I am going to make this truck my daily driver. I am rebuilding a late model flat head for it. What in your opinions should I do to it to be well suited for Hi-way driving? I am also planning on giving some of these new trucks a run for their money

 

For safety, if you plan to drive it on highways and freeways at 65-70 MPH I would suggest power disc brakes, just in case. In that same thought, seat belts.
What rear do you have in the truck now, what is the ratio?

 

Where's the pics?

 

I am not sure what my ratio is at the time, I was going to check it out when I start working on the brake system. As far as power goes, my flattie will be warmed up a little from stock.

 

Flathead power in the rpm range used during driving is directly tied to cubic inches, compression, and tune up. Multi carbs or four barrel add a little, cam hurts a lot.

Are you comfortable with cutting your frame's cross member? Without hacking your frame your transmission choices are limited. My opinion, mill the stock heads (or EAB heads if you can find them cheap), rebuild the rest of the engine stock, and spend all the money you saved on the engine buying an open drive Mitchell overdrive. Run a stock three speed floor shift transmission, a 3.78 axle ratio, and a 26% Mitchell.

 

Thank all of you for your input, I really appreciate it. Mr. Coupe would you explain to me a couple of things please, first how does a cam hurt your flathead power, and second, I have never heard of the Mitchell overdrive except used in the model A, is this what you are referring to?

 

I hate to be a downer but that probably isn't going to happen with a flathead. Don't get me wrong, I love a good flatty but as one good friend put it "I never spent so much money to go so slow". Doesn't mean you shouldn't run one, just don't expect to give any late model a run for their money.

 

I think that I did not represent myself very well. So let me give it another try. I own a 95 F250 diesel that is chipped up and has propane injection. Their is no way that I am expecting this 42 to run with it. But I still think I can give it a run for its money when it comes to dependability, economy, and enjoyment of driving it. I love my diesel, but unless I am working it, it is not affordable to drive. If this old truck can bring a smile to my face that I get driving my diesel I will be more than satisfied 20 years ago, I subframed a 51 half ton, hot 302 built C6 and had a ball with it, that is until I had the paint and body perfect. It soon became too pretty to drive everyday and it sat for years until I sold it. I will not build anything that I am ashamed to be seen in, but as for perfection, I wont make that mistake again. I want this for fun

 

A high performance cam in a flathead hurts power in the normal r.p.m. range where we drive our cars and trucks. The only honest back-to-back stock cam to aftermarket cam dyno test I have read is in John W. Lawson's very good book titled Flathead Facts. He found that changing from a stock 8BA cam to an Isky Max 1 cam lost power until 3000 r.p.m.

Yes, the Mitchell overdrive is the one you have heard about for Model As. The folks at Mitchell make an overdrive for the early V8s with torque tube drive. If you ask them nicely they will make an open drive, auxiliary transmission, version for you. It will probably be expensive. I copied a picture of one that was for sale a while back:

 

you can wake that flatty up quite a bit throw a blower with injection on it. check out H&H flatheads.

My dads was lucky enough to have his motor built by John Bradley before he passed.

Google Mr. Flathead good info.

 

Thank you for the suggestions, will check out the websites.

 

Check out the "Flat Spot" on Facebook and you can talk to the guys at H & H directly, plus several like-minded (crazy) others.