Matt, as a school Principal for 20 years, I would have hired you in a heart beat to teach in my building,,,I am an old man,,,,but I recognize a good person and a good teacher,,,,Thanks for your presentations, You are smart and are a kind person to all people,,,,The world needs more Matts in the world...Thanks,
As a machine shop owner I totally agree with you Matt!! Thanks for pointing out out the cracked oil pan rails, typically easy to fix but often overlooked. The only thing I would add is if the main caps are missing(on any core block) walk away! That is just another costly repair. I would also recommend that people carry a caliper with them to check bore size to make sure it hasn't already been bored several times, because 8 sleeves & installation is also spendy.
Your words of advice on “Don’t buy into the myth” holds true across all types of collector cars and especially performance cars. In the Classic Cougar and Mustang world, there’s always some dumbass trying to tell you/ sell you that his car has a ‘Boss 302’ when it’s a run-of-the-mill 302. It’s also so easy to buy scoops, spoilers and decals to make your standard coupe into some hot model. A running joke in the Camaro world is how there are more SS’s today than Chevy originally built back in the day! But most scammers are too lazy to go the extra mile. For instance, real Cougar Eliminators have staggered rear shocks - nobody goes that extra mile when making a clone. Knowledge is Power! Thanks for educating folks in the flathead neck of the woods, Matt! Btw, I have no problem with clones and tribute cars, just as long as the owner is honest about it.
Ok, I'll date myself, in high school in the 70's, you could buy any SS, hood, trim to make a stock camaro anything you wanted, with GM parts. We all had z28's , ss and what ever with a 327, 307 motors. I laugh at the price of those cars because we beat them up, doing the cop move in reverse then flipping around was my a buddies best move in his z28 327 auto..lol always let the buyer beware
@@dalemarshall4878 Funny you should say that, In 72 when I bought a 56 2door post the guy told me that the 327 was our of a corvette, so they have been doing that for a long time. It ran good, $400 running missing a hood, door window, front bumper, a little bit of fender damage, those were the days.
I suspect this is why those hated and maligned "ma and pa" "4 door with the post" shoe box Chevys with honest 283's are getting to be so damn respectable and unapproachable. All the two door stuff has been turded over so severely.
I am a real old hotrodder almost 76 now. Flatheads hold a special place in my heart. My Dad owned a Wrecking yard/Garage as we called them out west and then sold that and had a 2 bay garage/service station. I worked and learned from him from 14 years old till I left for the service at 19. Flatheads are where I first started as they were everywhere and cheap. They are like your first girl friend, ya never forget them. I started just mildly hot-rodding them to going as far as a kid (17) could do at the time (my last Flathead) a 286 cu in, Isky cam, Eldelbrock Heads, Mag spark ign. Dual Carbs etc, the usual stuff then, put in a 49 Ford Coupe....I miss those early days. The advice you gave here is very good stuff especially today with the rareness of the flatties. It not like in my day where you could go into any junk yard and sort through dozen of them till you found a good one for $25.
@@killroywashere1254 I have heard of a Noel Temple read about him somewhere and that he built some really fast flatheads in his day. Back when I was doing flatheads it was around 1961 to 63 and only knew the local guys here in Tacoma WA.
That was the best overview on flathead I have ever seen. In 1957 (I was 16 ) I bought a 1936 3 window cope for $25 and put a dual manifold with chrome carbs on it. It may have been a Weiland manifold. The carbs were not the desired Stromberg-s. The generator was in front of them. Not the better arrangement with the generator offset. It was not fast but sounded great when you floored it. My next car was a 1951 Ford convertible , white, contenentail kit, balanced engine, pressure plate and water pumps with a spotlight. It cost $320 in 1955 at the Miami, Florida dealers auction. For a while I had a 59AB engine, 3 3/8 x 4 1/4 (304 c.i. ? ). It was full race specs with a Zephyr geared 1939 floor shift trannie. I got my hands on a McCollugh supercharger for it but was missing the crankshaft pulley, it cost $50 and I got the engine for a 1954 ohv Ford v8 that I paid $25 for. I lost all that stuff when I joined the Army My next car was a 1953 Olds coup with a stick shift ( pretty rare )..I traded it for a project car, a 1953 Ford cope with a 1955 Chrysler 331 ci Hemi adapted to the Ford 3 speed trans. It was wicked fast and I have a million stories of racing it in Miami in 1960. Seven years later I had a 427, 1964 Galaxie that I don't remember racing at all.
