only into the engine for $1500. Totally worth it. Now I'm debating repairing the old engine first for the education I'll get. Second for a spare and third for the fun. I've seen a couple blocks for around $200 each but the work they probably need I think will cost more than fixing my old one. So my plan is to strip down mine and bring it to a shop and see what they say. Then I'll go from there.

 

So my guess was pretty close. I didn't think about the cam bearings though. Thanks.

 

I have seen that R&D video and bunch more. They have some great info on them. Thanks for showing me the tools also.

 

Just checked out this sight. It does look like a great read.

 

One of my favorite sayings is : Knowledge is of little use until experience has given it meaning.
You are learning and gaining experience and thats worth the investment because it will help you in innumerable ways later on. Knowledge can be free, but experience requires an investment in time and often money. When my son was young and we disagreed on some-thing I would ask him if he feels he knows more now than he did when he was "X" years old. Then he would usually respect my age and experience.
As I have aged, I now find I often ask his opinion ..........because I forgot.

 

Just bear in mind the stuff discussed in the above mentioned page is geared toward dirt roundy cars. A lot of it is relevant but a good street motor is a lot different. Just my 2 cents.

 

After reading a bunch on the Flathead History sight I tend to agree. A lot of what I read was trying to get better performance at high RPM's and for racing that's great but for me just blasting around town I'm more interested in low end torque and drivability. So I can appreciate your 2 cents. I don't know if you saw but when I removed the carbs 2 of them were blocked off. I've been watching the Charlie Price videos and I'm going to rebuild them. You had told me a bunch about setting them up and what to do with the secondaries. Could you PM me with that info again because I forgot. I had information overload. Thanks.

 

I am gaining a lot of experience lately and spending a few bucks also. The knowledge I'm getting on here for free I appreciate very much. The response to this thread has been amazing.

 

Just watched the "Star Spangled Banner" video. Very inspiring. Thank you. "U.S.A."FOREVER!

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaxGNQE5ZLA For any one that didn't understand my last post about the Star Spangled Banner video. Check this out.

 

I think most everyone who grew up saying the "Pledge of Allegiance" thinks they understand the words to the National Anthem......but till they watch this video they really don't understand the true meaning . Glad you liked it!

 

Never liked history as a kid but as an adult I've really learned to appreciate it. Watched "The Patriot" with Mel Gibson this morning before work. Great movie.

 

All that matters is that you're having fun brother! One of my buddies is constantly giving me a hard time about SBC engines, but I've been a Chevy guy my whole life, doesn't mean I'm not into anything else, but Chevy is my choice, and I'm not an LS fan, good motor, but i like valve covers lol. He is always building flatheads and model A stuff, i give him hell all the time saying "if that was a good design, they'd still build em like that" lol

 

Oh I'll agree they make better power, i think edelbrock advertises 415 at the flywheel with their cam, intake and the msd cylinder controller, but I've not caught on lol. I'm middle school i guess

 

I have am LS2 in my '36. You would not know it if the hood was closed
There is nothing like it for reliability and horse power.

 

Definitely not junk, very dependable and powerful. There are diehard flathead guys, diehard LS guys, diehard nailhead guys...etc, I'm a small block Chevy guy

 

I like their performance myself, but if yall don't get off that subject real quick, I can safely predict the demise of this thread.

 

Ok well back on topic, if it was me, I'd make a template to bolt on top of the block, or find an old head to bolt on there to keep the drill bit centered, and drill that thing out. If it's not gonna survive and you have a replacement block already, at least it's worth a try! Remember your speech about my steering column??? Takes a man to stick a drill in there lol. And it's ok to mess it up if you're trying to fix it!

 

I don't think I'm a diehard for anything. Given the right price or the next thing that catches my fancy everything is for sale. I've had so many small block Chevy's I feel the need to try something different. So I'm all over the map right now with a Flathead in my Ford a LS in my C10 and a 389 in my Pontiac. Although I'd like to sell the Catalina. Who knows what's next.

 

I heard that man, variety is the spice of life have you ever used these inserts?

 

Sorry to get of topic I'll try to stay on point. I get carried away. Thanks for steering me in the right direction.

 

I haven't but I think I might need to use Big Serts in the hole because it's so messed up. At least from what I can see the stud isn't broken off in the hole so I don't have to deal with that. I'll let the machine shop deal with it. My main goal now is get the new motor in.

 

The main reason for wanting a machine shop doing it is the hole is so messed up that I need someone that can make sure it's drilled straight and in the right place. Plus the weld they did to repair the crack to the valve is so bad I think It's still leaking antifreeze into the valve. You can tell by the way the valve has been steam cleaned. I'm hoping it just had a bad seal at the gasket. The Big Sert should take care of it though.

 

So I want to apologize to everyone for posting off topic unrelated and non traditional info on here It was just deleted. I will be more careful.

 

What's the head nut torque specs on that flathead?

 

Found these very helpful.

 

That's a great picture of the trouble spot. It looks to me like the hole has been enlarged, then one side welded up, giving an oversized, crescent shaped cavity.

I don't think there's enough room, but if there is, a good way to fix this would be to properly mount this block in a milling machine, and using a suitable sized end mill, bore out the hole so it is more or less cleaned up. Then it could be reamed or drilled to a suitable size for some standard thread which could be NF or even metric, whichever be the closest to the new hole.
Then a plug with that thread could be made up from scratch or from a bolt, chucked in a lathe and the proper stud thread put in the center.
Unfortunately it looks like the hole is so messed up that in order to clean it up back to round, you would have to make the new clean hole so large that it might get into the valve seat.

Another possible method would be to glass bead the cavity clean and then fill it up with braze. Afterwards, the top would need to be milled flat (or carefully draw filed) and then a new thread drilled and tapped in the braze, preferably in a mill. I think the braze would be plenty strong to hold the thread, if there was 1/2" or more depth of engagement.

 

It is very close to the valve. Defiantly work for a qualified machine shop. For now I'm just going to finish pulling it out and take it apart. Hopefully they think it's worth saving and doesn't cost more than it's worth. Right now I really want to work on getting the new motor in.

 

I wanted to go work on it today but after shoveling I didn't have it in me. Plus the roads are pretty slick right now. It just dipped below freezing. Hopefully I'll get a chance to get over there after work one day this week. It's only a couple hours work and I'll have the motor out. Can't wait. Not that I can really go anywhere with it once I get the new motor in but it's keeping me from doing a bunch of other stuff I have planned. The list goes something like this. Put the heater I just got in, put windows in the doors with a way to use them. I don't know if I'll go electric or cranks. I'm leaning towards cranks. I also want to get rid of the wood floors and put steel. I have a couple more ideas but that will keep me busy for a while.