i know you guy's are gonna get tired of the flattie questions from me, but i don't know much 'bout them . my question is does any of you know where i can find a tech article or something or can tell me whats involved in jt ? i had an episode recorded from one of the tv shows building one that kind of showed it but my wife erased it to record soaps , aarrgh ! thanx for the help guys .

 

From the most knowledgable Flatheaders in the world.

http://www.btc-bci.com/~billben/flathead.htm

 

Unless you have adjustable lifters, there is no "adjustment" possible. You have to grind the valves and seats to get the proper clearance. That's the downside of the simplicity of the engine.

 

i think i've figured out my problem . i seem to have a valve that has stuck open . im prayin' it didnt do any damage but i got one heck of a mettallic " thud " coming from under the intake and a cylinder missing now . thanks for the help and the link 4tl8ford i will be visiting it !

 

To calm your nerves, flatheads can't "suck" a valve like those new-fangled OHV engines. If a valve is sticking in the open position, you should have a bunch of backfiring or at least blow-back into the intake. I'd pull the intake (a painless job, don't have to drain the coolant) and check it out. Spray SeaFoam on the offending valve stems and down the ports and crank it over by hand a little. If it's really gunked up in there (common) it may be worth pulling apart. A PCV setup really helps with the valve chest "goop".

 

How do you plumb a PCV in?

 

Looks like this. PCV is Fram PCV # FV294, grommet is a Help! grommet #42052. I used a piece of copper shim stock to make it fit tighter into the draft tube hole. Got an AN fitting to match the hole in the manifold.

 

yep she's backfiring like mad and yep i will most definitely pull her intake and take a look . thanx for the picture and description of the pcv valve i will get that done also .

 

If you can't find Seafoam, get some Marvel Mystry Oil.
Squirt some in the offending cly tru the spartplug hole, leave to plug out and turn it over by hand, let sit and simmer for a day, then check again.

 

thanx again guys . were gonna try and free it with it togoether but i think it would be best to pull the intake as she has been sitting for a while and scope her out and clean it . the ol boy i got her from told me ha flooded her trying to get her started , yeah , you wouldn't beleive how much gas was in the oil . worst i had seen since my last holley commited hairy cairy and doused my 4x4 damn near completely filling the crankcase . so once agian thanx and i gaurantee i'll have more questions !!

 

just a quick update . i have two cylinders that appear to have stuck valves , number one and number three . both plugs { new ones } were wet and as soon as i can find time i'll run a compression test for the heck of it . i just have to find the right fitting for her as i've only been playin' with late model drivelines for quite some time now and never one of these cool ol' girls .

 

ran a compression test today after i got the valve in no.1 to free up and i have as weird as it seems 110 pounds of compression on 7 cylinders . no. 3 has an exhaust valve stuck open and she's not being cooperative at all .beginning to look like i may have to pop the head off to fix it . oh well what do you expect from something thats been sitting for darn near a quarter of a century eh !