226 Flathead ?

restoringmy46 · #1 (**permalink**) 12-17-2005, 01:59 AM

I've got a 48 ford truck F1 that has a flathead V8 in it. I took the heads off it and yes I seen the famous cracks between #2 and #4. They don't look real bad but I'm not going to chance building it right now. B/c I have a perfectly good 1950 226 just setting there waiting to be used. It has not ran it 2yrs but when it was running it ran great. I put trans fluid in it b/c I didn't want it to sick on me. So here's my question, it didn't smoke any and it started up great and ran great. So should I drain it and put it in the truck and try to start it or should I take it apart and check things out before I put it in the truck. One more thing, where is a good place or company to buy 226 flathead stuff from. Just in case I decide to rebuild it anyway. Thanks for any help.

rswhitmore · #2 (**permalink**) 12-17-2005, 03:15 PM

I see no reason to take it apart at this time. Put it in an run it. I would use a lead substitute in the fuel to protect the valves from burning on unleaded fuel.

51ford fan · #3 (**permalink**) 12-20-2005, 01:03 AM

My 51 F1 sat for 12 years prior to my purchase. The 226 wasen't frozen but the valves had all stuck so it had no compression. I dumpt a bottle of Marvey Mistery oil in it and let it set for a week then added more and just kept working and turing it over till it loosened up. I was afraid at the time to try to pull the head for fear the head bolts would break. I did manage to get it running and drove it 25 miles home, over the next year I ran it probably twice a week. There was a couple valves still hanging up but STP seemed to do the trick. As I was getting close to getting it to a point to where I could drive it my Accord started having a lot of issues. Not being real intrested in the Accord anyhow I started driving the truck daily 10 miles to work and around town. That was a year ago and the 226 just keeps running better the more I drive it. It was using and blowing some oil but I added some Lucas oil stablizer and to my suprise the oil usage has dropped a lot. I took it on a 120 mile run last Saturday and at a constant 50 mph ( It still has 4.27 rearend gears) it went through one quart of oil. Anyhow to this point I haven't taken the 226 down at all for any repairs.