8RT heads getting scarce??
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Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,196
Likes: 351
From: Mandan, ND
8RT heads getting scarce??
High dollars for unmatched pair of 8RT heads...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1949-1950-1951-1952-Ford-V8-Truck-NOS-Cylinder-Heads-8RT-8rt-Flathead-Hershey-/281822232285?hash=item419de9fedd&vxp=mtr
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1949-1950-1951-1952-Ford-V8-Truck-NOS-Cylinder-Heads-8RT-8rt-Flathead-Hershey-/281822232285?hash=item419de9fedd&vxp=mtr
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 16,165
Likes: 4,767
From: Burbank, WA
They're perfect for the concours restoration builder needing correct 8RT heads. I find it interesting one says made in Canada while the other is plain, and ironic that it's box says contents made in USA. 
More Turbo
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 545
Likes: 15
From: Columbus, IN
Most of the 8RT heads I have seen, have "Made in Canada" cast into them. Carpenters got a boat load of the things back in the '80s. I bought a pair in 1989 and installed them on my flattie when I did the last rebuild. Definitely NOS heads, and came in the original boxes. Boxes were marked "Made in Canada", and had the "Ford" logo on them, and were yellowed with age. Heads had cosmoline all over them. Think I still have them somewhere.
There has been discussion on the RT heads over the years, and the general consensus has been that Ford used either the 8RT or 8BA heads indiscriminately, with most trucks coming from the factory with the 8BA heads. There has also been some opinion that the 8RT heads were not as good a casting.
Either way, I think that when I do the engine in Gertie next time, I will go back to the 8BA heads. That is what was on her when we got the truck, and she was pretty much all original with 42K miles on the odo.
There has been discussion on the RT heads over the years, and the general consensus has been that Ford used either the 8RT or 8BA heads indiscriminately, with most trucks coming from the factory with the 8BA heads. There has also been some opinion that the 8RT heads were not as good a casting.
Either way, I think that when I do the engine in Gertie next time, I will go back to the 8BA heads. That is what was on her when we got the truck, and she was pretty much all original with 42K miles on the odo.
Thread Starter
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Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,196
Likes: 351
From: Mandan, ND
If I recall correctly, the source being credible, 8BA heads were used up til mid 51 or thereabouts, then the 8RT heads were used.
I couldn't believe the price, especially since they don't match. Guy could pull them out of a junkyard, have them magged, sandblasted, painted, and still be in way less then half of what this guy wants.
I couldn't believe the price, especially since they don't match. Guy could pull them out of a junkyard, have them magged, sandblasted, painted, and still be in way less then half of what this guy wants.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 4,963
Likes: 261
From: East KY
There's a handful of guys over on the Shoebox Ford forums who refuse to acknowledge that our truck engines regularly had "8BA" labeled heads until about 1951-52 as mentioned above. They flatly refuse to even consider that Ford used their 8BA heads on truck engines at all, despite lots and lots of evidence that clearly shows it was the norm. One guy on Shoebox Ford dared me and another FTE/Shoebox member to remove our heads and prove we had standard bore cylinders underneath. He even offered to mail us both a head gasket to just do it. When we did indeed remove the original engine from my truck a couple years later, I smiled and thought about that guy when we took the heads off and looked at the original standard bore pistons underneath.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 2,442
Likes: 256
Some of the prices on eBay recently are ridiculous, no way I would pay it. I was interested the other day in an old ford starter until I saw he wanted $75 just to ship it. It made me laugh and I actually sent him a note on it. His response was "maybe one day I can afford it".....lol. Find a good NOS or used parts supplier and use eBay for deals or stuff you never see.....that's what I do.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 794
Likes: 120
From: Behind the wheel, IN
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 1,357
Likes: 415
From: Monmouth County, NJ
1952?
There's a handful of guys over on the Shoebox Ford forums who refuse to acknowledge that our truck engines regularly had "8BA" labeled heads until about 1951-52 as mentioned above. They flatly refuse to even consider that Ford used their 8BA heads on truck engines at all, despite lots and lots of evidence that clearly shows it was the norm. One guy on Shoebox Ford dared me and another FTE/Shoebox member to remove our heads and prove we had standard bore cylinders underneath. He even offered to mail us both a head gasket to just do it. When we did indeed remove the original engine from my truck a couple years later, I smiled and thought about that guy when we took the heads off and looked at the original standard bore pistons underneath.
hi Doc and anyone else- what about 1952 F1? Did they all get 8RT? Or were they using 8BA in 52 as well? Cause many 52’s I’ve seen show 8ba heads.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 1,357
Likes: 415
From: Monmouth County, NJ
Somerville Plant
And if they were still using 8ba heads up into 1952 would anyone venture to guess that in the Somerville MA plant, where my truck was built- that would be more likely since it’s probably a smaller production facility as compared to larger ones? Further from supply chains? Just guessing or hypothesizing here.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 4,963
Likes: 261
From: East KY
It's a question that probably cannot be answered concretely, but, make no mistake, if Ford had 8BA heads ready to go, they probably didn't throw them away. If I recall correctly, there's even a diagram of a truck engine in the truck service manual with "8BA" printed clearly on the head. And I'd highly doubt very many truck buyers back in those days even paid attention to whether or not their brand new truck had 8BA vs. 8RT stamped on the head. I've personally seen too many trucks in person and on the internet that were obviously parked 40-50 years ago with 8BA heads.