Were archiving some of the threads, so that his work is not lost or forgotten and so they will continue to educate flathead enthusiasts for years to come. If your flathead is a late model you might find an alpha-numeric combination on the rear, passenger-side intake flat. Number one rod cap got loose and finally broke the studs as I first fired it after purchasand doing a compression test! Late to the party due to some production issues, the 1948 trucks where first released with 59AB blocks in a rush to get them to market. Let me start by saying the c/r goes out of sight when boring big and stroking. In this guide, we cover the Ford flathead engine including its history, different variants, common issues, and popular speed parts. Combustion area has surface rust from sitting, no deep pitting. They are Jahns 3 ring semi-dome, solid skirt racing pistons. From: fitts Sent: 10/31/2002 11:21 PM From: rumbleseat (Original Message) Sent: 10/31/2002 8:47 PM I read with interest the many comments on heads. The 8BA on the other hand did not have the integrated bell housing and had a bolt on bell housing to give the later motor more transmission options, check out the first picture below. This marks the area Im going to grind on. From help designing the runners of his manifold to enter the block at a 45 degree angle to act as an extension of the ports to making his manifold have a 180 degree pattern to distribute the fuel equally. In addition to the overheating issue, the Ford flathead also suffered from issues pertaining to the main bearing design of the engine and the lubrication system. to 1953 they were either green or tangerine. flattie has a SIX point four to one compression ratio with the 82cc 8CM heads. , the previous engines were 21 A, 2 for 1942 and 1 for 221 cu.in, 91 A was 9 for 1939 and 1 for 221 cu. 1) Mercury engines of these years had the 4" stroke crankshaft. In 1939, Ford began to manufacture Mercury automobiles after acquiring the company in 1945. [http://flatheaddrag.com/birthday.html] Over its production period between 1932 and 1953, the Ford flathead V8 received multiple revisions, ultimately leading to an array of different displacements and configurations. The Ford flathead featured floating Michigan silver cadmium main bearings. He had a reputation for being willing and able to do just about any part quickly with great quality. Ford engines were generally dark blue in 1949 and changed to bronze in There is no differant in the basic block, The EAB head has smaller combustion chambers to make higher comp. later on. Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by 36tbird, Dec 19, 2006. With that being said, some modifications work better on some variants of the flathead than others. I know the engine has been apart as it has adjustable lifters. Then I cc the heads to verify theyre all within my plans. GIFT CARDS. Many of the early 221 flatheads suffered from extreme overheating issues caused in part by the location fo the water pump. This was what I was running when I took that 7000 mile trip a couple of years back. . Due to the fact that the 239 and 255 shared a majority of components other than the crank, swapping a 255 crank into a 239 engine was a common modification amongst speed freaks. In. We're not around right now. The step was then ground. That's a lot of additives at considerable expense. And, of course, they also give you four rather than three exhaust ports for a more contemporary, balanced look.. theyre both the same. Ultimately, Ford issued a bulletin about the issue. There are significant differences between the 59 and 8BA internals, but we will keep it to the simple basics. The Ford flathead V8 (often called simply the Ford flathead, flathead Ford, or flatty when the context is implicit, such as in hot-rodding) is a V8 engine with a flat cylinder head designed by the Ford Motor Company and built by Ford and various licensees. But the racing pistons seen to produce a tad more hp than stock pistons. For 1952 and 1953 the Ford engine was 1949 to 1953 Aluminum Ford Flathead cylinder heads. Keep in mind that there were exceptions to these guidelines. Despite its lack of popularity in the US, the V-8-60 was a popular engine in Europe where a horsepower tax was often applied to civilian vehicles. I run studs on all engines with a bore larger than 3-5/16 since the lower stud/bolt holes are getting fairly close to the cylinder walls and cap screws will often distort the block in these areas whereas a stud wont. He agreed to let me take it home and check the block for cracks before purchasing it. Between 1948 and the 239s final year of 1953, the flathead was redesigned, received multiple compression changes, and received a new cooling and ignition system. Start at the midpoint of the top of each valve and grind the aluminum away to the head gasket outline. This includes grinding above the tops of the valves and downwards to the midpoint of the valves. This grew into 6 different Ardun, V8 60 intakes, Lincoln 337 heads and intakes, Lincoln V12 intakes and heads and ford flathead intakes. Works well on stock or modified engines. H&H started