new to flatheads, need help

C

cborchardt82

Junior Member
My husband is building a hot rod and I purchased him a flathead v8. It has 24 studs and i believe its stamped with 81a which would make it 1938-42 i think. It came with a stuck 3 speed that is not currently attached. Heres the problem: I bought him a starter but i have no idea how it mounts to the darn thing. Ive worked on fords but not this early and im sure its easy and stupid but I cant find too many resources. Im waiting on a manual currently. I read it bolts on using two screws but what i have in pictures is all i have. Is it missing a plate or something? I know where it bolts onto but not how. Any help or places i can purchase the part if one is missing would be great. Thanks.
 

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Do you have the oil pan? The starter uses its two thru-bolts to screw into the threaded holes in the oil pan. That little bracket attaches to one of the oil pan bolts and takes some of the pressure off the mounting bolt threads.
Boy, I wish my wife was into hot rods like you are!
 
Being new to Ford flathead motors a few years ago, the first thing I did was get some knowledge. Mandatory reading is Frank Oddo's Flathead builders handbook, George McNicholl's How to build a FH V-8 and Joe Abbin's latest FH performance handbook.

There are alot of things to look for before buying a flathead. These books and some folks from the barn will set you straight. It would be great if that flathead works out to be a builder after inspection and magnafluxing.

As for transmission, Mac Vanpelt's In's and Out's. All these book's and others can be ordered through Vanpelt's or Dick Spadaro's web site. Use the barn, it's your best flathead site:D
 
You might try an introduction first. Most on the barn like to know something about who they are communicating with. There may be someone in your area that would be willing to help you on your flathead problems
 
You are a mans best friend, how many guys have a women like U ? I know lots who dream of it. You go girl ! :D
 
How is this for a good wife ? We have been married going on 58 years, she deserves a medal.
 

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You got that right!

And over the weekend my wife pointed out a '32 roadster and said, "What kind of Ford is that?" I answered that it was a roadster. She said, "Oh, they're cute. Why don't we have one of those? Can we get one?" :eek:

Huh? :confused: Well, honey, why didn't you tell me you felt that way???!!! :cool:
 
Post your location by your name so that those who are in your area may offer help, advice, tools, parts etc. Welcome to the forum.
 
Welcome cborchardt82 , Having just removed and reinstalled the starter on our '47 Tudor, it looks to me like you have everything you need. The nuts now on the starter in the picture are for temporarily keeping the starter components together. Remove them. Be careful now as the only thing keeping your starter together are your hands!!!!!!! Locate the threads on the lower right side of the bellhousing and lightly secure the two bolts on your starter into them. The bracket should be in the top bolt.Remove the pan bolt which lines up with the open hole in the bracket and attach the bracket to the engine using that bolt. Tighten the two starter bolts. You did it!
 
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81A engines are '38, I have one in my '32. It would have a big circle and some dashes on the top of the bellhousing if it is. But, heads are interchangeable, it could be a 59a with early heads.
 
Thanks bassman, worked, i feel silly, but it was easy. Lol thanks to all of you. There is a downside to me liking the same stuff, we are twice as poor, lol.ill definately check out the info. We got this baby for $350 and it turns over by hand and has great compression. He has a 4 banger installed that runs but problem with the clutch, (barnfind 1929 model a tudor) he was gonna keep it but i know he wanted a flathead, i found it on craigslist and i cant help but spoil him like he spoils me. he is debating about keeping the 3 speed or doing the t5 swap. I am rebuilding a 250 straight six someone had put in my 1967 mustang i found cheap on ebay (would be nice gas mileage and something different), ,plus cleaning up a 260 v8 with working ****** (turns freely and great compression too)friend sold me for $100. Was pretty sweet, he threw in a holley 4150-g carb that needs some work too. So many things to work on and now i am rambling, lol. Thanks again
 

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Please do not take this as a criticism, but I noticed in your picture you have your motor mounted on an engine stand witch of coarse is ok but the flat heads can be damaged this way by the bell houseing being broke. The better way is make a mount that bolts to the side of the block where the exhaust manifold is now .
 
tiquer said:
Please do not take this as a criticism, but I noticed in your picture you have your motor mounted on an engine stand witch of coarse is ok but the flat heads can be damaged this way by the bell houseing being broke. The better way is make a mount that bolts to the side of the block where the exhaust manifold is now .
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I dont take it as a criticism, like I said this is the first Flathead we've dealt with and preventing damage is always welcome advice. Thanks!
 
With the stand type you have, you can buy or make a 45 degree adaptor that bolts to the exhaust ports on either side of engine to support the lump sideways.
If you have to get into the engine and work on valvetrain, that stand will become wholly inadequate as lots of brute force leverage and violence will be involved and engine will have to be on floor, in car, or set on the ground to be safe without a very radiacl upgrade in stands.

(this guy: http://stumpysfabworks.zoomshare.com/ is one source of the adaptor and also of engine cradles)
 
:( hmm, my head hurts. lol. My husband owes me :) Its currently living its life on a tire till we can scrounge up an adequate stand, however long that will take :confused:
 
welcome to the flathead world and congrats on getting the starter in....and if you search youtube, there is at least one video of a flathead being started and run while perched on a tire...good luck and have fun.....Mike
 
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