Thread: Opinions wanted regarding '36 Ford Slantback

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Originally Posted by Don Shillady

As I recall this block might have had babbit bearings (up till 1938?) .........

'36 was the transition year. The early portion of the production year were babbit, the latter were inserts. The insert engines were identified as LB models.

I try to avoid the rod it v restore it discussions cuz I usually offend someone.... My experience with the restoration crowd is that they want a primo car for a cheapo price, and bad mouth you forever if you won't sell it for what they consider a fair price and build it the way you want....

So, with that said, I'd say build what you want...as for the original frame bringing any kind of big bucks....forget it....Like Uncle Bob and his '40 you'll probably do a lot better parting it out and selling the pieces....

Personally, I've never seen a car that's too nice to Hot Rod!!! Being in good condition when you start just saves a bit of time on the build..... Other then that, just read my signature, pretty much sez it all......

I say 'Rod it!
If it were missing the motor and the body was full of holes would you restore or rod it?

I only had one car in my life that I didn't have the heart to tear into, it was a '38 Chevy four door that a guy had done a complete frame off restoration on. It was in primer and ready for paint and my plan was a 350/350 swap with a/c, etc. But the guy had done so much work and the car was so nice I ended up selling it to a restorer.

Looking back, I now wonder................what the h*** was I thinking?????

Don

I love hot rods and restos both so I am going to say leave this one alone, it looks too perfect to chop up. Its easy to chop up a car but a lot harder to unchop it back into an original classic.

Well you've collected 32 opinions and comments here and another 18 on another site, so have the 50 comments helped you decide what to do??

The car looks good as is. So you can either keep as an antique and enjoy it or you can resto-rod it and enjoy it. You have to decide which way will bring you the most joy. Resto-rodding will certainly expand your horizons as far as use, but it really comes down to what puts the biggest smile on your face.

Originally Posted by mopar34

Well you've collected 32 opinions and comments here and another 18 on another site, so have the 50 comments helped you decide what to do??

Bob, the owner faxed me a copy of the title to review about 5 minutes ago, plans are being made this morning to fly out of Tampa on Saturday to go check out the car.

Hmmm, wonder if I can have it here in time for the Turkey Run next weekend????? I'll bet that baby will be glad to get out of the cold, snowy north and retire to warm, sunny Florida......

Mike

One of my favorite rods belongs to a buddy in CO. He wanted to get a Dearborn award sooo bad & resto'd a 40 ragtop. He was denied the award by an idiot judge, who wrongly deducted points (politics?).
He was so mad that he went home, lowered it, put on big & littles, duals w/Smitties, & added the most killer hopped-up flattie you ever saw!
Now, that's a hot rod to die for!

IMHO, You have the same opportunity here.

Don, who is a good flathead engine guy in our area?

Mike

Originally Posted by Mike52

Don, who is a good flathead engine guy in our area?

Mike

There used to be a top-notch flathead guy right here in Cape Coral........Tony DiCosta. He owned Hot Rod and Custom Supply and built the flathead Total Performance used in their pink old style T. But Tony got religion and I hear he is a Missionary in Costa Rica or someplace like that. I don't know of anyone else, and I called my usual machine shop to freshen up the flathead I bought from Paul on here, but he told me he didn't do them.

I might send the two we have to someone like Motor City Flatheads just to have the machine work done, and then assemble them ourselves. We don't want radical, just a nice, fairly stock rebuild. If I find anyone in the meantime, I'll let you know.

Don

Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

There used to be a top-notch flathead guy right here in Cape Coral........Tony DiCosta. He owned Hot Rod and Custom Supply and built the flathead Total Performance used in their pink old style T. But Tony got religion and I hear he is a Missionary in Costa Rica or someplace like that. I don't know of anyone else, and I called my usual machine shop to freshen up the flathead I bought from Paul on here, but he told me he didn't do them.

I might send the two we have to someone like Motor City Flatheads just to have the machine work done, and then assemble them ourselves. We don't want radical, just a nice, fairly stock rebuild. If I find anyone in the meantime, I'll let you know.

Don

well a flat head engine is not much to them they were built and fix in a time were they were easy to build and to fix with out many tools the big deal with them is finding a good core to start with and the price on parts is more then a sbc other then that there a simple engine to work on or machine one thing about them is the rod bolt is part of the rod this is kind of spooky and you need a mill or a very big seat and guilde machine to put new harden seats in less you have a very old kwik way portable seat cutter

Good luck in which ever direction you take.
I see both sides. I have had dreams of doing builds, and never having the money or time or finding the right car.
What ever you do, I promise to not throw hate mail, or send a Christmas card!
I will stay bias

You guys have made me curious. I have ridden in several "pumped up" flathead powered rods before, and was very sadly disappointed in the perfomance. What kind of reasonable horsepower can you make on pump gas?

Originally Posted by HOTRODPAINT

You guys have made me curious. I have ridden in several "pumped up" flathead powered rods before, and was very sadly disappointed in the perfomance. What kind of reasonable horsepower can you make on pump gas?

Power claims are like liar's poker.............deal away Jay!!
Let's take this 21 studder as an example. Stock it's rated at 85 hp, that's in the day when they quoted "gross" ratings, meaning without any accessory drag figured in. Do the typical stuff, "high" compression heads (8.5 to 1 ), headers, two 94s or 97s, some ignition work, and a "3/4 race" cam you can expect what? Maybe double? Still under 200hp. I'm sure we'll hear about some manner or other of claims from magazines, "my best buddy", and other anecdotal "evidence", but it takes a lot of work (translate to $$$) to get bigger numbers from a flatty. They exist, they're just rare and expensive.

Agree with Bob. 150 to 175 is real. You can make more than that of course, but it won't be streetable.