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EFV-8 Club Forum / General Ford Discussion / Help getting flathead running

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Discussion Topic: Help getting flathead running

Steve S

02-17-2010 @ 12:54 PM

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Posts: 54
Joined: Feb 2010

I'm new to flatheads, having just bought a project '39 V8 Pickup with a '52 Merc installed. It's been sitting with the heads and manifold off for many years, but fortunately it's been in a dry garage.

I can't afford a professional rebuild right now so a few friends are coming over next week to help me try to get it together and running, but I'm not sure exactly what parts I will need to have on hand. Any advice would be most welcome, especially on what parts to order.

Right now I figure I'll need:

- Head gaskets
- Manifold gasket
- Water elbow gaskets
- Spark plugs
- Oil filter
- 20W-50 oil
- coil (maybe)

The distributor bits all look brand new, plug wires and cap look good too.

A friend has recommended pickled vinegar in the bores before trying to turn it so that will happen this weekend.

The photo makes it look worse than it is, but I'm still not convinced this is going to work!

This message was edited by Steve S on 2-17-10 @ 12:55 PM

supereal

02-17-2010 @ 1:41 PM

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Judging from the photo, it appears the cylinder bores are rusty. I would expect the valve chamber and the oil pan to be full of sludge, and the oil pump pickup screen to be mostly blocked. When we get these kind of engines in the shop, we always assume they were disassembled for a reason, which probably is not known. If the block is intact, no visible cracks in or around the valve pockets, I'd have the engine fully disassembled, or at least have the pan pulled and the rod and main bearings inspected before attempting to start it. Given the scarcity of blocks today, and the rising prices, the chances are that just bolting it together and trying to start it will damage or destroy it beyond reclamation. Don't pour vinegar in the bores! I don't know how that stuff gets around. If you were trying to see if the crankshaft can be turned, placing Marvel Mystery Oil in the bores would be the choice. I know lots of people claim to have home remedies and other secrets to revive long stored engines, but we have seen too many turned to junk.

Steve S

02-17-2010 @ 2:24 PM

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Thanks for the reply. The rust in the bores looks much worse than it is. I do plan to pull the pan and have a look. I wish I had the funds to have someone tear it down and rebuild for me but I'll have to make do with help from a mechanic friend who is more familiar with British iron than American.

I agree that the big question is "why were the heads off". The gentleman who owned the truck had it for 40 years and passed away while doing work on it. I'm hoping the engine was simply tired, or needed a valve job.

I will proceed carefully and if it looks bad when the pan is removed, then I'll probably mothball it or look for a running used replacement as a temporary measure.

Photo of the truck is attached. Lots of cleaning up still to do!

TomO

02-18-2010 @ 6:51 AM

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Before you try to assemble and start the engine, I would try to contact someone who is familiar with these engines. Try contacting the UK regional group.

United Kingdom (RG# 127)
Contact: Chris Sanders
EM: info@efv8.org
PH: 01708 222729

Tom

supereal

02-18-2010 @ 9:11 AM

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I know that cost is always a factor in our hobby. In the case of long neglected engines, the only economy is to take it apart to see what it needs before doing anything that will increase the cost. I've attached a photo taken recently at our shop of an engine that was actually running, but very noisy. The bearings were ruined, but at least the crankshaft was spared.

Steve S

02-18-2010 @ 12:44 PM

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Thanks for the info. I definitely plan to pull the pan and check at least a couple bearings. I hate making cost a factor in the project because I'm not the kind of guy who likes shortcuts, especially when reliability is on the line. I will keep your advice in mind and not take any chances.

On the bright side, I now have two mechanics coming over to help, so between them I hope we won't do anything stupid.

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