Wow this video came just about right in time. I’m off to pick up my first flathead V8 tomorrow. And yes it is a complete running engine. It will be fitted in my first hot rod, a T-bodied model A. I have watched your videos ever since you started the coupe build at the Eastwood Chanel and you are an big inspiration! Thanks from sweden.
Good job Matt. Hit the nail on the head. This series is exactly what is needed to get us newbies, read me, going. Thanks in advance for all your doing and going to do for this hobby. Wayno
I ran into the buying a flathead dilemma when the flatty in my 40 spun a bearing with the associated carnage on the freeway. Still ran though just very rough & noisy. The motor was not really rebuildable, shopped around found a lot of those ran great when pulled stories and ... cracks!...I don't think so comments. Ended up getting a short block built for me from H&H Flatheads. Easy no worries got the engine added a full flow oil system and ccv system bolted my old parts on and I was on my way! Zero problems!
That was an amazing intro’ to flatheads Matt. You had my attention from beginning to end. Look forward to seeing & hearing more. Regards from the U.K. 🇬🇧
I bought the Nostalgia book by Ron Holleran a few years ago and you can really easily get overwhelmed with all if the information, old crazy secrets, and 'folklore' surrounding these engines. Thanks for the video Matt!
I'm in the process of rebuilding my Dad's '39 Ford Deluxe Fordor. Running when parked in the late 60's early 70's and kept intact and mostly under cover since. This is very helpful. I liked the 1939 Forgotten Hot Rod series too. Thank you!
I had the pleasure of meeting Andy Granatelli at Bonneville... {1999 or 2000?} I told him I had a set of Grancor heads and tri-carb but I questioned the originality because of poor quality but he assured me that they were more than likely original because of the lack of speed parts in the Midwest that they made molds from other aftermarket parts with their own modifications to sell under the Grancor name! He shared with me that "They weren't the best quality but they were available and worked good at a reasonable cost" and that They had issues with porous castings and that they got pretty thin if you polished them up! I did sell them for a lot of money to a builder in Wisconsin and replaced those parts with better quality Offenhauser parts!
The Free-T's flathead is one of the most beautiful engines I've seen. There's something about the looks of a flathead that you can't get from any other engine.
Great info, and nice to see a younger guy dedicated to flatheads. I'm looking for a 1947 pickup and these are so different I don't know what I don't know--passion without knowledge is dangerous. I've also discovered someone knowledgeable an easy day trip away. Back in the last price mania I met a guy at Carlisle who asked how to tell a real LT1 Corvette. I rattled off a list of dead giveaways, and he moaned that he just paid cash for one, the guy left, and he's sure it's not a real one. Thanks for educating!
Really great video with outstanding information. I'm looking at putting a flathead with '39 trans into my model A coupe for a build I will be starting soon and this is very timely info. Thanks !
Great info Matt. You mention the water pump positions but not why. Knowing this is not a tell all on these engines. I might add that an issue, especially out west was the pump locations tended to create a low pressure inside the block and heads Ford being from the Midwest was more concerned with getting heat into not out of the engine. Overheating was always an issue. Moving the pumps to the bottom (50-53?) reduced but never totally solved this. All because Ford adapted the model A four cylinder design hense the split cooling system and exhaust routing. This might be of use to someone looking to drive distances out west.
Thanks Matt I have a set of heads for the 60 that has two spark plugs per cylinder and no fins some name is stamped or engraved but I can't make out what it says. Central California watching
I have seen V860 heads ,most were for speedway racers and ran high compression for alky, from different manufacturers. The coolest were a set of Allard finned heads. And the strangest were a set of bronze castings that were in two pieces for use on boats.
Great video - and very timely! I bought a running flathead for my 1931 Model A Roadster. I hope to have this project done this summer. Thanks for all the information in this video - It helped me in knowing what to look for before I bough this engine.
Good start for motor! You should try a banger motor build sometime... like a gow job project... while not as powerful as say a V8, the sound and economy are quite cool. There are replaceable bearing kits for the bangers.
I love no bullshite explanations of old school crap that is crap and caring less about the myths. Good honest opinions you put forth for those who weren't even a twinkle in their grandparents eyes yet. Enjoyed.
I collected flathead speed equipment in Miami in around 1958. You could get a dual carb or a 4 barrel manifold for $25 including the carb or carbs. Used aluminum heads were $25 too, but they were always eroded inside even then. For $20 I got a column shift Lasalle trance with an adaptor to mount on an ohv Ford V8. I only put one of the manifolds to use but I took them to Tennessee in my trunk to show off on my summer vacation.
