I just had my flathead finished. I am not second guessing what I paid, guy did a great job! But how much have you paid? I am just talking about a everyday motor nothing real out of the norm.
A stock flathead rebuild can cost twice what a small block Chevy or Ford OHV V8 costs, or much more depending on the amount of machine work necessary, crack repair, etc. And for that you get a whopping 85-125HP! YEE HAW!
My builder charges $3k if he supplies the engine for late flatty. I don't know if that is a merc or not.
yes would like to see some flathead prices. im under 1000 for my daily power plant. a boring old 327with the cost of the engine. cal customs, coated ram horns, offenhauser intake, nasty cam, cal air cleaner etc... i cant even (or shouldnt even) own a flathead. i wwwwwind em way to high & jerk the jerk stick toooo hard im just too darn hard on stuff.
I was thinking at the very least 3 times the cost of a SBC-- for a stock 85-125HP. Stuff is still a little cheaper here and a few years ago I was quoted around $2500-2700 for a stock rebuild - bored, new pistons, crank redone, cam, valve job, long block ***embled. I doubt it's still a good price quote. I lucked out and bought a beat 51 Ford with an overhauled engine for $500.00. One of the coolest looking hotrod engines made but, only a whopping 100HP stock. It moves my 2200lb Model A OK, but it's no torque monster. overspray
A buddy just had his flathead done from a very reputable shop, who's been in the business for a very long time and he spent $1600 for the machining alone. I had them do a Stovebolt and it was $1400. ****s not cheap anymore
He had to do the whole motor the block that I started with was shot (the weather is a ***** to them). So all I had was a Merc Crank and my water pumps. It it bored out just alittle ha ha, offenhauser intake/covers, Merc crank, good sized cam. For just over 3k
I think one of the primary reasons they cost a bit more is due to the fact that they're not doing lots of them . . . just a bit of a pain in the *** to setup, do the valves, etc.. Once the valve work in done - everything else is the same old stuff. Actually - I don't see any real reason the machine work should cost any more than any other engine - except they spend more time because they don't do many of them. I think a $3000 - $4000 price for a hopped up build is about right (depending on what parts you started with and what they supplied). As another said . . . compared to an early Hemi, that is nothing! But . . . when they're done and you have a nice set of heads, dual manifold, nice headers, etc . . . they sure sound sweet!
I did a flatty engine myself, and I work at an engine shop so I get a deal on all internal parts and free machine work. It is a 59AB with a reground cam, refaced adjustable lifeters, used pistons (the block was standard and I had some really nice .040" pistons, so I bored it to .040) and valves, new rings. I lapped the valves, used the old springs and such, new bearings, water pump kits, carb kit, distributor rebuild, wires, ect. I was into the COMPLETE engine 800.00. With everything new, I would say 3000.00 on up. And if it is a babbit engine, gets pricey-er
Mainly just the cost of the pistons and bearings (not to big a difference). Oh, and the Ford cranks are pretty worthless, Merc's are not
its been said before, but ill say it again.... there is no single part in a flathead that is the golden egg to horsepower... the merc crank is just one ingredient a****st many to getting a bit more out of the engine. if you stroke a motor but dont upgrade anything else, i dont see the point... the money it'd require can go elsewhere.
All i know is it's alway's more than i thought it would be no matter what motor i've built...and i ***emble them all so there's no cash outlay for that labor.. But, i'm a firm believer in you get what you pay for..parts and machining, and the guy's i have doing my machine work (one's our own Big Chief) are top notch... Tony.
Well I'm just starting to build my Flathead.... I figure I will have 3k to 5k in it before I'm done. Starting with a good block and going from there. Got my hands on a Merc crank for a resonable price I think. From what I've see any ways. It's exspensive but it will be cool when I'm done. I can't wait!
I decided to replace the flathead in my '36 (a 52 8BA) with a 283. Cost me 1800.00 to go through the 283, which included a complete rebuild with new pistons, etc. Reason for the switch was the 3500.00 plus estimate I got from H&H to rebuild the FH short block, ***uming the block was savable and no sleeves were required. As it turned out, the machinist that built the 283 became interested in an A coupe body I had decided to sell. I gave it to him for 2200.00, to be applied to my FH. He is now in the middle of the rebuild. The block is out getting one crack repaired, magnafluxed, etc. It needs pretty much everything, including at least one sleeve just to keep it at 100 over. I'm expecting to have to pay an additional 600.00 to 800.00 on top of our trade. That does not include the money already spent for heads, intake, carbs, MSD distributor, wires, Speedway water pumps, etc. Just the same, It's a Flathead, and I'm not complaining because, while there is now a sbc in my 36, there will be a fresh, strong running 8BA in my roadster. If you want a Flathead, you pay for a Flathead. It's worth it.....
I remember the local parts supplier had a bunch of stock rebuilds in his wharehouse, for $260. That was in 1973 though. I should have stashed a couple away.
I agree, If you make the decision to do mods, your making a decision to spend a lot more money. I know people that have spent over $15,000 to hop up bangers.
Dennis Carpenter Restoration Parts is asking $3500 for a short block. Although It doesn't specify if that's outright or not. Flatheads aren't cheap, nor powerful. However, they are different and, in my opinion, the epitome of the hot rod engine.
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