Ok technically second test drive, but I'm not counting the drive around the house last week. I have been fighting electric fan problems on my '51, trying to adjust it like the instructions say. Turn adjusting screw all the way clockwise (hottest setting), start motor, when thermostats open, turn screw counter clockwise (towards coldest setting) slowly until fan kicks on. Ok, do that, pop, blows the fuse. Eventually not that it should matter, found that the instructions were completely bass-ackwards, clockwise was coldest. When I did it backwards my way, no fuse blown and clicks on and off just fine. I don't know what the deal is, I hate electronics and this is one reason why.

Anyway, fan kicking on and off, flatty shows running right on the 3/4 mark and holding steady idling in the back yard. Warmer than I'd like, but new/tight motor will hopefully settle down eventually. Power steering pump mounted (no pics developed yet, but very happy with how it looks on the flathead) and the power ram unit operates. Sooooo, tell my helper buddy to get in his Dudge truck and keep up with me, call my cell if any flames, smoke, other bad things shoot out from the F1. Engine idles great but is very underpowered taking off, picks up a little, but tries to die pulling up to a stop sign and sputters when motoring steady at 45-50 mph. BUT, I have not touched the carb, bolted on as is from the box. Pump the gas once, turn key on, barely push the start button, and flatty immediately fires. So I figure just some fine tuning, checkthe float, change out the secondary springs (it's a holley 390 4bbl, 3/4 schneider cam) will be a big improvement.

Driving a nice straight stretch the temp lowers down to almost half on the gauge. The power ram steering is VERY WEIRD to get used too. It is very sensitive, almost like my grandpa's old 65 Chevy truck was. Vintage air heater blows hot and hard. We motored 10 miles into town, picked the wife up at the mall, went to eat (and of course had to go check the truck a couple times to be sure nothing was on fire), and drove home in the dark. Halogen headlights awesome compared to the old 6 volts. The Mazda truck seats are so much more comfortable than the old bench seat. Yep, cruising was definitely missed the last few years, and I could tell the truck wanted to get out and go. Got home, pulled her in the garage, the electric fan ran about a minute after shut down, and all was well. Yes, I am so giddy I'm rambling.

Anyway, the "to do" list is much smaller, but still need to: adjust carb and timing, finish radio mount plate and install radio, hook linkage up for power cowl vent, replace passenger vent window (late night mishap), polish paint, and ready for cruise night.

And the one thing I'd almost forgot about, the head turns and thumbs up from just about everyone I drove past. That's pretty cool.

 

Very nice! Sounds like you had a very enjoyable afternoon and evening and things went pretty smoothly.

Good for you!
Bobby

 

Looks like you have a pair of real sweet rides, is the Mustang your`s as well?

 

Congratulations Scott! Another F-1 on the road.

 

I have a question? I am not familiar at all with flat head engines .... however you say that your flathead is a V8 but looking at your pic's in your gallery on the rebuilt flathead your exhaust manifolds (headers) only have 3 tubes on each side? Am I missing something here?

Thanks for the education,
Mason

 

The flathead center 2 cylinders share the middle tube, kind of like the old Chevy rams horn manifolds.

 

One thing I did when I ran the flathead in my 50 Coupe was to install two temperature gauges. One for each head. A flathead can burn up one side of the block if one water pump fails. A mooneyes gauge cluster below the dash would not look out of place IMO. You may run a little warm at 060 over. Be carefull about hot summer days and stop and go traffic.

 

Con-Gran-U-Lations
Another Flatmotor F-1 Ford on the Highways and the Byways.

Thank You Sir.

 

Mason

A Flathead engine has the valves and the intake and exhaust passages in the block, as opposed to the Overhead Valve engine.
The lifters ride on the cam and the valves ride directly on the lifters so there are no pushrods.
On the Ford Flathead V8 there are two water pumps and the left and the right sides of the cooling system are seperate.

They are as unique today as when the first appeared in 1932 (For Ford). It is one of those "Never goes away things" once they get under your skin.

Dick

 

Mason, what Dick said I second. I've had people at car shows in the past ask the same question you have, so I tell them to count the spark plugs and then explain the siamesed exhaust ports for the center two cylinders. That's just the way Henry did it, it made the V8 affordable to the everyday joe, and it worked for 20+ years. A combination of all the design quirks makes for a sound that you won't forget. You have people walking through car shows glancing at all the small blocks, but when they get to your flathead, they ask to hear it run. It's pretty cool.

By the way, just started tinkering with the carb, the floats were both set as low as they can, with hardly any fuel in the bowls. Got those adjusted but haven't driven it yet, but that should help the stalling and sputtering. Surprised the think could run like it did the way they were set.

 

Fomoko1, yep it's my fastback too. I was caretaker of it for my father in law for 3 years, thought we were giving it back to him, next thing I know wife had gotten a loan and bought it from him so it's all ours now. People get on to me driving it every day, but they're no fun parked in the garage.

 

Scott,
That is one nice looking truck congratulatoins on getting it back together.
What color did you paint it? I can't tell if it black or blue.
These old trucks are getting very rare and is good to see them on the road again.
Don

 

Scott123, I have a 65 GT Fastback sitting in my shop that`s 85 percent finished, just needs afew weekends to complete. I have too little time and enjoy driving my 67 Fastback too much.

 

My wife wants me to tear into the mustang next but I'm afraid I'd get burned out after spending so much time on this truck. The mustang looks great, but previous owner work needs fixed plus some. The floor pans were replaced, but just tack welded in every six inches or so and the rest gooped up with silicone. I want that all welded up correctly. And the rear springs/frame rails are in need of attention as well as the engine. The motor is fairly low mileage but my father in law let it sit so long the seals in the heads are shot and I have to add a quart of oil every 2 weeks or so.

Don, it's painted black. I bought the paint off of ebay, the complete urethane paint kits that are being offered. thought I'd do that so if I screwed it up (1st paint job) I wouldn't be out too much. It turned out decent, but I do need to buff it out before I call it done.

Had my first almost major oops last night. Took it for a spin, and when done was pulling it around behind my house to park in the basement garage. Steep hill from front to back yard, make it to the bottom of the hill and start to turn when there is a pop, distinctive sound of a spring hitting metal, and the brake pedal goes to the floor. The nice hairpin clip I put in the pin that attaches the pedal to the push rod beamed itself away. Luckily I was not on the road and had slowed to almost a stop before it happened. All of those nice little stainless hairpin clips I put on that, the clutch pedal, shifter linkage, have all now been replaced with good ol cotter pins, which I should have used in the first place.

 

Glad to hear you got it back on the road. I drove mine yesterday for the first time in four years, forgot how much fun it is. Just have a few minor things to fix and need to figure out why my master cylinder wants to push fluid out around the cap, also need to find instructions so I can get the remote door key fobs to work (don't like leaving the window down or showing were the remote buttons are hidden).

Anyway enjoy I know I will.

Chuck