Ford Flathead information

[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