Thread: Flathead

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well, there is no out of the box carbs that will bolt directly to a reproduced flatty manifold, except the 1's that accept a single 4 barral, get the offy 3 carb manifold from www.speedwaymotors.com get a block off plate for the center carb, get 2 3 bolt- newer 2bbl ( 5200 series carb ) adaptors, they sell them also, then go to www.stoveboltengineco.com and get 2 of the Holley/ Webber 5200 carbs he sells, there only $89 each.

Dig around on eBay and try a google search. Number of companies specializing in flattie carbs and such. The most sought after are the old Stromberg 97's, I've seen companies selling them with complete rebuilds and some updates to cure some of the old difficulties with the Strombergs. (Sticking floats and loose throttle shafts)

Just for general info, new 97's are being reproduced now with some fixes to the old problems; http://www.stromberg-97.com/stromberg97.htm

Originally Posted by Bob Parmenter

Just for general info, new 97's are being reproduced now with some fixes to the old problems; http://www.stromberg-97.com/stromberg97.htm

forgot that they are now reproducing the 97's.

Hi! Rick,
Just another Flathead comment. I went through 13 Flat Blocks and still haven't found a good one. but I haven't given up. A lot of these Blocks could have been repaired as it turns out. Check the 'Street Rodder' Magazine archive of articles on the Flathead. A wealth of info and contacts. Keep after it, nothing sounds like a 'Flattie' (My 06' Hot Rod Thrill this year was listening to a Dual engine (Injected!) Flattie Rail run the Quarter mile, not soon forgotten).
Two problems with Ford Flatties are Cracking and Rust out. There still seem to be plenty of blocks available, however at the high rate of Failure and the expense of checking them out (I have almost $3.000 in tanking and checking, and still don't have a good one!)), I would only conditionally buy a block. The condition being that if anything is found that would reject the block for any reason, then a refund is due, a FIXABLE block is not worth a lot around here the average cost to fix one is around here (NW) $1.200.00 to $1.500.00 and that still leaves a lot additional expenses before it Purrs.

Good! Luck, ............ 3Deuce27

Hi! Rick,
Just another Flathead comment. I went through 13 Flat Blocks and still haven't found a good one. but I haven't given up. A lot of these Blocks could have been repaired as it turns out. Check the 'Street Rodder' Magazine archive of articles on the Flathead. A wealth of info and contacts. Keep after it, nothing sounds like a 'Flattie' (My 06' Hot Rod Thrill this year was listening to a Dual engine (Injected!) Flattie Rail run the Quarter mile, not soon forgotten).
Two problems with Ford Flatties are Cracking and Rust out. There still seem to be plenty of blocks available, however at the high rate of Failure and the expense of checking them out (I have almost $3.000 in tanking and checking, and still don't have a good one!)), I would only conditionally buy a block. The condition being that if anything is found that would reject the block for any reason, then a refund is due, a FIXABLE block is not worth a lot around here the average cost to fix one is around $1.200.00 to $1.500.00 and that still leaves a lot additional expenses before it Purrs.

Good! Luck, ............ 3Deuce27
Edit/Delete Message

Originally Posted by 3Deuce27

Hi! Rick,
Just another Flathead comment. I went through 13 Flat Blocks and still haven't found a good one. but I haven't given up. A lot of these Blocks could have been repaired as it turns out. Check the 'Street Rodder' Magazine archive of articles on the Flathead. A wealth of info and contacts. Keep after it, nothing sounds like a 'Flattie' (My 06' Hot Rod Thrill this year was listening to a Dual engine (Injected!) Flattie Rail run the Quarter mile, not soon forgotten).
Two problems with Ford Flatties are Cracking and Rust out. There still seem to be plenty of blocks available, however at the high rate of Failure and the expense of checking them out (I have almost $3.000 in tanking and checking, and still don't have a good one!)), I would only conditionally buy a block. The condition being that if anything is found that would reject the block for any reason, then a refund is due, a FIXABLE block is not worth a lot around here the average cost to fix one is around $1.200.00 to $1.500.00 and that still leaves a lot additional expenses before it Purrs.

Good! Luck, ............ 3Deuce27
Edit/Delete Message

13 blocks!!

I think I would find another machine shop. Are you marking your blocks somehow so that you know it is your block they are rejecting?

Are you rejecting a block for cracks around head stud holes? The only cracks considered fatal really are pan rail cracks.

You may be your machinist's "supplier" of good flathead blocks at this point!

I have built several flatmotors, and have a crack rate of about 3 in 10 being severely cracked.

Sir Speedy!

Most of the Flat Head Blocks I rejected due to wanting a very good Block. The Machine Shop is absolutely Trustworthy and I reclaimed all the blocks. I'm also a Trained Machinist so I know what I'm looking at.

Nice Deuce ............................... 3 Deuce27

I have half a dozen Ford of Canada truck blocks that were not so prone to cracking. They do have the crack between the center head bolt and the small water passage, but that one doesn't matter much, they run good with that. Several 4" merc cranks, too, one's even standard and good,great for a stroker, and o/s pistons and rods. Too bad you're half the continent away from Saskatchewan, freight would be a bitch.
I found me a rebuilt .030 over 255 that purrs like a kitten full of cream, so I'm spared the expense of a rebuild, and have all these other parts available. Kinda looking for used speed stuff like heads and manifolds, will swap or buy.

Originally Posted by 3Deuce27

Most of the Flat Head Blocks I rejected due to wanting a very good Block.
Nice Deuce ............................... 3 Deuce27

I'm still a little lost -

So what kind of cracks made you reject them?

Sir Speedy/R POPE!

Blocks were rejected due to 'any' crack, rust-out, or not meat enough left to bore out. One is assembled as a Display Motor.

R POPE; Thanks for the offer of potential Blocks, I'm sure you will have no trouble getting them into the hands of 'Flathead Lovers'. I have picked up two more complete engines and what appears to be a Cherry 51' Merc block. Despite that I'm going to run a Flathead Cadillac, heavy, but absolutely reliable. I will be putting lots of miles (5000+) and Long High Desert Trips in August (Bonneville) every summer on my Swap Meet 27' Roadster.
I'm building a Mold/molds for a 3-Deuce Manifold for the engine. In the mean time I'm looking for an 'EDMUNDS' Duel Deuce Manifold and Finned Heads for the Caddy. Any lead would be appreciated.

....................................... 3 Deuce27