Flathead / 54 Ford
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Postmaster
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Flathead / 54 Ford
Time to ask for some assistance. Yes, I know the flathead was last offered in 53. My understanding is that the 53 & 54 are basically the same frame/truck. With that thought in mind and the desire to see and hear a flattie in my truck, I purchased one with the goal of putting the flathead in the 54. It's torn down to the frame so access isn't a problem but I'm not sure where to begin. Are the frames really the same? I didn't think it would necessarily be a bolt in but the more I look at it the more questions I have. My most recent revelation was that maybe a 53 flathead might be a fairly straightforward swap but since I bought one out of a 50 F1 all bets are off. My 54 shop manual isn't much help since it has the Y-block info and I have a 49-50-51 shop manual with a 52 supplement which doesn't help either since it is the older model truck. A diagram of the 53 frame showing the flathead mounts might be a place to start.
I think it's probably hard to come up with problems you guys can't solve. However there might be some small consolation if after tens of thousands of users and hundreds of thoudsands of posts that I am the first to pose such a dilema
. Your assistance is appreciated.
I think it's probably hard to come up with problems you guys can't solve. However there might be some small consolation if after tens of thousands of users and hundreds of thoudsands of posts that I am the first to pose such a dilema
. Your assistance is appreciated.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,342
Likes: 1
From: Jamestown, IN
I am not 100% sure on this, but I think you will need a 53 bellhousing and front motor mount. Other than that, you should be set. If I were you I would put an overdrive behind that flathead. This makes for excellent cruising.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 27,283
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From: NM
Fifty-two has it right, you are basically making your truck a '53. And he's dead on about the OD, that is the big advantage to the mid-50's, no @#$%^ crossmember! You'll need to modify the existing radiator for two inlets/outlets, too.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 291
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From: Oregon
If the frames are the same, then 52 is correct. The 53 truck engines used regular 8BA car waterpumps since a U-shaped bracket bolted to the front of the block acted as the front mount. The 53 truck bellhousing had cast in "feet" to act as rear mounts. I had a mount and bellhousing from a 53 that I sold a couple of years ago.
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 6,765
Likes: 547
From: Kalispell, MT
You need the guys up north to help you out. Canada used the flathead thru 54 so what you're looking for has been done before. Somebody like 4tford from the flathead forum might be able to tell you what you need.
PM me if you want to contact him.
PM me if you want to contact him.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,068
Likes: 7
From: Moyie, BC Canada
I was wondering when I read about 53 being the last year for flatties, then you borught me back, I knew that 54 was the last year up here. This means that the front mount from a 53 should / will work in the US 54's.
Moderator
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
As far as I know the Canadian 54 Ford truck was the exact same as the 53, with the right bell housing, rad, exhaust and front motor mounts/water pumps it should be a bolt in.
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Postmaster
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So it sounds like no mods are needed to the frame. I need to find the waterpump type motor mounts and the correct bellhousing. But just as a point of clarification...it doesn't matter that my flathead did not come from a '53, with the mods described above it will basically be a bolt in?
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Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2009
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From: Burbank, WA
Do you know the application your flathead came from? The 53 F-100 used the 8BA car type water pumps, not the 8RT used in the 48-52 trucks. Those were the ones with the mounts built in. You don't need those. The 53 trucks had front mount off the front of the engine under the crank pulley, similar to your Y-block set up. Beyond that, you are correct in that with the right parts, any 8BA style flathead will bolt into your truck with minimal fuss.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 27,283
Likes: 1,046
From: NM
It may be hard to find the flatty front engine support bracket for a '53; P/N is TAAC-6028-A. It's very different than a Y-block mount. You could fab one, but it may be a good idea to start looking for one before you get too far down the road! (With all the non-believers shucking flatties out of their '53's, mabe they are common, who knows...)
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Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2008
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Yes, pics are good. My flattie has the front mounts on the side with the water pump. Again, I think it came out of a 1950 F1. The Y block that came out of the truck had the front mount under the pulley.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,776
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From: springfield il
you can still get a new radiator from npd . bought one for my 53 with a flatty .......... the y block v8 front mount i got extra looks a lot like the one on the flatty in my 53 ..............
