Dismantle Flat Head

[Rod Salter]

It has been wet here of late and there is just so much repairing of field phones one can do before boredom sets in, so I thought "get my hands dirty" and get out a V8 flathead to see if it would run, Why not?

I crawled under a wilga tree and dragged off the F truck bonnet from covering the engine.

Using the jib on a tractor I brought it to the shed.

Removing the inlet manifold there was RUST and a rats nest


Not a good start, but wait, - it gets worse

Heads off


Two cylinders had been full of water, one will need a sleeve or some good glue in the pitting


It is a young motor


I got the crankshaft out and persuaded the pistons out of the cylinders (big hammer)

The bottom of the sump had rusted and let the water out covering all inside with oil, as the level seeped away so the bottom end is excellent, oily but clean

The top rings on some pistons have been made from 2 halves, butted together and ground to fit cylinders. Unusual?


Most of the external bolts and most of the head bolts twisted off and required me to drill/tap them out (How I wish I was on an hourly pay rate now)


Getting the cam out I broke 2 cam followers (I should have cut off the valve stems instead) I also bent up one valve spring and broke the retaining groove off 5 valve guides

I have not yet got the valves out of the guides

How did it get full of water?
I suspect the flood in the '80s that got most everything else was high enough to get down the carburettor
It was a running engine when I put it under the tree and bonnet

I have 'lost' the gearbox, but I am sure it will resurface when I am looking for something else.
That is if I remember I was looking for it

What am I going to do with it?

Get a CMP to put it in of course, What else?