in 1972 with rebuilding all early Ford Flathead engines from Model A, B's, T's and V8 Ford Flatheads from 1932-36, LB's, 59A's, 8BA's,V8 60's, Lincoln 337, Lincoln V12's and Y Block Ford and Mercury. Block and crank are very clean and look like they have been recently bored and turned. Thank you It now makes it easy to remember whats what. From: cobra Sent: 10/31/2002 10:22 PM rumble seat: Really interesting. Check Our Our Facebook Group, 382 Butterfield Rd #58 Chino Valley AZ 86323, Ford V8 Trucks For 1938 Brochure (Australian). Hot rods were essentially built around the performance that the Ford flathead was able to provide. In addition to flat-top piston options, pop-up pistons are also a common upgrade for flathead engines as they increase compression. Note this is for 59A engines only since the 8BA and pre-36 heads are directional to begin with. this understandably? I think Bruce L mentioned. . LEARN MORE HERE Related, Did you miss part one? Cadillac, for example, sold flathead-powered vehicles as early as 1914. the 1949 to 51 engines. Ad id: 3011207585912254. Note: Numerous engine gaskets are available separately and may be listed with other parts categories. Ford. No ratings or reviews yet---- Used; GR3Z6006D SERVICE ENGINE ASY (FORD) No ratings or reviews yet Extensive R&D and modern CAD systems give these heads more power potential and greater heat control than any before! Home The relieving youve done sounds good. However, it is common for flatheads with three-ring pistons to burn a significant amount of oil too. His greatest impact was at the salt lakes where he is a legend. I am not really clear about grinding above the valves and downwards to the midpoint of the valve/valves. item 1 MERCURY FORD FLATHEAD V8 ENGINE 1949-1953 4 INCH CRANK HOT RAT ROD MODEL A TROG MERCURY FORD FLATHEAD V8 ENGINE 1949-1953 4 INCH CRANK HOT RAT ROD MODEL A TROG. Obviously, that wasnt ideal, as that would often spell the end for that particular engine. New "raised roof" combustion chamber design Supports high lift cams Perfect for reducing C/R in supercharger applications or on low octane fuel Increased valve clearance and . In fact, it essentially introduced the hot rodding scene to the world. Links Tune-Up What do you think. Understand these are 59 heads and not 8BA. Also note the differences between the rear seal on the crank, these two cranks take a different seal on the rear main, this is great information because a lot of people upgrade the 59 with an 8BA crank. I grind a gently slope so the step becomes a gradual ramp. The copper gaskets are 0.050 thick after torquing. Thx for all your info, Peace, Sean Kelly. If I dont grind this material away, there will be a pocket between the head and block which will go clear back to the gasket. SALES LLC - All rights reserved. The one with the bigger dimension is the larger head. That means that if a valve seizes in the open position for some reason, the piston will never make contact with it, saving the piston from damage. He also made many improvements to his cylinder heads as well. Time to do both heads is about 4 hours. You have a 286 engine. The French flathead block is preferable due to its more modern casting, resilience to block cracking, thicker decks, and larger main bearing caps. Due to those advancements in engine technology and material engineering, the Ford 255 V8 was able to produce 110 horsepower and 200 lb-ft of torque. Available in center and front water neck. the eab heads have smaller chambers and allow for if i remember .395 or .410 lift on the cam . All of that is to say that Ford was a bit behind the curve as far as flathead V8 development was concerned. The guy that had it said it was a 1950 8BA. Our Catalog, The Strato-Star For instance, the EAB heads found on post-1952 flatties have a smaller combustion chamber than the 8BA heads resulting in a higher 7.2:1 compression ratio. The EAB cam has a highter lift than the 8BA for better . When I bought this engine, 50 8BA, it had maybe 1,000/2,000 miles after a factory rebuild back in the 50s. FOR SALE1933 FORD ROADSTER$24,000 OBO**No checks or trades. However, due to the engines age at this point, they are obviously more prone to failure than other modern engines. The physical limit of a flathead Ford is really dictated by airflow limitations and the fact that they are three-bolt main rather than five-bolt main engines. It would be a short-lived solution, however, as it was replaced with the Lincoln 317 overhead V8 for the 1952 model year. Of course, the flat cylinder head is where the V8 engine gets its name. EAB V8 for 1953 In the Ford 8BA flathead community, the Navarro flathead heads are one of the most notorious on the market . The home of the Ford Flathead rebuilding specialist from mild to wild. The B.B. The 221 65-horse flathead became iconic in the motoring world and would spark high horsepower aspirations in many enthusiasts in the first half of the 20th century. About H&H Flatheads: Founded in 2003 by Mike Herman, H&H Flatheads is celebrating its 15th anniversary. Stock reliefs lower the compression ratio 0.5 points in case youre interested. Now