Have this truck that want to get running, make a decent flatbed for local work.
Most likely end up selling it. Whats neat about this truck, it has less then 17k original miles on it.
All I know about the flathead v8, Grandpa said it had a cracked block, leaks coolant.
Grandpa bought it 45 years ago and has been using it for a storage shed every since.
I am hoping to save the v8, but use it in a different project, a 47 3/4 ton pickup. Or at least save the parts for the flattie in the 47.

My question is, what would be the easiest most cost effective engine to install, and use all the existing low mile drive train?
For some reason I am guessing a small block 351, which do not have but can pick up. Do have a rebuilt ohv I6 that came out of a 56-60 pickup. Also a running Y block and a couple good 390. Anyone have some insight to what will be needed?
Thanks in advance,

 

My first avenue is to find and inspect the crack. Most cracked from freezing are usually
just above the exhaust manifolds. If leaking coolant on the ground is a lot better than
comming from the tail pipe so there is hope. Search Utube for a shop repairing cracks
on a flathead by the drill & tap method. Can't remember the shop but you will find it.
Also a truck in that good shape deserves another flathead. I found one for $400 bucks
on craigs list gave it a paint job and drove off into the sunset.. And then going to a
overhead although no big deal but ya need deep pockets and more time and a big
tool box. sam

 

I don't see any new engine being worth the time or money, if you just want to sell it. There's very little market for the big trucks, any engine and $$$ you put into it are likely to be wasted.

 

Do NOT believe the miles shown on the odometer, as it reads to 99999.9 then returns to ZERO!

Plus crooked car dealers and owners alike would roll the mileage back.

 

That is what I am facing. I should add that the truck belongs to my 81 year old uncle, he is like a father to me.
And there is a "engine shed" this is full of ran when parked and worth storing indoor engines.
I will pull the nose off the truck, pull the engine and set it in the garage. If one of these other engines would bolt to the trans, I could easily fab up the mounts.
I just dont know about the bolt pattern on this trans, the depth of the input shaft.
If I kept the bell housing, clutch etc with the trans, is there another motor that would bolt to the existing bell housing. Is this trans considered the HD trans?

There is a 390/4spd that came out of a 70's F250, I think the trans may be smaller and then need drive line work. I dont know.

The inline six came out of a 50's truck with a manual trans and has a bell housing, but .... This would be my favorite choice, lots of room to work with.

And there is the y block that came out and replaced the ford flathead, this y block came out of a car and has a manual 3spd with overdrive attached to it.
Is there any chance that the bell housing bolt pattern would be the same?

I guess will just have to pull the existing flathead and then get the tape measure out and go to work. Just thought that there may be someone here to read this, know something about the bolt pattern of the bell housing. If I knew, then I could start prepping the engine in the shed, something to do while waiting for the snow to melt.


For the nay sayers, show me a 1951 ford with 117k miles on it, and has the original rubber boot under the gas pedal.

I have played with this truck back in the 70's Grandpa bought it in the 60's with no bed. As is with no motor, would be hard to get $500 for it, With a running motor, starts and moves, maybe closer to $1k.
I LOVE FLATHEADS .... this motor is not going away in a $500 truck!

 

It all depends on how vehicles are maintained. 3/1965, I bought a new F100 352 w/3 speed O/D.

1981 with 156,000 miles on the clock, the engine was tired, but the O/D worked perfectly, the rubber floor mat looked new as did the paint, even though it hadn't seen the inside of a garage since 1968.

IMO, none of the OHV engines you listed will bolt to the flatty's two possible bell housings. I was a Ford parts guy for 35 years, have parts catalogs from 1928 thru 2001, so I know what will work and what won't.

 

You're looking at having to buy an adapter at the minimum for the BH, new exhaust, different/modified radiator, revised wiring, new motor mounts/front crossmember.... for a truck that as-is is not likely worth more than $1500 whether it runs or not. Unless you want to go thru the brakes and tires, get it totally roadworthy, then you will have (likely) $3k+ into it and it still will have a very limited market. If you were going to keep it and use it, that's one thing, but if you just want to sell it, IMO I'd just put it up as-is.

 

Thanks a lot Bill, That does answer my questions and does not surprise me one bit.
At times like this, I secretly wonder why I cant be born a chebby guy.
They have all the luck with the motor / trans swaps.
Will have to reconsider this truck, check all options. I do not see getting rid of the motor. have no use for the truck. Just sold a 1945 2 ton chevy, and have a 52 chevy dump bed with rebuilt 235 to sell, a tri 5 chevy 2 ton with a built 327 that we will keep, All though I like the 52 better and may try to talk uncle into keeping that one instead because of the dump bed.

