Engine swap time bad flatty
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 815
Likes: 4
From: mountaintop, Pa
Valves are fine Bobby, that's just carbon buildup on it. The piston was letting oil in the combustion chamber for sure. the rest looked good on that bank. the other side was doing the same thing that's why I thought it just needed head gaskets. I guess my big concern with this flatty is if I spend more cash on it only to find out that the block is bad..... I still have to pull the drivers side..
bob
bob
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 160
Likes: 0
From: Enfield Connecticut
Sheesh. I've got a good running but tired flatty. Too bad you didn't live closer because I've been thinking about doing the 302 swap lately. My flatty is tired and has blowby, but I'm afraid to tear it apart only to find out it's cracked, so I'm just running it as-is for now, and I'm sure that'll be good for a long while. Good luck!
Roast em' if you got 'em
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 22,017
Likes: 9,975
From: Rio Rancho, NM
Bob,
I was looking at the first pic wrong.....rectal cranial inversion is a bad, bad thing...lol
Slapping another piston or two in isn't too horrible....or you can go ahead and make the plunge into the depths of the darkside with a chrome covered fire breathing monster cubic inch exhaut pounding manly-man modern drivetrain. (have I ever mentioned that the big Caddy is alot of fun in these old trucks...LOL)
55 f350, I don't think I need to meet them, my wife is pretty good about killing any kind of technology, I can drive something for years without any issues thenlet her take it for an afternoon and WHAMMO!!!!
Bobby
I was looking at the first pic wrong.....rectal cranial inversion is a bad, bad thing...lol
Slapping another piston or two in isn't too horrible....or you can go ahead and make the plunge into the depths of the darkside with a chrome covered fire breathing monster cubic inch exhaut pounding manly-man modern drivetrain. (have I ever mentioned that the big Caddy is alot of fun in these old trucks...LOL)
55 f350, I don't think I need to meet them, my wife is pretty good about killing any kind of technology, I can drive something for years without any issues thenlet her take it for an afternoon and WHAMMO!!!!
Bobby
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,337
Likes: 165
From: Harpswell Maine
Bob, I have not rebuilt a flathead in 20 years but my memory says no. Even with a good ridge it should come out the top. If there is much of a ridge, you may want to rethink the single piston replacement.
Junior User
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
It wont hurt to check it besides the time pull the pan unbolt the piston and see if it will come out it may pop right out pop a new piston in and a set of rings and good to go for a while longer and give you time to think about this beast new heart I dont see any reason why the block would be bad the rod didt come loose and punch a hole in the block I say go for piston change out and slap it back in but thats my opion
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 815
Likes: 4
From: mountaintop, Pa
I agree it may be worth it or the block could be crap I still don't know the full extent of the smoking. Does anyone have a pic of a bad head gasket? I'm not convinced this piston was the source of my smoke, this piston was kinda the kicker...I still had white smoke/ condensation out the exhaust..
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Brett Foote
Junior User
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
From: La Luz, NM
From the pix, I think the rings are busted. With that much ridge you will need to use a ridge reamer to clean up the top of the bore. I think Autozone has tools they will let you use or rent. I still think you will end up better off with a good running used flat motor.
Rebuilding these gets really expensive.
Rebuilding these gets really expensive.
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 815
Likes: 4
From: mountaintop, Pa
Could you kind folks help me locate a single piston? Right now I think it's worth a shot. I'm going to finish pulling the front end. pull the other head and change the gaskets and that piston and see what happens. If you don't help me I'm putting in that treefity...
Also, if anyone has any info on dropping in a nailhead I'd be grateful. The best install I've seen so far is in a 53 but it has a set of headers I cannot find anywhere. center dump.
bob
Also, if anyone has any info on dropping in a nailhead I'd be grateful. The best install I've seen so far is in a 53 but it has a set of headers I cannot find anywhere. center dump.
bob
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,337
Likes: 165
From: Harpswell Maine
Could you kind folks help me locate a single piston? Right now I think it's worth a shot. I'm going to finish pulling the front end. pull the other head and change the gaskets and that piston and see what happens. If you don't help me I'm putting in that treefity...
Also, if anyone has any info on dropping in a nailhead I'd be grateful. The best install I've seen so far is in a 53 but it has a set of headers I cannot find anywhere. center dump.
bob
Also, if anyone has any info on dropping in a nailhead I'd be grateful. The best install I've seen so far is in a 53 but it has a set of headers I cannot find anywhere. center dump.
bob
Bob, You need to verify size on the old piston. Scape off the carbon from the top of the piston and look for any size markings. A lot of flatheads have been rebuilt/bored over their lifetime. In your case you could go with a used piston that somebody normally junks when overboring. You need to remove the piiston, ridgeream, hone to break the glaze and install the piston with new rings.
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,337
Likes: 165
From: Harpswell Maine
Could you kind folks help me locate a single piston? Right now I think it's worth a shot. I'm going to finish pulling the front end. pull the other head and change the gaskets and that piston and see what happens. If you don't help me I'm putting in that treefity...
Also, if anyone has any info on dropping in a nailhead I'd be grateful. The best install I've seen so far is in a 53 but it has a set of headers I cannot find anywhere. center dump.
bob
Also, if anyone has any info on dropping in a nailhead I'd be grateful. The best install I've seen so far is in a 53 but it has a set of headers I cannot find anywhere. center dump.
bob
As a side note, I did not experience cooling issues with the stock radiator and 322 nailhead but it liked to vapor lock towing coming cross country. that was before the clothespin fix. But that is another story!
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 27,299
Likes: 1,059
From: NM
You have to pull the piston out the top. Ream the ridge, carefully. When you know the size let us know. You may have to measure as the Std. pistons have no marks. eBay is as good as anywhere, although there are plenty of people here who have found cracks and may have internals.