TRACTOR PARTS Allis Chalmers Case & David Brown Farmall & International Ferguson Ford & New Holland John Deere Massey Ferguson Massey Harris Minneapolis Moline Oliver & Cockshutt Kubota / Yanmar

TRACTOR MANUALS

Allis Chalmers	Case	Farmall IH	Ford 8N,9N,2N	Ford
Ferguson	John Deere	Massey Ferguson	Minn. Moline	Oliver

Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

OT flathead fords

Welcome Guest, Log in or Register

Author

ken in texas

02-13-2007 20:36:43

Report to Moderator

Anyone have an interest in the old ford flathead v8 engines.Just heard about some surplus ones built by the french and used in military trucks until sometimes in the 80,s.now being sold by a US hot rod dealer. It was hard to believe. check out this site www.reds-headers.com click on flathead tren go to french flathead should get some pictures of blocks.

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Gene Davis (GA)

02-14-2007 20:13:05

Report to Moderator

Re: OT flathead fords in reply to ken in texas, 02-13-2007 20:36:43

The way to run flat head Ford engines,(49-53) was to drill a hole in the block near the valve seats,especially the exhaust and then drive brass pins into the hole to close the crack, then fill the radiator full of the drug store miracle called "water glass" and hurry to trade it while the miracle patch held!!

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

wdTom

02-14-2007 17:29:13

Report to Moderator

Re: OT flathead fords in reply to ken in texas, 02-13-2007 20:36:43

I never did much work on one, however I did run them a bit. There were two 49 ford trucks on the farm where I worked as a kid. One was an F5, the other a F6. Both had flatheads. Over the several years I worked there one was replaced by a mercury engine, a little bigger I understand. The other ran for several years with little or no oil pressure when the oil was warm and had a knock too but it kept going. Understand there were two of us teenage kids running they trucks all summer getting in hay from all over, we put a bit of time on them. And you could go and get lime or fertilyzer which would load them down pretty good. Usually 5 or 6 tons. One time I went to get bulk lime and said to the guy loading it " I would like about 6 tons" thinking he ought to know how much of a pile in the truck body that would look like. Well after a while the pile was looking pretty big so I said "maybe we ought to drive over to the scale", turns out there was 9 tons on that F6. And it did it, about 25 miles back to the farm. Not too fast on the hills, but it did it, low oil pressure and all. They didn't have as much power as the GMC straight 6 in the dump truck we had there, but they seemed reliable and stood up to a lot of work.

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

ken in texas

02-14-2007 16:44:13

Report to Moderator

Re: OT flathead fords in reply to ken in texas, 02-13-2007 20:36:43

Don't be concerned about the three main bearings.I ran one hard for years in a sandbuggy ,only problem was twisting off axels.Son now has engine,plans to install in model A using some of my old running gear and body parts.O by the way never heard of crankshaft problems,of course i'm sure there were some.

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

gold-leaf-deere

02-14-2007 12:42:58

Report to Moderator

Re: OT flathead fords in reply to ken in texas, 02-13-2007 20:36:43

I drove a 1951 1 ton Ford flat head over 100,000 miles from 1970 to 1976 hauling tractors, very common to have a D John Deere on the 9 foot bed and another one on the trailer. Had to grind the valves three times, I bought a new IHC 1 ton pick up in 1973, it was such a piece of junk that I bought my old Ford back and drove it two more years. The old Ford known as Big Red is still in the barn. It's demise was when I put some tin headers on it and cracked some valves seats due to the engine colling down to fast.

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Rick Kr

02-14-2007 12:01:23

Report to Moderator

Re: OT flathead fords in reply to ken in texas, 02-13-2007 20:36:43

Some here are saying flatheads aren't that great. Remember it was released in 1932, and probably designed in late 1928. You could argue it was the best engine at the time.

Yeah, by todays standards 60 or 80hp is a nothing, but back then that was something. The flathead was the small block chevy of the 30s, 40s, and 50s. It was the Hot rod engine of choice by the majority until the SBC came out in '55.

Or maybe you should say the small block is the flathead of the late 50s, 60s, even today.

Had one in my 1930 model a, not the fastest but sounded pretty cool.

Rick

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Jerry Cent. Mi.

02-14-2007 13:57:03

Report to Moderator

Re: OT flathead fords in reply to Rick Kr, 02-14-2007 12:01:23

John Dillinger loved them. He sent Henry Ford a letter telling him how fast they were.

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Aaron Ford

02-14-2007 09:08:39

Report to Moderator

Re: OT flathead fords in reply to ken in texas, 02-13-2007 20:36:43

There was one in the machine shop when I was having my engine done. The same fella that ground my crank was rebuilding this old flathead. He was retired but came in to do cranks and vintage stuff. I asked him about the new french blocks and accidentally sent him into a tirade. Apparently he was not impressed with 'em. Can't remember what he said, but I am glad the wife and kids weren't there! Does anyone know of any issues with the french blocks?