The flathead range carried on in the french Simca vedette after the US versions finished in the early fifties.Apparently a reproduction run of these french blocks happened only a few years ago.No doubt they went for serious coin.
$3500 for a french block that has the machine work done to remove the governor lump on the back of the engine. S F Flatheads had them, talk to Joe Fazio.
Also I found My matching 1933 Pennsylvania plates! Just found them while I was listening and watching the video, while I was in the garage cleaning up some.
Cool - this is so helpful. I'm thinking about buying a 32 truck. Its making me re-think the price as I don't really know much about the non-working engine. Thanks!
Great video. Just subscribed. I love flatheads. Got a question for you. I pulled my flathead out of my 49 ford,rings were shot. Got it broke down except the camshaft. For the life of me I can't figure out how to remove it. I want to get the block cleaned before rebuild. Any help would be great. Thanks
Shout out to Edsel Ford... If it wasn't for him standing up to the old man there would have been no flathead or the iconic styling of the V8 Ford's! Matt's video would have been: Let's see if we can get 30 hp out of this 4 banger!!!
I have 3 5/16 x 4 flathead with a Cyclone 3x2 intake, Navarro heads, Winfield 1A cam and lakes headers in my roadster. My Daughter has a V8 60 in her T roadster, her boyfriend has a McCullough supercharged flathead in his 27 T.
Matt, a real good start to a successful series. I'm certain that other people here wouldn't mind you "rambling", information is coming out of your mouth not nonsense. You're rambling would feel more like a club gathering. Think about that..
Yes, it had something to do with what you talked about in buying used heads. I thought I could use more compression. Sometimes too much is too much. Expensive lesson.
Fantastic session Matt - thanks a ton. You’ve dispelled some of the myths and confusion I’ve been trying to wade through. Thinking of a flathead swap in my ‘49 Willys CJ3a...... Sounds nuts but if you think about it...a dirt simple platform, no doors or a roof, leaf springs front and back, came with a flathead four-banger....the thing is 90 percent hot rod already. 😜 Just need an overdrive and a vintage motor that can get out of its own way. Seems to me shoe-horning in a little Ford from the same era with some speed goodies bolted on top would be tons of fun in a light little tin can like the Willys. 😎
Great info! Also there are some repro speed parts on the used market as well so not worth the same collector value. Bought an 8BA Eddie Meyer high rise with 2 Holleys. Looks killer but sure wish it was an original! Helps to know what has been repopped if “vintage” parts are baked into the sale or if a part was ever period-made for later engines, etc.
I'm not a Flat head guy My Dad talked me out building one years ago " you'll spend a ton of money to make mabe 200 horsepower " He knew my need for speed .
Matt, have you ever come across any Grancor flathead speed equipment in all of your travels? the name is from Granetelli bros company. Yes that granitelli, andy. of STP and Indy fame. They were out of Chicago. they ran some flathead powered racecars in the Indy 500. Ford had 3 cars designed and built by Miller with fwd and flathead engines. Andy bought one of the cars and that was what he ran. to my understanding Granco built quite a lot of flathead speed parts.
One very interesting fact about Andy and his Indy Ford flathead race car was that he didn't have a trailer for it. He actually drove it from Chicago to Indy to race it. I don't remember the name of the book but it was all about Andy and very interesting. When they had the speed shop in Chicago they were very active in the old Flathead short track roadsters that were popular in the Midwest and California pre and post WW2. A really interesting read if you can find it! Oh, I just found the name of the book. It's "They Call Me Mr. 500". It's a good one and still some available.
@@IronTrapGarage If you come across them again you should buy them as they were very low production. that is if they aren't too pricey. definetly midwest speed goodies.
@@jongolliher3806 I have read that book. also "Ford the dust and the glory" has a good section on them also. I guess us old racing geezers still remember some things.
@@IronTrapGarage in addition that T roadster with flat head that you showed in the video is I think the car that was built by Blackie Gejeian a local hot rodder and racer. he also started up the Fresno Autorama at one time one of the largest hot rod car shows in the U.S. sadly he passed in Sept of 2016.
I must’ve got lucky, just purchased about a month ago a crack free bare 8BA block. Now I am waiting a guy is going to clean his shop out and give me another cracked 8BA. That way I can get some of the standard parts off of that one. I call this flathead project “one piece at a time” I am just going to collect all the right stuff thru time as money allows.
Picked up my C59A flathead for CAN$100. It was in pieces, and I had no clue about how difficult it was to find one that was not a boat anchor. My machinist warned me about the cost to rebuild. I did a budget short block, and supplied most of parts. Still cost about CAN$3K for machine work. Long live the flathead!
