Flathead?

[Simple_serf]

So maybe I'm crazy, or maybe I'm bored...But...

Has anybody done a flathead swap?

I know there are adapters to fit most modern trannies, and those engines are simple as hell... with a very large aftermarket.

What can I say, i have too much time to think. Still, It's a more practical than an Onan DJ series swap (my other idea).

[Insanejughead]

A flathead 239 is in the plans for my '85 Silverback.


It's going to be all out, but that will be a decade (at least) away.

[rusty ol ranger]

It would be cool.

With the right parts Flatheads are capable of extreme power numbers.

Only problem is there weak 3 main bottom ends.

later,
Dustin

[ZMan]

It would be cool.

With the right parts Flatheads are capable of extreme power numbers.

Only problem is there weak 3 main bottom ends.

later,
Dustin

Not really "extreme", you can dump a bunch of money into a flathead and not even break 300hp. They only make about 80hp stock. They're used more for the cool factor than anything else.

I've had thoughts of building a ratted out Ranger with a flathead, but that will probably never happen. I say go for it! It can't be that hard to do.

[Will]

Yeah, they are nothing by today's standards. You are talking old school Briggs and Stratton here. With the valves in the block there is a serious 90 degree turn into the cylinder--its the whole reason the valves went into the head. That and you have 1,000F exhaust gases going through the engine block which means its hard to keep your added performance from overheating the motor.

Not a good choice.

[86_cookiemonster]

The flat head would be a very interesting choice. Hot rod did a write up on the flat head not to long ago.
http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/engine/hdrp_0511_ford_flathead_engine/index.html

It dispells a lot of the flat head myths.

It would be a very interesting swap though because it having "flat heads" would help to keep the engine bay from getting crowded. If you do do the swap take a lot fo pictures and do a write up on it there are a lot of guys who would like to do this swap.

[de5id1]

The Flathead engine can be a very maintanable, reliable and sturdy engine, I have built a few over the years, as far as overheating problems go, it's hit or miss...the problems lies in the way the blocks where cast, because these blocks where "sand cast" and the water jackets are small and in the block sometimes the water jackets are restricted and do not allow all parts of the motor to be cooled. The aftermarket for Flattys has exploded in past years and with more people building them it'd not as difficult to get good machine work as it used to be. Now for the mains if you are building a high power flatty "Flathead Jack" sells a billet main support system, and other main bearing supports, this is not really nessessary unless you are planning on building a stroker, or supercharging. also look for a "8BA" block to start with, that will put you ahead of the game to start with, also the are some "french military blocks" floating around that are superior in casting and construction that only require small amount of modification. Tranny swaps: the most common trannys to put behind a flathead are the C4 and s-10 T-5 there are a few other conversions out there but are expensive.

Well hope that helps, if you do decide to build it send me some pics, I've always had a soft spot for flatheads, (and rangers of course)

[rusty ol ranger]

I read somewhere its possible to get 400-500hp from a flathead?

Obviously with different parts, but the block and heads are flathead.

later,
Dustin

[snoopjonnyjon]

200hp is really pushing it from a flathead. 400-500hp will cost you more than 1000hp from a BBC or BBF.

Just for interest sake, here's the fastest flathead in existence. Makes 650hp.
http://imgs2.images.hotrod.com/techarticles/engine/hdrp_0511_03_z+flat_head_performance_guide+salt_fl ats_engine.jpg

[86_cookiemonster]

I seem to remember flat head jack was working on building new flat head crate motors, that would be interesting, as you could solve the flat head's casting problems.

I forgot to mention in my earlier post that there are several tricks to compensate for the flat head's over heating and breathing problems.

for the breathing problems there are several choices, note none of them are cheap, and depending on how much work you have done on cars and trucks can be considered complicated.
One of which i have already mentioned is that you can buy an overhead valve conversion kit. This kit was developed by truckers to gain extra power out of the flat heads in their trucks. believe it or not these where the original hemi heads. They where developed by Zora Arkus-Duntov, who some may know was the father of the corvette. These heads allowed the motor to breath much better and bumped the horsepower up to 300 horsepower.

Now there is another option, it has to do with reversing the flow the of the intake and exhaust valves. I am not exactly sure on how they did that, i have to find the magizne i read that in.

here is a link to flat head jacks website
http://www.flatheadjack.com/

here is a site where they are starting to make crate flat heads. http://www.motorcityspeedequipment.com/content.asp?page_id=newblock

[snoopjonnyjon]

http://www.ardun.com/ardun_pricing.htm

Ardun heads are still available, but $14K for a set of heads? If you're spending that kind of money I think you'd want it in an early rod with no hood to show it off, not hidden in Ranger.

[Simple_serf]

See, I was wondering because of the interesting factor... not so much for perfomance. All of them are fairly small motors by today's standards.

Gotta remember I have a tendency to like the "more interesting" builds.


You won't see me put a sbc in anything...performance or not... I just plain don't like them. Too much time trying to help my buddies fix theirs.

[86_cookiemonster]

http://www.ardun.com/ardun_pricing.htm

Ardun heads are still available, but $14K for a set of heads? If you're spending that kind of money I think you'd want it in an early rod with no hood to show it off, not hidden in Ranger.

Why not show it in the ranger, I am sure he can find a way to do that?

A duce style ranger, now that would be different.

[joelpietersen]

If that's what you really want to do and it will make you happy, go for it!