Did y'all know that the Ardun conversion heads were made by Zora Arkus-Duntov? The same guy who designed the 30/30 cam and did all the work on the Corvette. He named the heads after the first few letters of his name Ar-Dun.

Cheers,

Aaron

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

37 chief

02-14-2007 12:58:53

Report to Moderator

Re: OT flathead fords in reply to Aaron Ford, 02-14-2007 09:08:39

There was Indian Motorcycle dealer here in Los Angeles some years back. Just saying the Harley Davidson would set him off. This guy had a Harley Davidson pasted in the bottom of his urinal so every time he took a leak it did it on a Harley. Stan

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Walt Davies

02-14-2007 08:45:56

Report to Moderator

Re: OT flathead fords in reply to ken in texas, 02-13-2007 20:36:43

Left my last Flathead in Wyoming in 1967, best thing I ever did, what a piece of junk that was.

I don't miss those things a bit. They have soft blocks no power and you can't keep one running for more than week at a time. No wonder that were called fix or repair daily.

Hey I guess I'm not a lover of the old Flathead Ford. I never had one that was worth keeping more than to get from one place to another and that took to long to do to make it worth the return trip.
Walt

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

shawnspeed3

02-14-2007 09:09:40

Report to Moderator

Re: OT flathead fords in reply to Walt Davies, 02-14-2007 08:45:56

yes the original fatties were soft....these french blooks are made of high nickel iron so their duribilty is much better.....its that 3 main bearing crank that scares me!!

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

shawnspeed3

02-14-2007 09:09:32

Report to Moderator

Re: OT flathead fords in reply to Walt Davies, 02-14-2007 08:45:56

yes the original fatties were soft....these french blooks are made of high nickel iron so their duribilty is much better.....its that 3 main bearing crank that scares me!!

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Mike (WA)

02-14-2007 08:04:15

Report to Moderator

Re: OT flathead fords in reply to ken in texas, 02-13-2007 20:36:43

They're enjoying a bit of a revival in the hot rodding world- everybody's getting tired of the "ccokie cutter" small block Chevies in everything. Helps that there are a number of sources of aftermarket parts now, as well as zooty looking stuff to dress them up. And they do sound cool. . .

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

NEsota

02-14-2007 07:24:16

Report to Moderator

Re: OT flathead fords in reply to ken in texas, 02-13-2007 20:36:43

In 1957, as a teen I bought a 37 two door sedan, 60 H.P., from the estate of the original owner. It had only 45000 miles on it. Only drove it a little while before scrapping it out. Block is still lying around the farm as is V8 block from 52 Ford and a 53 Super 88. Ya I�m kicking myself.

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

flying belgian

02-14-2007 05:53:16

Report to Moderator

Re: OT flathead fords in reply to ken in texas, 02-13-2007 20:36:43

pa had a 11/2 ton ford truck with a flat head. never would start in cold Mn. winters. could not pull start it on snow packed yard so. would pull it roun and round through the duoble wide corn crib drive. Ha. Ihad forgot about that old winter ritual until I saw this message.

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

johnlobb

02-14-2007 04:08:08

Report to Moderator

Re: OT flathead fords in reply to ken in texas, 02-13-2007 20:36:43

Many years ago I had a '39 Ford sedan. I saw in the pole barn I still have a couppla Stromberg 97's and a brand new melling oil pump in the box. I always liked the way they ran. A few years ago I saw an old guy at the old engine show in Buckley, MI with a '37 Ford flatbed with 2 '37 flatheads on the back hooked together somehow with an old differential to get a belt pulley. He started them up for me and they just purred! John L.....

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

37 chief

02-13-2007 22:27:46

Report to Moderator

Re: OT flathead fords in reply to ken in texas, 02-13-2007 20:36:43

I always have been interested in the early ford flat heads. I have a ford 60 hp v8 motor, it is somewhat smaler than the later v 8 engines. It was used from around 1937 to 1940. I have a newer flat head also. Dad was going to scrap them years ago, but was able to take him out of them. Also have a 49 ford that Dad's hired hand bought from the San Diego police dept. Wish I had more time to do something with it. Do like those old flat head's. Stan

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Dandy Don

02-14-2007 09:26:15

Report to Moderator

Re: OT flathead fords in reply to 37 chief, 02-13-2007 22:27:46

Hey Chief, my first car was a 50 Ford 2 door seden with three speed and overdrive.Blacker than a witches heart.Duel glasspacks. I loved that old car.Yeah I wish I still had it. Don

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

[Options] [Printer Friendly] [Posting Help] [Return to Forum] [Log in to Reply]

TRACTOR PARTS	TRACTOR MANUALS

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]

Home | Forums

Copyright © 1997-2023 Yesterday's Tractor Co.
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy

TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters

Website Accessibility Policy