How far should I go with my '41 flathead

How high on the dipstick are you keeping the oil level?, have you tried a lower level still above “low”
 
I would try to resolve any leakage on the bypass filter first to see where that leaves you leakage wise.
 
I have a 41 SD convert and going down the path of building a 59 motor for it. The idea of a modest rebuild can become a rabbit hole real quick.

Check out the 1948 movie 'Mr Blandings builds his dream home'.

Just sayin'....
 
shinton said:
It leaves quarter-sized spots up and down the drive when I've pulled in or out and I put a pan under it to catch the drips. I am PRETTY SURE [emphasis added] the seal is leaking (the head gaskets were just replaced). There are also leaks from the bypass filter canister too and it's tough to quantify how much coming from where.
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tubman said:
If the car really "runs nice", I'd replace the seal and leave the rest alone. I might not even replace the seal. You don't know what you might run into if you decide to open it up.
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Zeke3 said:
I would try to resolve any leakage on the bypass filter first to see where that leaves you leakage wise.
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I'm with these guys. If you're only "pretty sure" the seal is leaking .... and "it's tough to quantify how much coming from where" that wouldn't be enough for me to pull the engine, much less disassemble it.


As to the overheating, I'd try flushing the cooling system first with Thermocure, see this link. Some people have reported some pretty amazing results, I believe I saw it in the Early Ford V8 magazine this past year. Even though I wasn't overheating and my coolant looked great, it used the product myself and got several pounds of junk out of my cooling system. I could FEEL the weight difference in gallon jugs of distilled water and the same jugs filled with the solid black flush water.
 
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Thanks for all the great advice! I think I'm going to attempt to sort out the bypass filter first and go from there. I'll let you know how that worked (or be back for advice on that bypass filter).

As this is my first early Ford, I'm learning a lot and appreciate the support. It's interesting how they engineered this vehicle and pretty much every problem I solve is a learning moment!

Sam
 
shinton said:
As this is my first early Ford, I'm learning a lot and appreciate the support. It's interesting how they engineered this vehicle and pretty much every problem I solve is a learning moment!
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My first one too. Don't know what people like us did before the internet and the FordBarn.


I do get a lot of satisfaction figuring things out and making them right on this 80+ year-old technology.


Good thing I don't do it for a living. My business motto would be, "I may be slow but I'm expensive."
 
SoCalCoupe said:
My first one too. Don't know what people like us did before the internet and the FordBarn.


I do get a lot of satisfaction figuring things out and making them right on this 80+ year-old technology.


Good thing I don't do it for a living. My business motto would be, "I may be slow but I'm expensive."
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Before the internet I bought books written about rebuilding the flathead V8. The earlier ones are grease stained and dog eared. Some guys here learned from working with an old mechanic or other methods, but I live in a remote location and it's not easy to find Ford mentors. Old Frank Rouleau raced them at Skagit Speedway and had part numbers memorized, but he passed before I overhauled my second engine. Three cheers for the internet, the STAR being Fordbarn!
 
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