50 ford flathead engine

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10-04-2011, 06:30 AM
chevy 37

50 ford flathead engine

:eek:I have a 50 ford flathead engine that had been bored .060 over with edelbrock heads, 3/4 cam, 2 stromberg 97's on a old intake. Ths ran fine and then noticed my temperature gauge going up until it boiled over. I let it sit for 6 hrs. and when I tried to start it it wouldn't tuen over. Pulled the plug and number 4 cylinder was filled with water which told me that I had a cracked block. I had it magnafluxed and sure enough # 4 cylinder had a crack on the inside which is about 1" long. Can I weld this and sleeve it or not can I just sleeve it and hope for the best. I have alot of money tied up in this engine and would like to keep it. If it can be welded I can do it but have never done that kind of repair before.
10-04-2011, 07:19 AM
Itoldyouso

It was very common to resleeve the flatheads, and somewhere in my old magazine collection I have an article of doing just that. You might want to give H and H a call and pick their brains and also try a local machine shop to see what they say. 60 over isn't a lot on a flathead, some even went an 1/8 overbore.

Don
10-04-2011, 08:02 AM
IC2

Not a normal flathead crack area. It's usually at the center two cylinders, across the valve seats and on each side as the exhaust is siamesed. Not an unusual occurrence for a flathead to have one or more cracks, sleeves installed and/or metal stitching at the valve seat area.

Your biggest problem now - to find someone locally that has a sleeve press and know how to use it AFTER you find someone that even knows what you are talking about
10-04-2011, 01:06 PM
chevy 37

I can sleeve a cylinder myself as I've done it before, but was just wondering if a sleeve will do the job w/o welding the crack.
10-04-2011, 05:27 PM
pat mccarthy

Quote:

Originally Posted by chevy 37

I can sleeve a cylinder myself as I've done it before, but was just wondering if a sleeve will do the job w/o welding the crack.

you need to know were the crack starts and stops at if in the chamber then it will need to be pluged . if it needs a sleeve that not a big deal if you have the machines to do the job. there must be someone that can do the job a round you? if you do not have a boring bar and plug kit .i can do the job and have welded blocks and used iron plugs. cold way is the best less you have a hole to fix then i welded them but this has alot to do with were the crack is some spots can not be drilled and plug so it gets welded
10-05-2011, 07:16 AM
chevy 37

Thanks for all the replies. Guess I'll have it checked out to see if it can we welded as the crack is pretty long.