1946 Flathead Engine Assembly Line Photo

Flathead Fever

Flathead Fever

Well-known member
Hey Guys,

I thought you might enjoy this photo. I just received this original 8x10 photo I purchased on ebay for $12.00 It was advertised as 1946 automobile piston installation, no Ford or flathead in the description.

Brand new 1946 Ford 59A engines! It Looks like a couple of guys started the head studs in the block and then the guy further down the assembly line screwed them in with a pneumatic gun. I don’t see any sealer on the stud threads??? The rod caps are laying next to the blocks.

This photo was originally taken in 1946 by a newspaper photographer and used in a Detroit newspaper story about a Ford lay-off that had just ended.

Jerry
 

Attachments

  • Flathead 1946.jpg
    Flathead 1946.jpg
    71.9 KB · Views: 282
  • Flathead 1946 #3.jpg
    Flathead 1946 #3.jpg
    41.7 KB · Views: 145
Very cool to have that look inside the Flathead assembly line. Notice the "factory relieved" block??
 
What's the guy with the short sleeves saying? Guy with the apron just remarked "Hey, these studs are different lengths!" Nobody has any Permatex on their fingers so this must be some continuing job action from the strike. Seepage Day. ..B.
 
Piston ring squeezers are like KRW, but heavier...
Studs were self sealing; early Ford deck threads were extra tight, maybe class 3 or a predecessor standard. Nowadays most have had normal (class 2) Machinest's taps run through them, so studs are wobbly and need sealer and setting up.
Note that studs shown are not run in...these guys just got them into the holes by hand and someone a bit farther downstream with a tool ran them down snug.
I have a picture somewhere of an English 221 V8 getting tapped...side, front, head, and manifold holes were done simultaneously on a fixture with...guessing...60 or so spindles, and the whole block was masked by what looked like an explosion of cutting oil!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top