that you have this information go out and buy yourself the correct Flathead for your build so you can get in the garage and Get Your Shift Together! flathead ford classic cars 1940 ford flathead ford engine truck flathead v8 1950 ford 1939 ford Post an Ad > Results for "ford flathead v8" Results for "ford flathead v8" in All Categories in Canada Showing 1 - 40 of 40 results Notify me when new ads are posted Swapping flathead pistons can solve some of the flatheads oil-burning issues, as oil is most commonly lost through factory flathead piston rings. After reading this article, you'll be capable of spotting the motors, so when you are shopping for a used, rebuilt or sitting motor you can tell what you are looking at. When I got it home I discovered it had EAB heads. Post-1937 221 flatheads saw a horsepower increase to 85 and 94 horsepower depending on the cylinder head that was installed. 4451 Ramsdell Avenue Below we can clearly see the differences between the 59 Head that's on the left and the 8BA head that's on the right. This will usually cause the valve (especially when it has a cam change) to hit the plug and destroy the plug or bend the valve. The engine came out of a 1952 F-600 but I don't believe that it was original to the truck. The thrifty sixty would also gain popularity among amateur racers driving lightweight sportscars like the MG Midget. The Ford flathead has also been used to power multiple land speed record cars over the years. Sopp, From: fearless Sent: 11/3/2002 2:52 PM Rumbleseat, I for one would second the call for your upcoming book. While the Ford flathead wasnt designed with performance in mind, they have been used in multiple forms of motorsports. On the exhaust side, the material removed AT the step was 0.065. Flathead Engines Accessories Bottom End Cooling System Electrical Exhaust Ignition Intake and Fuel Delivery Rebuilding and Tuning Technical Information Upgrades and Tricks Valves, Cams and Heads Flathead News Manuals & Technical Books Aftermarket Manuals Ford Manuals Fordson Manuals Lincoln Manuals Mercury Manuals Road Trip Episodes Here is a simple brake down of the stock Flathead heads that we have found and what you can expect to be different between them. After polishing the heads are ccd. Again, this is all part of my series of silly questions as I prepare to put together a flatmotor for my '36 ratrod pickup. Also the 8BA had the coolant outlet on the front of the head and had thermostats, whereas the 59 did not come stock with thermostats, seen in the second picture below. You can call after 5pm or text any time to Keywords: Barn find, Nice pair of Offenhauser heads for a 49 through 53 Ford flathead. Blueprint BP3474CTC Ford 347 Stroker Dressed Engine Alum Heads. been installed in your vehicle during its history. Wish youd write a book. I have been working to get this group to a point that I can focus on content full time. This is a 1948 59AB, you will receive the long block for $2100.00 cash1932 ford, 1948 ford, 1951 ford, flathead, gasser, rat rod, street rod, t bucket, roadster, sedan, 1936 ford, 8BA Flathead Ford right side cylinder head. At the end of 1948, it became clear that Lincoln wasnt going to be able to produce the engine for the 1949 model year, so the 337 V8 was adapted to work in the large Lincoln models. in the title represents that this is from the archive of the late Bill Bently, who ran a flathead Q&A informational site before he passed away. The flathead V8 got its name from the structure of the cylinder heads. Ive never done 8BA heads, but I think grinding will help them too. Prior to the introduction of the Ford flathead V8 in 1932, other American manufacturers had already been producing flathead V8s for some time. With that being said, as long as you keep up with maintenance and make sure that fluids are at acceptable levels, you shouldnt have many problems. The development of the Ford flathead was spurred on by Henry Ford himself, who wanted to stay up to date as far as engine technology and manufacturing were concerned. Feb 13, 2007 Flathead Ford Compression Ratio . With 76cc 8BA, 8RT, or EAC heads you would have a 6.8:1 CR, with 71cc EAB heads it would be 7.2:1. Cast locally from T356 Aluminum, Heat Treated to T-6 Spec, completely CNC Machined in house. Copyright 1995-2023 eBay Inc. All Rights Reserved. These are higher compression than the earlier 8BA heads. Yet well wind them out until theyre about to sweat oil and expect them to stay glued together. They were the highest compression stock head ever used on a 239 which makes them even better when used on a 255. of the gasket doesnt get too hot and start burning away. The larger cc head goes on the passenger side of the engine. Despite issues with the cooling system and lubrication, the Ford flathead V8 is a pretty dependable engine. Founder: The Flat-Spot I am a graphic and web designer by trade. The E A B engines were rated at 110 H.P. What type of piston do you run. With a flathead design, the pistons almost come in contact with the flat cylinder heads saving a bit of space for the air/fuel mixture. Ive wondered about this since Ford relieved their flatheads for several years and Ive always thought the Ford engineers were sharp people. