Hello guys new guy here and I have tons of questions about the flathead v8 by ford...... I have been going to my local salvage yard for years - only yard I will deal with..... anyway not sure how I have managed to over look this truck for so long.... It probably has to do with the fact that it's at the back of 75 acres of cars...... It gets pretty grassy and weed vine covered...... Any way I found this ugly duckling and feel in love.... In the next moth I'm gonna go fully recover it.... I'm gonna have a lot of work in front of me...... So some visual details - It was a truck - flat bed made of wood from what I can tell. Read end is a monster..... the steering turns and operates as should....... The steel [thick) wheels are rusted threw it spots..... The flathead engine has no carb on it but the engine is not locked up..... The transmission is there (It has 2 shifters) it seems to some what shift in and out of gear..... I think it's a cool Ole truck and engine..... Gotta have it! I think the truck and body repair I can handle...... The engine is kinda a concern [iv rebuilt many of sbcs BBC and sbf fbb.] My build is gonna be stock modern upgrade....... Iv never turned a wrench on a flathead. I would like to make 100 to 135 in hp.... I would like mate a t5 or c4 Trans to the flathead. I'm probably gonna do a chevy or ford 9ich with 373 - however iv thought about doing a quick change rear end. I would like pointers on the engine and Trans area.... who's the go to for engine ring and bearing kits? Who can get me parts and a fair price. Who gonna be my go to guy for random questions!?
As they say love is blind. To be honest I would most likely call this one yard art and turn a blind eye. It is a big chassis hauler truck that need absolutely every thing and is missing so much. You may get disheartened part way through. I personally would keep looking for something more complete ,there is plenty out there , sure it may cost more but you will be way ahead in the long run.
Your main problem with the flathead is that it's likely cracked. With no carb water has been getting down into the cylinders every time it rains and into the water jackets. If he's giving it to you go for it. You never know the parts you use off of it some day.
Welcome to the Hamb. Where are you from? Is the cab any good? As Kiwi said, it may be yard art if the cab is not saveable. I'm surprised the engine is not seized if this is how you found it. LOTSA work ahead on this one. tim
Hot rod 50 and Timwhit Love those rides of yalls! Iv always wanted something with a teardrop tail end!!! Ill say that my fav car is a 32 ford coupe - AG! Pee yellow! Kiwi 4d I would see why many would think that - I also agree it would be less time consuming and money friendly - However to me this is not about having just a cool ole hotrod..... For me its about - The simple definition of the phoenix - ( Latin: phoenix, phœnix, fenix) is a long-lived bird that is cyclically regenerated or reborn.****ociated with the sun, a phoenixobtains new life by arising from the ashes of its predecessor.) That is what this is abut for me - Something that 90% percent would simple allow this truck to rust away into dust - I however wanna give it new life - New hope - New meaning - with a little attitude! Iv always had a thing for the older ugly unwanted hotrods ! Wagons and Grimies - pinto and any other abnormal hotrod! My hope is that when my boys get close to driving I can pass it along to them..... Timwhit Im from oklahoma sir! Okc area! I do believe the cab can be saved! It easily could keep it current shape/stock forum! I have a plane for the engine if its complete junk. (Ill admit when yall started bringing up cracked blocks my heart sank!) However Ideas are afoot! So here are my figures and how I see things! Once I get it home - Im gonna strip everything - Ill take the block down to nothing - clean it up - have a shop Magnaflux its and make sure its good! If not Ill simple go find me a new flathead! I want a good string build with a wild cam! As for the frame - Im gonna shave whatever I can from it! Lite weight but strong! I want a modern ole skool spoke rim style. The cab Im gonna build supports and reinforce everything I can...... Wild enough I didnt see any cancers going on.... There is no floor in the truck but it doesnt look as if it rusted away - it just looks as if it was never there? Im stuck between going all digital gauges or needle style - Maybe both? !!! As kiwi 4d said - I may become disheartened but I think ill know more once its in the driveway! I guess we will see! Im gonna do living streaming and Video documentary on this project - From the moment we start removing it from its grave to the point it finally rolls under its own power! I see this as something I will never complete - Even when I runs and drives - Even when it burns the tires for a city block - I dont think it will ever end! And one more thing - That possible old busted block - Ill repurpose it - The block and pistons and rods would make a great Coffee table peace or maybe a show peace of how it started it life *memorial peace* Just for fun - * Google engine coffee table* One of the heads I figured would make a cool center dash peace or a door for a glove box or maybe *Side steps* Like for a truck? I guess the nice thing about all this is - Broke is broke - I cant break it anymore! Thanks guys! I would love to hear more comments - Everyone who post comments I live give special to in the documentary!!!
Gear head. What kinda money you looking for - for one? Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using H.A.M.B. mobile app
On the engine...obviously it's a risky*****shoot, and so should be cheap. If it really is not locked up (a miracle, with no hood?) that means it has NOT filled up with rain water, because it would certainly be solidly seized. It actually has a chance of being savable. Get that home FIRST and start teardown for*****ysis. At worst, that will be a learning experience, at best a find. I can't really identify year of truck from the pics, but sheetmetal is a MAJOR problem as it's old enough that all the missing tin is going to be hard to find and expensive. Unless rust level is unbelievably bad, frame will be solid and could certainly be the basis for a very stout pickup. Rear end and trans are not going to be good choices for anything even if perfect.
Kinda looks like a 35-36 to me and how do you know she isn't stuck? were you able to get a socket on the crankshaft pulley? seen worse come back to life so have a ball..................
That's a big truck, so you've probably got a very stout foundation to work off of. But there's a lot missing, so try to find another one in the yard if you can. If you're in a climate that sees freezing, yeah, that block may be gone, but it's at least good for mockup. That truck probably has mechanical brakes, a steep ratio, and thick spindles for the heavy wheels (if I'm not mistaken), so you'll want some passenger car stuff to replace all that. I don't think you need a 9" or a Champ QC to handle the whomp of a 135hp flathead. You may have a secondary Hi-Lo box which would probably be aftermarket on a later truck like that. Early Model AA trucks had one before they went to a 4spd transmission. There is a new book on Flatheads that i suggest you read: How to Rebuild & Modify Ford Flathead V-8 Engines (Motorbooks Workshop)
Send me a PM. I don't like to quote stuff on the forums. A lot depends on new or used and how rare the pieces are.
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