At 81 years old, is time to thin down the herd, try to find new homes for the toys.
Or when he passes, the grandkids have already demonstrated they will send it all to the scrap yard.
One thing to get rid of old iron to a younger generation that will do something with it, a whole different story to leave it to kids that will scrap it because they dont have time to care about it.
Myself, I am rebuilding a 1949 dodge pilot house, a 1952 parts truck, got my eyes on a old international . I do not have anymore room.
Sure things will work themselves out in time.
Couple ford pics for fun.


The 78 does have title and a nice running 400/c6, will make someone a nice truck. The 1947 was parked running in 1965, been soaking the cylinders with atf and not tried to turn it over yet, uncle wants to keep that one and will be a fun project putting it back on the road.

 

Believe it or not, that 1951 or 1952 Plymouth station wagon (pictured in the background in post #1) is worth far more than this '51 truck.

These wagons are very rare and desirable. Plymouth introduced the first all steel station wagon in 1949, but they also made a woody version, but '49 was the last year for woodies.

What's the "Cornbinder" (pictured above), pickup, Carry-All or a Travel-All, 2WD or 4WD?

 

The cornbinder is the one I have my eyes on, It was uncles brothers toy, he replaced the 304 with a 345 that he had a local machine shop rebuild. He had the 727 trans serviced and it works well, new brakes, shocks, tires, wheels and dual exhaust installed, and he died.
Uncle got the truck about 5 years ago, it does have current 2017 registration on it but only driven couple times to keep things working. Roughly 2000 miles on it since rebuild.
I drove it a couple times and fell in love with it, ps, pb, ac, auto the 345 has a nice rumble and is a torque monster. Older repaint but no rust or body damage, paint flaking off the nose.
And sadly, tried to sell the 1951 suburban a couple times, it is complete and good body, but typical rusted out floors. I will be parting that one out in the next few months, stash all we can in the shed and sell what we can, and get rid of whats left to the bone yard.
I am a mopar fan myself with my 1949 and 52 trucks, will try to get the suburban to the right people.

 

Looks like you're east of the Cascades, where it's rather dry, so rust usually isn't a problem.

There are 1000's of old vehicles and tractors in the area just waiting (hoping) for new owners.

I drove thru the area 5/2010, was very surprised at what I spotted, including an 1956 Ford C600 (cab forward) tow truck in Twisp, Mack Bulldog parked in a shed in Brewster.

 

Yes that is correct, South east Washington and rust is not usually a issue here.
The little plymouth is a local car, but uncle drug it over to the coast and let it sit over there for several years, and that is why it is all rusted out.
I see some of these projects that our friends who live on the east coast, work on.
My hats off to them for their patience and skills.

 

An FTE member restored an old hotel in Waterville, he has "decorated" the ground around it with yard art, ancient trucks and tractors he bought locally for peanuts.

Across the street is an old building that was originally a Ford dealer, opened in 1912.

I asked him if he ever looked inside it or knew who the owner was. Nope.

If I had known about the hotel and this building in 2010, would have stayed at the hotel, tried to locate the owner of the building...so I could get inside and look for 'goodies.'

 

That is 140 miles from here, would make a nice Sunday drive sometime.
Amazing what joy some little piece of memorabilia, left over from a old dealership can bring.
Now I am curious
I have been in Albuquerque NM for the past 14 years, just moved back to this neck of the woods.
Am looking forward to getting my 49 dodge with the flat 6 and 3spd toploader running, go touring these old little towns on the weekends.They have some nice local car shows.
Just recently gave away a old parklane wagon converted to a Ranchero, The new owner lives in one of these sleepy little towns. Be fun to stop by and say howdy, see if any progress. Just happy he saved it from the crusher.

 

Parklane Station Wagon rarer than any Ranchero, and they don't rust from the inside out like all Ranchero's do.

I have several friends in the area who are Studebaker nuts, another friend (and FTE member) is the mayor of Sedro-Woolley.

In 1974, first time I had been in WA since I lived on Vashon Island (1946/47), I stopped by the Ford dealer in Anacortes, left with a truck load of goodies including a 20' banner: NEW 1956 FORDS HERE NOW!

USN Commander dad was stationed in Bremerton decommissioning ships. Both mom and dad looked for weeks for housing, we ended up living on a goat farm!