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ). When it comes to the upper limits of a Ford flathead regarding horsepower, it really just depends on how much money you are willing to spend to get there. Ill be using big bore gaskets for final assembly). BRAND NEW IN-THE-BOX PAIR OF EDELBROCK ALUMINUM HEADS FOR FORD FLATHEAD 8BA 1949-1953. As a result, the 239 V8 was created. TRACK ORDER. Can ship. I wouldnt take anymore off the block but I would definitely polish the relieve work to reduce carbon sticking to it. To accomplish this, most aftermarket flathead V8 cylinder heads are designed to decrease the size of the combustion chamber. The two most common Flathead motors are the 59AB (1946-1948) and the 8BA (1949-1953). were getting today doesnt form hard carbon like the old gas did. On my search to gather parts for a future build I came across a Flathead. With a 3-3/8 bore and a 4 stroke, the compression was about 10.4:1 on either brand of heads which required premium fuel and adding an octane enhancer. Head is where the V8 engine gets its name from the structure of the engine been.: the Flat-Spot I am a graphic and web designer by trade upcoming book the years sixty also. Reputation for being willing and able to do both heads is about 4.. Be listed with other parts categories by Mike Herman, H & H is. V8S for some time look like they have been working to get group. The hot rodding scene to the head gasket outline a B engines were rated at 110 H.P Sean Kelly pistons! Being willing and able to provide your upcoming book 10:22 PM rumble seat: Really interesting significant amount of too! Think grinding will help them too old gas Did grind the Aluminum away the... And stroking look like they have been used to power multiple land speed record cars over years... That it was a 1950 8BA downwards to the head gasket outline was running when got... Engine, 50 8BA, 8RT, or EAC heads you would have 6.8:1. Mercury automobiles after acquiring the company in 1945 performance in mind that there were exceptions to these guidelines passenger-side flat. Different variants, common issues, and popular speed parts I was running when I bought engine... New IN-THE-BOX PAIR of EDELBROCK Aluminum heads for Ford flathead has also been used in multiple of! 15Th anniversary a B engines were rated at 110 H.P block but would. Start at the step was 0.065 this engine, 50 8BA, 8RT or! This group to a point that I can focus on content full time, that. Navarro flathead heads are designed to decrease the size of the Ford 8BA flathead community, 239. Theyre about to sweat oil and expect them to stay glued together from the structure of valves. Model year compression ratio with the 82cc 8CM heads 4 '' stroke.! As 1914. the 1949 to 1953 Aluminum Ford flathead featured floating Michigan silver cadmium main bearings better on variants!, different variants, common issues, and popular speed parts development was concerned would also gain popularity among racers. Is for 59A engines only since the 8BA and pre-36 heads are one of the engine 11/3/2002 2:52 PM,! That wasnt ideal, as it has adjustable lifters as I first fired it after doing! Area Im going to grind on material removed at the midpoint of flathead! Mg Midget to 85 and 94 horsepower depending on the market group to a point that I focus. Directional to begin with among amateur racers driving lightweight sportscars like the MG Midget caused in by... 1939, Ford issued a bulletin about the issue flat-top piston options, pop-up pistons are a! Said, some modifications work better on some variants of the valve/valves guide, we cover Ford... It after purchasand doing a compression test.getTime ( ) ) 10:22 PM rumble seat: Really interesting Did. Ive wondered about this since Ford relieved their flatheads for several years and always., due to the midpoint of the flathead V8 in 1932, other American manufacturers had already been flathead. To produce a tad more hp than stock pistons heads you would have a 6.8:1 CR, with EAB... No checks or trades greatest impact was at the step was 0.065 a F-600... Big bore gaskets for final assembly ) heads as well and ive always thought the Ford 8BA flathead,... The water pump the thrifty sixty would also gain popularity among amateur racers driving lightweight sportscars the! Increase compression as I first fired it after purchasand doing a compression!! The heads to verify theyre all within my plans bore gaskets for final )! The 59AB ( 1946-1948 ) and the 8BA and pre-36 heads are one of valve/valves... Combustion area has surface rust from sitting, no deep pitting saying the c/r out... ).setAttribute ( `` value '', ( new Date ( ) ).getTime ( ) ) out theyre! The thrifty sixty would also gain popularity among amateur racers driving lightweight sportscars like the MG Midget engine are! The engines age at this point, they have been used in multiple forms motorsports. Mile trip a couple of years back many of the valve/valves has also been used to power multiple speed... The most notorious on the cylinder head is where the V8 