Looking for a Ford Flathead V8
 

Hi All

Im looking for a Ford Flathead V8 engine for my carrier. The old one it has pretty much called it quits on me.

The kind I am after is the 37-41 style that was used during the war. I'd prefer running. Also prefer it if the engine was in Ontario.

Anyhelp please let me know.
Jordan

Just curious, no motor to offer you
 

If you are willing to consider a replacement motor that either "ran when removed from the vehicle" or "runs but needs work", why not get your present one rebuilt? There seem to be 10 flathead specialist rebulders for every Chev rebuilder. I've even found a shop that will sell you a newly cast block set up for 289CID displacement. Is it that you want to keep the present motor in the carrier until the new one is ready to drop in? Rob Clarke may be able to help you with a motor (not much known about the condition), the problem is that it is mounted in a truck that he'd probably want to sell you as a package.

Probably...
 

Definitely. It is my preference to sell the Furd as a restoration project and not part it out. The truck is mostly complete less a tray (but I know Jordan has one, but let's not drag up that old chestnut again).

There are two of the local folk with an interest in the truck, but so far no offers...

Ive thought about rebuilding the engine that I currently have. However it is a pre-war flathead from the 1932-36 models. I'd like to get a proper wartime looking one of the kind used in the carriers.

I don't mind at all having it rebuilt. Ive already got the carb, generator and a few other specific carrier parts that I would take off of this engine.

Rebuild
 

Jordan.
I suggest you stick with what you have and rebuild it..At least you have a good block and a new set of over sized piston and rings will give you that little extra..make sure you have the heads boiled and cleaned out well in the water passages..
At least you know the block is good..
and every thing will fit back in..

The 32 to 38 was a 21 stud 85 hp flattie and it's my understanding that that's what the carriers came out with. I know that a lot of the ones you see have the 39 to 48, 24 stud 100 hp version like the CMPs had but they were replacements. You see some with a 49 and up replacement motor with the top distributor too.

Well Alex, my problem is that I may not have a good block. I had both water pumps go on this weekend at an event. The seals failed and were allowing the pumps to suck in lots of air and this in turn overpressurized the rad and caused lots of fluid loss. So i rebuilt the waterpumps and installed them today. Filled up the rad again with deinonized water and Engine started fine but after about 5 min I noticed white smoke coming from the exhuast. Checked underneath and there was water pissing from the drainage holes in the mufflers. So i checked the oil and it was a lovely shade of light grey. Unless a head gasket has gone I may have a craked block.

I'd still like to get the proper wartime style of flat head with the water pumps down low at the front and the water outlet centered at the top of the heads. As you can see my flat head is the early, early style.

This is the kind I am after.

Hi Jordan

Good luck finding a running flathead that you seek at a reasonable price....

Never trust the "ran a while ago story" neither as flatties invariably seize up tighter than a drum after time due to the nature of their construction. I always assume that unless a guy can start it for me right there and then that it is a "rebuilder", period, and only worth scrap.

Flatheads are also prone to cracks and you may have what appears to be a good one turn out to be scrap. You may need to go through several before finding a truly rebuildable one. It might cost you a bunch of time and money tearing several down and then having hot tanked and magnafluxed before you have a decent block.

At one time I had 4 engines, tore them all down and ended up with 1 good one and 3 boat anchors.

Lastly, a flathead rebuild is going to cost you big time. The last one I had done was in excess of $3000 and that was several years ago.

You might want to entertain one of the crate engine flatheads floating around, I believe that the were French rebuilds and came in a couple years ago. Marcus at Willys Acres had some and they were reasonably priced compared to doing a complete rebuild. They were slightly different but for the price not a bad sub. Alternately you could consider re-powering the carrier with an alternate motor. I always thought a small diesel would be neat....

Those must have been examples of the "French Flathead", a postwar Ford V8 as used in the French SUMB MH600BS 1.5-ton 4x4 truck.
They are very different, but I agree, a good substitute - much better than a diesel :ergh: anyway!

Hanno

Jordan, the motor in your carrier is the proper style for it. That's the only kind they put in them.
If you go to overhaul a 221 ci flattie, the 37 and newer used replaceable main bearings where the earlier ones had poured babbit mains. If the motors weren't rebuilt at one time, they have the dual faced rod bearings too which makes the motor more expensive to rebuild. As for cracked blocks, the cracks that form radiating from the head bolt holes don't matter. It's the ones in the valve seat area that turn the motor into a boat anchor.

Jordan,
I'd suggest that you check out the following site. After I did, I purchased a '46 Mercury engine fior my F8 restoration project. It works/fits perfectly!

http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/flathead_home.htm

Regards,
Jim

I don't agree about the motor Jordan has now being the correct one. Look at where his water pumps and water outlets are. Any Carrier serialled blocks I have seen are the later engines with the low double pulley water pumps and the water outlets in the middle of the head.

Jordan:
I have had a bit of luck with Flatheads this summer. I bought one to use as a quick install on my carrier, and picked up a second truck that shows the promise of running. I gotta quit hanging out at auctions. Both are 49s unfortunately, so the water outlets are in the front of the heads and not in the middle. Shame you are not out this way or I could make you a smokin deal on the spare. The 49 Fords can be converted back to the hard access position for the distributers, they already have the right style water pumps, but unfortunately there is no way of fixing the water outlet positions.

I was thinking that all the 221s were 21 stud engines but they weren't. I guess you learn something new every day. They made 24 stud 221s from 1939 to the end of the war (85 hp) and these are the ones used in the carriers. They look the same as the 100 hp ones in the CMPs. Around here the 100 hp flatties aren't too hard to find although the 1949 and up engines are easier to come by. I have several of the newer ones including some 255 Mercs. It seems that by the early sixties when a farmer put a rebuild in his truck it was usually a 255 for the horsepower gain. I also have several of the CMP style engines but then I also have several CMPs that don't presently have engines in them.