Love your knowledge mate. The thing that always interested me in flathead was the aftermarket/speed equipment industry that popped up. Around heads or after market ohv conversion manifolds etc. Would love to see an episode on that. Surely im not the only one. Cheers
Wow. 1st angle of your garage that I've noticed the door & window depths. THATS OLD, OLD, OLD style of building. Wonder how old that stone structure is ?? I know you've commented on the steel beams above it, but that is definitely an older structure they hoisted those beams upon. Wish it could talk !!
@@IronTrapGarage That baffles me. The depth built into those openings looks so much older. What a cool mystery. Wonder how & why the builder chose that course. Literally a decision that completely fits the luck of you, your channel, & hobby .. to find that property. Amazingly a true "destiny" for both you & it. So cool !!!
Matt could you do a video on the 40-41 ford 1/2 ton pickup. I’m trying to get one that’s abandoned on a farm. It’s got a flatty in it, other than that I’m totally blind getting into this project. Thanks
Back in the mid 1970's when I still lived in Northern California, I use to see this first generation Ford Ranchero that had a Flathead in it. I don't remember if it was a 49 to 53 engine or a earlier one.
This is a great video and will be a great series. Like I told you the other day, your wealth of knowledge is of great interest to those of us who are just getting into these traditional hot rods. I may be old in years but am just a kid in flathead knowledge. The tip about pricing a flathead based on the parts attached to it is a great idea and one I never thought of. Makes sense. Thanks for this one (watched it twice already) and looking forward to future similar videos.
I did hear that Ford relieved the blocks until 1941, then eliminated that procedure plus change the angle of valves by a couple degrees, shortcuts if you will. The engines were lacking power, poor gas mileage . Andy Granatelli famous with the Novi Indy and turbine cars, actually discovered that and met with Ford leaders and pointed out issues. In 49, the engine was improved .
Matt, as a school Principal for 20 years, I would have hired you in a heart beat to teach in my building,,,I am an old man,,,,but I recognize a good person and a good teacher,,,,Thanks for your presentations, You are smart and are a kind person to all people,,,,The world needs more Matts in the world...Thanks,
As a machine shop owner I totally agree with you Matt!! Thanks for pointing out out the cracked oil pan rails, typically easy to fix but often overlooked. The only thing I would add is if the main caps are missing(on any core block) walk away! That is just another costly repair. I would also recommend that people carry a caliper with them to check bore size to make sure it hasn't already been bored several times, because 8 sleeves & installation is also spendy.
Great tips Andrew! I knew I’d forget some stuff!
Your words of advice on “Don’t buy into the myth” holds true across all types of collector cars and especially performance cars. In the Classic Cougar and Mustang world, there’s always some dumbass trying to tell you/ sell you that his car has a ‘Boss 302’ when it’s a run-of-the-mill 302. It’s also so easy to buy scoops, spoilers and decals to make your standard coupe into some hot model. A running joke in the Camaro world is how there are more SS’s today than Chevy originally built back in the day! But most scammers are too lazy to go the extra mile. For instance, real Cougar Eliminators have staggered rear shocks - nobody goes that extra mile when making a clone. Knowledge is Power! Thanks for educating folks in the flathead neck of the woods, Matt!
Btw, I have no problem with clones and tribute cars, just as long as the owner is honest about it.
Haha! Yep I had some mook argue with me that the finned aluminum valve covers on his basic 302 made it a Boss 🤦♂️
Ok, I'll date myself, in high school in the 70's, you could buy any SS, hood, trim to make a stock camaro anything you wanted, with GM parts. We all had z28's , ss and what ever with a 327, 307 motors. I laugh at the price of those cars because we beat them up, doing the cop move in reverse then flipping around was my a buddies best move in his z28 327 auto..lol always let the buyer beware
Or how every SBC is out of a Corvette. I imagine a junkyard full of engineless Vettes somewhere. 😏
@@dalemarshall4878 Funny you should say that, In 72 when I bought a 56 2door post the guy told me that the 327 was our of a corvette, so they have been doing that for a long time. It ran good, $400 running missing a hood, door window, front bumper, a little bit of fender damage, those were the days.
I suspect this is why those hated and maligned "ma and pa" "4 door with the post" shoe box Chevys with honest 283's are getting to be so damn respectable and unapproachable. All the two door stuff has been turded over so severely.
As someone who finds flatheads very appealing yet is rather clueless about them, I find this very helpful!
