Thread: 52 Ford 239 Flathead factory motor and tranny value...

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Personally, I wouldn't buy any flathead motor until the crank, rods and block were magnafluxed, unless I could get it for cheap, like the other fellows said, $200-$300.

Originally Posted by techinspector1

Personally, I wouldn't buy any flathead motor until the crank, rods and block were magnafluxed, unless I could get it for cheap, like the other fellows said, $200-$300.

Crank and rods wouldn't worry me as much as the block. The '49-'53 did have a lot better cooling then the 59A-B engines. Regardless, the center two cylinders on each side present the biggest problem with a single exhaust port right through the center of the block causing cracks in those two exhaust valve seats right into the cylinder walls as well as into the water passages. Now, the cylinder wall cracks are reasonably easy to fix - only cost lots of bucks to sleeve. The seat and top deck cracks are tough with probably a metal stitch and/or weld.

Rods - rebuilts are available fairly reasonably tho the originals can also be rebuilt if the engine is stock. Cranks on a stock engine are again, like the rods are seldom hurt. As a stock engine, these seldom saw much more then 4500 rpm - they couldn't - limited by air flow in and out.

Above is why a stock flathead can get real expensive even before modifications and speed parts and a very good reason why an unknown engine isn't worth a whole lot.