Thread: 51' flathead worth?

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hey guys, i have a 1951 239 ford flathead and wondering how much these are worth? engine ran back in 2001ish, but smoked real bad. so other than that, i dont know. it shouldnt be stuck too bad.

also goes with the 3 speed?

thanks!

The question is.....Is the block cracked between the valve seats? That will determine the value of the motor. Disassemble and magnaflux.

Originally Posted by tim_bo16

hey guys, i have a 1951 239 ford flathead and wondering how much these are worth? engine ran back in 2001ish, but smoked real bad. so other than that, i dont know. it shouldnt be stuck too bad.

also goes with the 3 speed?

thanks!

Is the three speed an overdrive unit? If it is I am interested in the trans. Thanks, Karl

ooh man, no offence tech, but i wasnt plannin on tearing it apart. simply because i have NO CLUE about flatheads.

and topless, ill try and find that out for ya.

Originally Posted by tim_bo16

ooh man, no offence tech, but i wasnt plannin on tearing it apart. simply because i have NO CLUE about flatheads.

and topless, ill try and find that out for ya.

Try:www.fordbarn.com click on early model swap that should give you a good idea of the going rate and see who is looking for one,also check the H.A.M.B.classifieds there are several posts recently looking for the transmissions.

alright, just checked yesterday, and it is a 4 speed? so is that the overdrive one you were talking about topless? i pretty sure i have the engine sold, so is 700 bucks a good deal if i take it out and check it for cracks and its good?

No, not to me...Topless.

i was talking about 700 for the engine.. sorry. i should have reread my post, i was just askin if that was the trans you were talking about. and if you are interested?

I guess I need some assurance that the trans is in fact an o/d unit... I need one for my '51 Ford... when you start talking about 4-speeds I get really confused because they didn't use a four speed trans in any of the '51 Ford passenger cars... they had plain three speeds and three speeds with o/d. My car has a good three speed, I want to put an overdrive set-up in it. If you have an overdrive trans I am interested! Also do you still have the car? I would like to get the relay on the firewall, the cable under the dash and the switch under the foot feed. Do you have any pictures? Thanks, topless. Or perhaps you could call me at: 575 439 0266 or 575 430 9416 or email at: dingman@tularosa.net

Tim, Tech has the right of it; you need to find out if it is fatally cracked, before you can reasonably set a price. If it has cracks from valve to valve, valve to cylinder, or cylinder or combustion chamber to water jacket, or in the main bearing webs, and considering that it is a Ford, and not a Merc, I would not give anything for it, unless I needed a crank or rods, or other misc. parts; it's value is basically scrap. Sometimes, you can determine if one is cracked just by pulling the heads - not too much of a job, and cleaning the block deck and combustion chambers with degreaser and a fine scuff pad. Then take a bright light at a low angle to the surface and perhaps a magnifying glass and check the spots I mentioned. Quite often, cracks can be seen with the naked eye. They also often crack along the pan rail, in the lifter valley, and sometimes around the soft plugs. Otherwise, if you just want to peddle it without inspection, I doubt anyone with any real knowledge of flatties would give you more than maybe a couple hundred, if even that. If on the other hand it proves to be good, your $700 might be doable for the right buyer. JMNSHO.

Oh yeah!! About that tranny: If it has shift levers on the side, and a solenoid can on the tailhousing, it is an OD - no solenoid, a straight 3 speed; if it is a top shifter, it is a truck three or four speed.