I am a real old hotrodder almost 76 now. Flatheads hold a special place in my heart. My Dad owned a Wrecking yard/Garage as we called them out west and then sold that and had a 2 bay garage/service station. I worked and learned from him from 14 years old till I left for the service at 19. Flatheads are where I first started as they were everywhere and cheap. They are like your first girl friend, ya never forget them. I started just mildly hot-rodding them to going as far as a kid (17) could do at the time (my last Flathead) a 286 cu in, Isky cam, Eldelbrock Heads, Mag spark ign. Dual Carbs etc, the usual stuff then, put in a 49 Ford Coupe....I miss those early days. The advice you gave here is very good stuff especially today with the rareness of the flatties. It not like in my day where you could go into any junk yard and sort through dozen of them till you found a good one for $25.
I am one of those old hotrodder. 80 years old!! Ever hear of a TEMPLE FLAT HEAD??
@@killroywashere1254 I have heard of a Noel Temple read about him somewhere and that he built some really fast flatheads in his day. Back when I was doing flatheads it was around 1961 to 63 and only knew the local guys here in Tacoma WA.
That was the best overview on flathead I have ever seen. In 1957 (I was 16 ) I bought a 1936
3 window cope for $25 and put a dual manifold with chrome carbs on it. It may have been a Weiland manifold. The carbs were not the desired Stromberg-s. The generator was in front of them. Not the better arrangement with the generator offset. It was not fast but sounded
great when you floored it. My next car was a 1951 Ford convertible , white, contenentail kit, balanced engine, pressure plate and water pumps with a spotlight. It cost $320 in 1955 at the Miami, Florida dealers auction. For a while I had a 59AB engine, 3 3/8 x 4 1/4 (304 c.i. ? ).
It was full race specs with a Zephyr geared 1939 floor shift trannie. I got my hands on a McCollugh supercharger for it but was missing the crankshaft pulley, it cost $50 and I got the engine for a 1954 ohv Ford v8 that I paid $25 for. I lost all that stuff when I joined the Army
My next car was a 1953 Olds coup with a stick shift ( pretty rare )..I traded it for a project
car, a 1953 Ford cope with a 1955 Chrysler 331 ci Hemi adapted to the Ford 3 speed trans.
It was wicked fast and I have a million stories of racing it in Miami in 1960. Seven years
later I had a 427, 1964 Galaxie that I don't remember racing at all.
Wow this video came just about right in time. I’m off to pick up my first flathead V8 tomorrow. And yes it is a complete running engine. It will be fitted in my first hot rod, a T-bodied model A. I have watched your videos ever since you started the coupe build at the Eastwood Chanel and you are an big inspiration! Thanks from sweden.
Good start on what sounds like a great series coming.
Great tutorial on the basics. A good review for some of us and a good intro for others. Thanks!
Very well done love it I'm 53 years old was raised by an old hot rodder and you did a fantastic job
Good job Matt. Hit the nail on the head. This series is exactly what is needed to get us newbies, read me, going. Thanks in advance for all your doing and going to do for this hobby.
Wayno
Excellent job Matt. Thanks fer takin' us along...
Thanks Matt, one of your best videos to help us out when trying to figure out what flat-head engine to purchase
Such a great video! I also cant get over how photogenic this garage is. Literally every wall is a work of art.
Thank you!!
Perhaps your best video to date. Thanks for helping out budding flathead-philes. You are expanding the hobby.
I ran into the buying a flathead dilemma when the flatty in my 40 spun a bearing with the associated carnage on the freeway. Still ran though just very rough & noisy. The motor was not really rebuildable, shopped around found a lot of those ran great when pulled stories and ... cracks!...I don't think so comments. Ended up getting a short block built for me from H&H Flatheads. Easy no worries got the engine added a full flow oil system and ccv system bolted my old parts on and I was on my way! Zero problems!
That was an amazing intro’ to flatheads Matt. You had my attention from beginning to end. Look forward to seeing & hearing more.
Regards from the U.K. 🇬🇧
Hey Matt: Even tho you just brushed the surface ,there was a lot of good information for us to take in.Looking forward to the next video.
I bought the Nostalgia book by Ron Holleran a few years ago and you can really easily get overwhelmed with all if the information, old crazy secrets, and 'folklore' surrounding these engines. Thanks for the video Matt!
I'm in the process of rebuilding my Dad's '39 Ford Deluxe Fordor. Running when parked in the late 60's early 70's and kept intact and mostly under cover since. This is very helpful. I liked the 1939 Forgotten Hot Rod series too. Thank you!
good job matt iam running a48 ford f1 with a 255cubic merc cant beat the sound of a good running flathead
I had the pleasure of meeting Andy Granatelli at Bonneville... {1999 or 2000?} I told him I had a set of Grancor heads and tri-carb but I questioned the originality because of poor quality but he assured me that they were more than likely original because of the lack of speed parts in the Midwest that they made molds from other aftermarket parts with their own modifications to sell under the Grancor name!
