Hey all...

I have a '57 F100 with no drivetrain.

I have been offered a '51 flathead, 100% complete, for $400.

It spins, no water in the oil, but doesn't start.

Should I go through with it and pick it up, or should I just stick to a more modern drivetrain?

Thanks for your advise...

CaliFordDood

 

Thats too much for an unknown Flathead. Before I came even close to paying that much I'd have to have proof that it had no fatial cracks.
There would also be considerable fab work needed on the 57

 

I have spent far more for far less... If you want something different roll with the flathead. It won't make big power but it would be cool.

 

I personally don't see the point of putting a Flathead in a truck that orginally had an overhead. If I were going with an old style engine in a 57 I would install a 312, or a 390. But that's just my personal preference, I feel a Flathead belongs in a 53 or earlier truck.

 

I'm into kustoms, which is why I thought the flathead would be kind of cool.

But...alas...the guy found some idiot willing to pay $1000 for it.

It's cool...I'll go with my original choice, a 351C.

Thanks for your input all...

CaliFordDood

 

Then you might not like that I'm putting one in a '66 Bronco. I just had the pic in my 'minds eye' of a retro-rodded flattie sitting where the 170-6 came out and it went from there. But then again, I have a '48 F1 with a 429 SCJ too...maybe I'm just prone to doing everything bass-akwards.

Seriously..the swap is/was too easy, I have several flattie V-8s (early and late) laying around with no known home or hope, and I could not find where anyone else had tried that swap. Plus..the HP and torque match for the stock EB driveline is good too.

 

you think 1000.00 is high a rebuilt short block without the head's goes for 3000.00. flathead's are not cheep and getting hard to find one that u can rebuild i would say the guy got a good deal.

 

http://www.precisionengine.com/g_engines_d_ford.html

Check out Part # 7803

$1,750.00 with core for their premium build long block. For me, it's hardly worth rebuilding one on my own at this price since I can deliver my core to them at no charge.

 

A thousand bucks for a flatty is expensive...at least for California. I've boughten a few 59ABs, complete, for between $200-$400, one I got lucky one, it's running and ready to go, another was a complete, not cracked for $250, plus a few others. $1000 is a bit much, especially if it's not running.
The high cost of a flathead is partially due to the fact theat the blocks many are working with are 60 years old, but another factor is that the parts are just more expensive. It'll cost more to rebuild one vs a Ford 302 or Chev 350, but that because parts are more plentiful for the later engines, and many shops no longer know the ins and outs of a flathead.

 

Down here in the land of oz there is a guy who has never had any other engine than Ford and Merc sideys, when he upgraded to a "modern" car(64 Falcon) a few years back he put a sidey in that, sure looks like it was meant to be there but you should see the double takes when he lifts the lid, first look is yeah its V8 must be a Windsor then the double take when they see the lack of rocker covers. The engines got about 200hp so it goes pretty good in the Falc.