Ford Flathead information

[ajmac]

Originally Posted by cletrac

When they were new they were the Ford green but after a rebuild they were khaki, brown, etc. depending on where they were.
Externally the Merc engines were the same as the Fords.

I can confirm that, I am rebuilding a 1941 24 stud 221ci flathead that spent most of it's post war life in a factory backup gen and then in a shed. It is olive drab, but when I dismantled the water pumps, behind the pulleys where the spray hadn't reached was original Ford Dark Green! A local vintage car museum has a 1939 flathead powered station wagon, in it's original unrestored condition it has a 21 stud dagenham manufactured engine which is painted grey, I have now seen three original 21 stud dagenham units that have been grey.

One of my 81A heads was cracked but I managed to get a pair of 81T heads, cast into the top is C81T... Thus I presume they are Canadian production, however 'Ford USA' is also cast into the head, just to confuse matters.

[Mike Cecil]

Gina,

Since you said you were looking to reco a Ford flat head, consider this:

The 3 3/16 bore 95hp engine as used in CMPs can be 'upgraded' internally by using some parts from a post-war 8BA engine:

Crank - two oil holes per journal. I think this was a late pattern 99A crank that I used, but it's a while ago.
8BA rods with fixed shell bearings
4-ring pistons (early wartime ones had 3 rings ; the fourth was added near the bottom of the piston skirt, below the gudgeon)
high pressure oil pump: they are visibly different, with an additional oil relief valve? cast into the side.

Have it balanced by an engine reconditioner.

For ease of maintenance, find a two-piece sump where the lower clutch cover bolts to the main sump. Much easier to work on the clutch with one of these installed.

Externally, the engine looks the same, but it will work so much better. My blitz engine was a lot smoother for having used these parts and had them balanced.

Mike C

[Mrs Vampire]

I am very grateful for all of the excellent information here. Mike I will take you advice.

I am looking for someone to do the short motor for me. I need to sleeve two cylinders and do piston rods etc balancing and line bore the crank with new mains and rod bearings. If I can .

I am looking to have an easy to run very reliable Blitz that I can take around without too much fuss.

Gina