He shared with me that "They weren't the best quality but they were available and worked good at a reasonable cost" and that They had issues with porous castings and that they got pretty thin if you polished them up!
I did sell them for a lot of money to a builder in Wisconsin and replaced those parts with better quality Offenhauser parts!
Kudos for this. That was a lot of great info jammed into 28 minutes, not an easy task.
Great information and hot rod history. Thanks for posting!
I am in love with the lady car from Michigan and you're customizing it back to traditional way. Thanks for your time and help with this video!
Nice overview, Matt. Great job de-bunking the myth of “flathead gold” that you always hear when buying these things
The Free-T's flathead is one of the most beautiful engines I've seen. There's something about the looks of a flathead that you can't get from any other engine.
Flatheads look perfect was dressed up!!
One word HEMI. :D
Important series TY! I think the Blackie Car is over the top RAD! Have fun Matt! ...Newk from Kentucky
Wow Matt just always the best content. Thanks for keeping me motivated. 👍🏼
You're a great communicator, Matt! I like your realism and good humor. Carry on, sir.
Back in the day my dad had flathead powered rods, always preferred 49, or early 50 Merc engines . Said they were the best !
Great info, and nice to see a younger guy dedicated to flatheads. I'm looking for a 1947 pickup and these are so different I don't know what I don't know--passion without knowledge
is dangerous. I've also discovered someone knowledgeable an easy day trip away. Back in the last price mania I met a guy at Carlisle who asked how to tell a real LT1 Corvette. I rattled off a list of dead giveaways, and he moaned that he just paid cash for one, the guy left, and he's sure it's not a real one. Thanks for educating!
Happy to help. Thanks for watching!
Another good basic primer. Thanks!
Really great video with outstanding information. I'm looking at putting a flathead with '39 trans into my model A coupe for a build I will be starting soon and this is very timely info. Thanks !
I share your fondness for the Ford Flathead. Thank You for doing a video on them.
Love that knowledge, thanks Matt for the video
Great info Matt. You mention the water pump positions but not why. Knowing this is not a tell all on these engines. I might add that an issue, especially out west was the pump locations tended to create a low pressure inside the block and heads Ford being from the Midwest was more concerned with getting heat into not out of the engine. Overheating was always an issue. Moving the pumps to the bottom (50-53?) reduced but never totally solved this. All because Ford adapted the model A four cylinder design hense the split cooling system and exhaust routing.
This might be of use to someone looking to drive distances out west.
Great info thanks for sharing!
Thanks Matt
I have a set of heads for the 60 that has two spark plugs per cylinder and no fins some name is stamped or engraved but I can't make out what it says.
Central California watching
I have seen V860 heads ,most were for speedway racers and ran high compression for alky, from different manufacturers. The coolest were a set of Allard finned heads. And the strangest were a set of bronze castings that were in two pieces for use on boats.
@@Mercmad
My dad used to race hydroplane with the 60s on alki so maybe
Those are very rare! Definitely off something wild ! I’ve seen a couple of them before but never owned any. Rare stuff for sure!
This was a premium information video. Great job.
Great video - and very timely! I bought a running flathead for my 1931 Model A Roadster. I hope to have this project done this summer. Thanks for all the information in this video - It helped me in knowing what to look for before I bough this engine.
This series is a super idea!!
Great video, now you're breaking some sellers hearts haha
Good start for motor! You should try a banger motor build sometime... like a gow job project... while not as powerful as say a V8, the sound and economy are quite cool. There are replaceable bearing kits for the bangers.
Just wondering, are the banger engines the same as were used in the Ford 8n tractors they built?
I learned alot. Thanks for sharing. Great job!
I love no bullshite explanations of old school crap that is crap and caring less about the myths. Good honest opinions you put forth for those who weren't even a twinkle in their grandparents eyes yet.
Enjoyed.
I collected flathead speed equipment in Miami in around 1958. You could get a dual carb or a
4 barrel manifold for $25 including the carb or carbs. Used aluminum heads were $25 too,
but they were always eroded inside even then. For $20 I got a column shift Lasalle trance
with an adaptor to mount on an ohv Ford V8. I only put one of the manifolds to use but
I took them to Tennessee in my trunk to show off on my summer vacation.
