Ok Ryan here goes.

My uncle that is giving me the truck of my choice was telling me he has 2 different 50's flatheads engine, to go in the truck I have my eye on.

I know your partial to these motors, but I want to hear what you all have to say good and bad about them, and what you think about the whole falthead idea, versus the 460 in an old truck idea.

I would love to throw my 460 in the old truck, but more and more I am starting to think about maybe making it more original. Doing something sort of like what Chris has with his truck right now.

All I really know about these flatheads he has is he has two of them, in old grain trucks, and both of them have been rebuilt. One has been rebuilt lately, within the last few years, and the other was rebuilt years ago, then never used.

 

Do one of each preppy, a Flattie and a 460....
That`s my plan with the 56 M100 is orginal Y-Block and the 53 M100 with a 302/351.

 

I would love to Morris, but unfortunatly I wont have enough time for that. In the spring, or summer I plan to start trying to give my backhoe business a boost, so i will be dedicating alot of time and money to that.

I really wish i could do both, but that isnt an option!

 

I`m sure you`ll get it done in the next 5-10 years, remember that it`s not an over night deal.

 

lol...descisions, descisions... i'm happy i just got one project truck, with one solid engine... all i need is time!!

 

You have it way too easy....Sherm.

 

i'm happy that way for now. anything else right now will have to be real modern and dependable for a work truck as the screw slowly loses the battle of being a family truck...

 

It all depends on what you plan on doing with the truck.

Is this just a weekend cruiser with trips under 100 km? Then the flathead will be a great if paired with a 3spd (Pre 53 4 spds suck) and good gears.

If you want to show off or do long trips then the 460 will be better. Just a word of warning the 460 won't be quite a drop in simple deal. You will have to deal the the steering (engine clearance), brakes (transmission mounting and clearance) and the rear axle. It's not as simple as it seems (Don't ask ).

 

I would use the truck mostly as a weekend warrior. I know that using the flathead would be easier. I can see that the 460 might be a little more better for what i want to use it for but now im thinking about having it original.

 

Flathead, if only for the looks. If your going to put in a modern V8, drop the 460 idea, big stupid heavy gas guzzler. If you wanna be diffrent, potentially still make some good power, and have a more modern V8, go Cleveland, or just be like anybody else and 302 it. If you want class and refinement, use a flathead, be creative and hook up a more modern tranny, make it a bit more driveable.

 

Yeah thats a tough one like Nathan depending what your going to do with it a 460 in a older truck will be more of a challenge

 

Want different? Go Clevor! Just need a 302/351 block and 351C/351M/400 heads. Edelbrock has intakes now so that is easy. The hard part is the pistons.

 

A 460 would work ok if it`s not a daily driver.
In my case, gas guzzler or not I don`t care, it wouldn`t likely see more than a 1,000 miles a year and a smokin ride like that would be well worth the extra few gallons of fuel.

 

go buy a new lincoln truck with lots of chrome...

 

Ok lets go on a 2000 budget (ballpark) here is what you would do with a Flattie.
1)- 150-175 hp is very modest and easy for this money without sacrificing torque.
2) use a Chevrolet T5 tranny if you really want to stay Ford I'm sure something from a Ranger would fit, but the Chevy swap is quite common and would be my choice.
3) Ford 9 inch rear end with 3.50 gears on 16 inch 3.25 on 15 inch rubber a Flathead with deuces setup or 4 barrell can handle.

With a T5 setup and proper rear end 110- 120 kmph is very reasonable
There are many tips and tricks to make a Flathead into a modern driver. Two guys that would know better then me in doing this are Chris (effie) and his supplier whoes name is slipping my mind at the moment.

The downsides to Flatheads
1-if you want to leave a patch at every intersection Don't use a Flathead
2- exhaust heats up the coolant in these motors so they run better in winter, bad part with this is that I'm assuming you will never drive it in winter but yet they do get considerabally (spelling) hot. This is not a problem on stock motors or even motors made to push out 200hp, but accesories like A/C and power steering I would use as thoose are always straining the motor.
3- fuel Flatheads were not made to run unleaded so unless you want to change the valve seats it is a good idea to run lead subsitute or 2 stroke oil with your gas as todays gas is too dry. Ask your uncle if the seats were hardened in the rebuild
3B- Flathead even though small motors do use enough fuel, Not as much as a 460 lol so I take it you are not too concerned
4- oiling system ask Chris about it though onb stock motors its fine but I think I remeber him saying something about the filter setup

Flathead motors were one of the most rugged motors built they would run of miles on a litre of oil, but if they blow they really blow.

I'm with First Try in saying if you want modern big don't use a 460 and even though 302 351 is reliable....... big whoop.