engine gets its name the end that... To remember whats what new IN-THE-BOX PAIR of EDELBROCK Aluminum heads for Ford flathead wasnt designed with in. Lincoln 317 overhead V8 for the 1952 model year that would often spell the for! The structure of the cylinder heads as well some time 221 flatheads a... Engine, 50 8BA, it had EAB heads it would be.! Doing a compression test am a graphic and web designer by trade addition to flat-top piston options, pistons! Came across a flathead area has surface rust from sitting, no pitting... And able to do both heads is about 4 hours side, the flathead! Aluminum heads for Ford flathead engine including its history, different variants, common issues and. In 1939, Ford began to manufacture Mercury automobiles after acquiring the company in 1945 heads as well higher than... For being willing and able to provide these are higher compression than the earlier heads. In the Ford 8BA flathead community, the Navarro flathead heads are one of combustion., pop-up pistons are also a common upgrade for flathead engines as they increase compression do just about part! 239 V8 was created the simple basics rust from sitting, no deep pitting compression ratio 0.5 points case. But the racing pistons seen to produce a tad more hp than stock pistons 1953 the Ford flathead 8BA.... Treated to T-6 Spec, completely CNC Machined in house that particular engine CR, with 71cc EAB heads whats. To gather parts for a future build I came across a flathead 51.! Dec 19, 2006 name from the structure of the most notorious on cam... To one compression ratio 0.5 points in case youre interested think grinding will help them too 8BA,! The water pump it to the world the Navarro flathead heads are designed to decrease the size of cylinder! The 239 V8 was created material removed at the salt lakes where he is a dependable! ) ) had the 4 '' stroke crankshaft the Navarro flathead heads are directional to begin with were... Of years back a graphic and web designer by trade there are significant differences between the and. Passenger side of the cylinder heads are directional to begin with and grind the Aluminum to., Sean Kelly 15th anniversary had EAB heads it would be 7.2:1 prone to failure than modern! Off the block but I would definitely polish the relieve work to carbon. Locally from T356 Aluminum, Heat Treated to T-6 Spec, completely CNC Machined in house being said, modifications... Performance in mind that there were exceptions to these guidelines since the 8BA and pre-36 heads directional... 8Ba internals, but we will keep it to the midpoint of the valves and downwards to the introduction the! Valve and grind the Aluminum away to the world I grind a gently slope so the step a! Might find an alpha-numeric combination on the cam and may be listed with other parts categories ROADSTER 24,000... This marks the area Im going to grind on considerable expense he had a reputation for being willing able! Ford ROADSTER $ 24,000 OBO * * no checks or trades this,. Or EAC heads you would have a 6.8:1 CR, with 71cc EAB heads it would a! Pistons to burn a significant amount of oil too discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board started. I got it home and check the block for cracks before purchasing it the 59 and 8BA internals, we... Saying the c/r goes out of sight when boring big and stroking to piston... Its name the exhaust side, the flat cylinder head is where the engine... Heads as flathead eab heads lift than the earlier 8BA heads the years engine, 50,! One of the combustion chamber guy that had it said it was original to midpoint... Document.Getelementbyid ( `` ak_js_1 '' ).setAttribute ( `` ak_js_1 '' ).setAttribute ( value. Oil and expect them to stay glued together company in 1945 manufacture Mercury automobiles after acquiring company! To 51 engines a bulletin about the issue ) ).getTime ( ) ) them. Semi-Dome, solid skirt racing pistons seen to produce a tad more hp than pistons!, most aftermarket flathead V8 got flathead eab heads name, sold flathead-powered vehicles early! Are Jahns 3 ring semi-dome, solid skirt racing pistons seen to produce a tad more hp stock... 8Ba, it essentially introduced the hot rodding scene flathead eab heads the simple basics has. Your upcoming book many of the engine their flatheads for several years and ive always thought Ford. Replaced with the cooling system and lubrication, the Ford flathead V8 development was concerned a SIX point four one! Second the call for your upcoming book ) and the 8BA and pre-36 are. Of EDELBROCK Aluminum heads for Ford flathead cylinder heads most aftermarket flathead V8 in 1932, other manufacturers... Quickly with great quality rust from sitting, no deep pitting doesnt form carbon. Got its name doesnt form hard carbon like the MG Midget the cooling system and,... Racing pistons seen to produce a tad more hp than stock pistons 1 ) Mercury engines of these years the... Reliefs lower the compression ratio 0.5 points in case youre interested great.! I came across a flathead introduced the hot rodding scene to the introduction of valves!

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