Good lecture, professor Matt
This may just be one of my favorite videos. Thank you Matt.
A+. 👍
Another great video Matt!
Excellent Video Matt very informative
The flathead range carried on in the french Simca vedette after the US versions finished in the early fifties.Apparently a reproduction run of these french blocks happened only a few years ago.No doubt they went for serious coin.
The Simca was a V8 60. The New French blocks are an 8BA.
$3500 for a french block that has the machine work done to remove the governor lump on the back of the engine. S F Flatheads had them, talk to Joe Fazio.
Thats great knowledge matt. Very cool 👍
Good video Matt, very informative!
Great video as always. I wish this was up before I made a purchase this past week. Anyone need a boat anchor?
Great discussion. Question: Does anyone offer aftermarket flathead blocks?
The French military blocks have been said to be a superior upgraded flathead..that's what I heard
Great video Matt. I learned a lot!!!! Thanks for sharing.
Hey Matt very informative video on the flat head engines. 👍
very good concept thx
That truck that you have up in the stash cubby above your head, I have two of those with the original paint and all the parts.
Also I found My matching 1933 Pennsylvania plates! Just found them while I was listening and watching the video, while I was in the garage cleaning up some.
Cool - this is so helpful. I'm thinking about buying a 32 truck. Its making me re-think the price as I don't really know much about the non-working engine. Thanks!
Thanks Matt! Great series idea, enjoyed flathead facts!!
Great craftsmanship a great looking T nailed the proportions! Lovely job matt
Great video. Just subscribed. I love flatheads. Got a question for you. I pulled my flathead out of my 49 ford,rings were shot. Got it broke down except the camshaft. For the life of me I can't figure out how to remove it. I want to get the block cleaned before rebuild. Any help would be great. Thanks
Maybe your local machine shop could get it removed
Fantastic video! Thanks for taking the time to make and share it.
Shout out to Edsel Ford... If it wasn't for him standing up to the old man there would have been no flathead or the iconic styling of the V8 Ford's! Matt's video would have been: Let's see if we can get 30 hp out of this 4 banger!!!
Apparently they tried to originally make an x8 engine, that would be interesting
Great idea for a series! Any chance of one on the old big inline sixes that were ran in the 40s and 50s? The big GMCs and the like.
Great video, lot of interesting info. Look forward to this series.
I have 3 5/16 x 4 flathead with a Cyclone 3x2 intake, Navarro heads, Winfield 1A cam and lakes headers in my roadster. My Daughter has a V8 60 in her T roadster, her boyfriend has a McCullough supercharged flathead in his 27 T.
Matt, a real good start to a successful series. I'm certain that other people here wouldn't mind you "rambling", information is coming out of your mouth not nonsense. You're rambling would feel more like a club gathering. Think about that..
Wow Thanks Man !!! That was AWESOME ...
Yes, it had something to do with what you talked about in buying used heads. I thought I could use more compression. Sometimes too much is too much. Expensive lesson.
Fantastic session Matt - thanks a ton. You’ve dispelled some of the myths and confusion I’ve been trying to wade through. Thinking of a flathead swap in my ‘49 Willys CJ3a...... Sounds nuts but if you think about it...a dirt simple platform, no doors or a roof, leaf springs front and back, came with a flathead four-banger....the thing is 90 percent hot rod already. 😜 Just need an overdrive and a vintage motor that can get out of its own way. Seems to me shoe-horning in a little Ford from the same era with some speed goodies bolted on top would be tons of fun in a light little tin can like the Willys. 😎
That sounds like a hoot to drive; we approve! Thanks for watching!
Thank you Matt very informative. I have 4 flatheads, an always looking for more. Stay safe regards to Kate an the kids, an Mike. Terry
289B,s 24 studs, 49 Merc is the most possible 59 stamp, yes. had a wonderful time in the 60's.
Great video and lot's of good information to get started. Cheers
Love the flat heads
Great info! Also there are some repro speed parts on the used market as well so not worth the same collector value. Bought an 8BA Eddie Meyer high rise with 2 Holleys. Looks killer but sure wish it was an original! Helps to know what has been repopped if “vintage” parts are baked into the sale or if a part was ever period-made for later engines, etc.
I'm not a Flat head guy My Dad talked me out building one years ago " you'll spend a ton of money to make mabe 200 horsepower " He knew my need for speed .
loved the video. I have a 1950 f1. i'm not much of a mechanic, but I did learn a lot of stuff in the last 28.29 minutes.
