Thread: Modern Flatheads

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The French flatheads were not exactly war surplus but they are military surplus. The flathead engine design was modified by the French military with the addition of governors, metric details (although not all holes are metric), the addition of casting features, etc. These engines were used in frog military vehicles up to about 1990 and were phased out. The surplus spares were purchased and returned to the USA. The engines are a combination of features from several Ford designs. One web location showing pics is
http://www.reds-headers.com/html/ffh.html

The are reportedly cast using a better metal than did Henry use.

Correction, Shadow Rods is the distributor for the new Aluminum block, not sure if they Manufacture it. I have never seen a price attached to one yet.

I just got through rebuilding my 52 flathead and it's overheating like crazy. Put in a lot of money and I'm very sad today. Just got this pickup on the road last week and took it around the block for the first time since I have owned it. Must have a crack in the block...probably just didn't see it. Never got it Magnafluxed...bought the truck from my old boss back in 1986 and had it in storage. He used to bring it to work when I was working for him. He decided to sell it and I jumped on it. I will still keep the engine....can't see putting the Chevy 350/350 combo in my Ford!

The last time I heard a discussion on the cost of a new aluminum flathead was about 6 years ago. At that time, the cost was stated to be big...like at least $9K big. About the same as today's cost for a 502 Ram Jet or a World Products small block 427.

I really dig flat heads, but I'd go for one of the other two (or maybe a 5.7 Hemi). I'd prefer a better return on my investment than what the flathead would yield.

Update on the overheating flathead....had the radiator rodded and it runs cool as a cucumber! Live and learn. No loss of coolant, running thermostats, new water pumps, 50/50 coolant. Very happy now!

Originally Posted by Ralph Moore

Ditto, to everything said about the flathead, but there's nothing that looks better in a Deuce coupe.

Agree entirely. The flathead is a gorgeous engine. To me, there's nothing that looks worse than a Chevrolet 350 in a beautiful Ford roadster. One guy actually built a 700 horsepower flathead by reversing the intake and exhaust ports (how that's done I'm not sure) and running racing fuel.

A few of us just had a discussion this past weekend at Billetproof about modern engines vs engines like flatheads, Studebakers, Caddys, etc. One guy said he hears from owners of those motors that they would love to attend some faraway event but they are afraid to take them that far in case something happens. The reason is that you can't easily find for example a flathead coil at Autozone, whereas you can practically rebuild a small block Chevy or Ford engine right in their parking lot and get most of the parts right off their shelves.

This is precisely my logic when I build a car. I like something that looks like it might have been built in the 50's but I am not a slave to tradition. I use modern engines, and accessories like alternators and electric fans. I want to check the oil, top off the tank, and head out for a trip with little more than a few hand tools under the seat.

We did exactly that this past weekend....4 hours each way and never once did I have to wonder if the simple little sbc powering it would get us there and back. Same with my 27. In the 7 years I owned it I had it to Daytona 3 times, drove it daily for work, and never did the sbf fail to pull into the garage under it's own power that night. So, this isn't to defame our beloved flatheads, but they are 1932 technology in a 2009 world.

Don

Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

The reason is that you can't easily find for example a flathead coil at Autozone, whereas you can practically rebuild a small block Chevy or Ford engine right in their parking lot and get most of the parts right off their shelves.

This is precisely my logic when I build a car. I like something that looks like it might have been built in the 50's but I am not a slave to tradition.

Don

Don,

I see your point, and it makes sense from a budget standpoint. It's certainly more user friendly and modern small block Fords are great. What gets me is putting a Chevy engine in a classic Ford. Chevy engines aren't superior to Ford engines, and the car winds up not being a Ford or not being a Chevy. (I don't mean to offend anyone. I appreciate the product of anyone's hard work. this is just my aesthetic opinion).

Take a look at this:

http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/e.../photo_02.html

It certainly isn't cheap, but it is a work of art. I'd take one in a '32 Ford Convertible over almost anything else for that car.

Well heck, if you want to spend that kind of money, might as well just wait til Ken Thurm gets his new heads for the V-12 done, then you've got really unique engine and still in the same family....

Problem being, could buy a crate motor from Sonny Leonard or John Kasse for less, and REALLY have some Ford power in a Ford!!!!!!

I do agree, Ford's belong in Ford's!!!! I'm just sooooooooooo tired of looking at a big long line of 'glass Deuces all powered by chebbies and the owner's of them coming off like they are the epitome of Hot Rodding!!!! Had my Deuce, powered by a Ford, loved it and really have no desire to build another!!!! So many other interesting and unusual cars out there still waiting to be built!!!!! Whatever happened to Dare to be Different, anyway????

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

Well heck, if you want to spend that kind of money, might as well just wait til Ken Thurm gets his new heads for the V-12 done, then you've got really unique engine and still in the same family....

Problem being, could buy a crate motor from Sonny Leonard or John Kasse for less, and REALLY have some Ford power in a Ford!!!!!!

I do agree, Ford's belong in Ford's!!!! I'm just sooooooooooo tired of looking at a big long line of 'glass Deuces all powered by chebbies and the owner's of them coming off like they are the epitome of Hot Rodding!!!! Had my Deuce, powered by a Ford, loved it and really have no desire to build another!!!! So many other interesting and unusual cars out there still waiting to be built!!!!! Whatever happened to Dare to be Different, anyway????

Is that a Lincoln V-12? I always wondered if anyone supercharged a Lincoln V12. That would be quite a mill.

I despise Chevys because they have given me lots of trouble in modern cars I've owned with their small blocks installed. I have no idea why people think that these engines are the be all and end all.

[QUOTE=Maxb49;367421]Is that a Lincoln V-12? I always wondered if anyone supercharged a Lincoln V12. That would be quite a mill.

QUOTE]

Yuppers, the big V12!!! Ken has a thread on here with a lot of good information and pics on what he's building, should show up on a search...I don't remember the title on the thread.. Gorgeous stuff!!!!