V-8
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 433
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From: Breckenridge, Minn.
V-8
Wanted to seperate this from previous thread. In talking with someone toady I was asking him if he new where I could come up with a flathead V-8. I have located a 48 F-6 that has a flat six but if I get it I want to put a flathead eight in it instead. Somewhere I read that the F series trucks shared the same engines no matter it was a 1 or a 6. They came with a six cylinder or an eight. Is this true? The one I talked to today told me that the Merc flat eight is more desirable than the Ford. More horsepower. I learned a few years ago that the early 50 Fords were more desirable than the pre fifties for the same reason; more horsepower. Is that also true? In talking with him he wanted to know what I was willing to pay for a flathead eight. I figure that any engine I get is going to be a core engine unless it has really low miles. I told him it would be worth $500.00. He was willing to sell the stuck engine out of his 51 Panel truck all too quickly. Was I too high with my offer? 
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 6,779
Likes: 557
From: Kalispell, MT
When it comes to trucks, the break point is '48. If the engine is stock (48-53) it should have water outlets at the front of the head. This should be a 100-106 HP engine.
If someone happened to swap an older flathead (38-47) at some point, it would have water outlets at the center of the heads. These were 85-95 HP engines.
Mercs (49-53) were 110 HP. Generally if you're building a driver you won't notice the difference and a Ford can be easily built way past 110 horses.
If the engine is running, I might be willing to pay $500 for it. I recently gave $350 for a bare block that was stock bore and had been cleaned and mag tested.
This is my guideline for buying engines - stuck and unknown condition, for parts, no more than $50;
will turn over but needs bored and completely rebuilt, true core but might have cracks $100 - 150;
standard bore, turns over, is complete and should run without too much work, no cracks but untested, $250;
running, good compression, not burning oil and could be dropped in and run indefinitely, upwards of $500
If someone happened to swap an older flathead (38-47) at some point, it would have water outlets at the center of the heads. These were 85-95 HP engines.
Mercs (49-53) were 110 HP. Generally if you're building a driver you won't notice the difference and a Ford can be easily built way past 110 horses.
If the engine is running, I might be willing to pay $500 for it. I recently gave $350 for a bare block that was stock bore and had been cleaned and mag tested.
This is my guideline for buying engines - stuck and unknown condition, for parts, no more than $50;
will turn over but needs bored and completely rebuilt, true core but might have cracks $100 - 150;
standard bore, turns over, is complete and should run without too much work, no cracks but untested, $250;
running, good compression, not burning oil and could be dropped in and run indefinitely, upwards of $500