Matt, have you ever come across any Grancor flathead speed equipment in all of your travels? the name is from Granetelli bros company. Yes that granitelli, andy. of STP and Indy fame. They were out of Chicago. they ran some flathead powered racecars in the Indy 500. Ford had 3 cars designed and built by Miller with fwd and flathead engines. Andy bought one of the cars and that was what he ran. to my understanding Granco built quite a lot of flathead speed parts.
Seen Grancor Heads and Intake but haven't owned any yet!!
One very interesting fact about Andy and his Indy Ford flathead race car was that he didn't have a trailer for it. He actually drove it from Chicago to Indy to race it. I don't remember the name of the book but it was all about Andy and very interesting. When they had the speed shop in Chicago they were very active in the old Flathead short track roadsters that were popular in the Midwest and California pre and post WW2. A really interesting read if you can find it! Oh, I just found the name of the book. It's "They Call Me Mr. 500". It's a good one and still some available.
@@IronTrapGarage If you come across them again you should buy them as they were very low production. that is if they aren't too pricey. definetly midwest speed goodies.
@@jongolliher3806 I have read that book. also "Ford the dust and the glory" has a good section on them also. I guess us old racing geezers still remember some things.
@@IronTrapGarage in addition that T roadster with flat head that you showed in the video is I think the car that was built by Blackie Gejeian a local hot rodder and racer. he also started up the Fresno Autorama at one time one of the largest hot rod car shows in the U.S. sadly he passed in Sept of 2016.
Thanks for sharing a friend from Canada Rob ✌
I must’ve got lucky, just purchased about a month ago a crack free bare 8BA block. Now I am waiting a guy is going to clean his shop out and give me another cracked 8BA. That way I can get some of the standard parts off of that one. I call this flathead project “one piece at a time” I am just going to collect all the right stuff thru time as money allows.
Excellent video and information 👍👍
Picked up my C59A flathead for CAN$100. It was in pieces, and I had no clue about how difficult it was to find one that was not a boat anchor. My machinist warned me about the cost to rebuild. I did a budget short block, and supplied most of parts. Still cost about CAN$3K for machine work. Long live the flathead!
Love your knowledge mate. The thing that always interested me in flathead was the aftermarket/speed equipment industry that popped up. Around heads or after market ohv conversion manifolds etc. Would love to see an episode on that. Surely im not the only one.
Cheers
Wow. 1st angle of your garage that I've noticed the door & window depths. THATS OLD, OLD, OLD style of building. Wonder how old that stone structure is ?? I know you've commented on the steel beams above it, but that is definitely an older structure they hoisted those beams upon. Wish it could talk !!
Building has a corner stone dated 1947
@@IronTrapGarage That baffles me. The depth built into those openings looks so much older. What a cool mystery. Wonder how & why the builder chose that course. Literally a decision that completely fits the luck of you, your channel, & hobby .. to find that property. Amazingly a true "destiny" for both you & it. So cool !!!
Matt could you do a video on the 40-41 ford 1/2 ton pickup. I’m trying to get one that’s abandoned on a farm. It’s got a flatty in it, other than that I’m totally blind getting into this project. Thanks
Back in the mid 1970's when I still lived in Northern California, I use to see this first generation Ford Ranchero that had a Flathead in it. I don't remember if it was a 49 to 53 engine or a earlier one.
Like the center water neck best looking
This is a great video and will be a great series. Like I told you the other day, your wealth of knowledge is of great interest to those of us who are just getting into these traditional hot rods. I may be old in years but am just a kid in flathead knowledge. The tip about pricing a flathead based on the parts attached to it is a great idea and one I never thought of. Makes sense. Thanks for this one (watched it twice already) and looking forward to future similar videos.
Hey matt. Great discussion. Flatheads are cool. But what is a merc block? Is there a difference from a ford block 38 to 48
Have a great thanks for sharing a friend from Canada Rob 🇨🇦
Answered my own question i asked on your last video by watching the flathead video 😂. Thank you Matt
I used to have an Edmunds 3x2 intake.
Is that a Studebaker V8 behind you towards the end?
Wow so much information. Thanks
Hi Matt and Mike good info video 👍🇬🇧
I did hear that Ford relieved the blocks until 1941, then eliminated that procedure plus change the angle of valves by a couple degrees, shortcuts if you will. The engines were lacking power, poor gas mileage . Andy Granatelli famous with the Novi Indy and turbine cars, actually discovered that and met with Ford leaders and pointed out issues. In 49, the engine was improved .
To keep a hot rod period correct I'd personally choose a flathead v8, Lincoln v12, cadillac flathead v8, and any 1955 and earlier OHV engine.