Mike I understand why you'd like to keep the flathead instead of becoming Joe Average with no imagination in sticking one more of a million crate motors in. Boring!!

If you have a 6 cyl here's a rebuilt engine on Ebay. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/49-50...WDVWQQtcZphoto

Here's a running condition V-8 but... http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1953-...WDVWQQtcZphoto

And here's a built one! http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ford-...WDVWQQtcZphoto

For rebuilt kits go to www.kanter.com 239-255CID Ford/Merc V-8 from 48-53 run $1077 for basic to $1442 for a deluxe kit.

Ain't got a Ford? They have 21 pages of overhaul/rebuilt kits in their catalog.