Flathead conundrum.

RalphM

RalphM

Well-known member
I’m trying to figure out what to do here. I have an opportunity to buy about 15 Flatheads, All 59 A-B except for one 8BA and one pre 38.
Most have been pickled in drums full of oil for thirty + years. I’ve known about these for a long time.
New owner now, just wants to get rid of them. But it’s a take all or nothing deal, which includes a bunch of Transmissions and a lot of other parts, along with three 1940 heavy duty trucks in poor shape.

I would like to have a couple of the engines to see what kind of shape they’re in. But I have absolutely no room for the entire package. Owner said there has been other interest in the engines as well, but nobody wants to take everything.
Price is right, but I don’t need another project now.
20 years ago, I would’ve jumped on this like a chicken on a June bug.
 
I think most folks are very reluctant to discourage you Ralph. I believe you are like most of us feeling you might miss an opportunity. You must be fairly young to even consider taking on a PROJECT like this. 15 engines in a pickle drums could be interesting, or not. Best of luck!!
 
Man, that is a lot of stuff to take in order to get a few engines. Maybe the seller will change his tune a bit when no one takes the entire lot. Just dealing with those three trucks would be enough for me to say no thanks.
 
I’m not a spring chicken,
And I already have a dozen flatheads and a shed full of parts.
Curiosity killed the cat, but I’m dying to see if any of those pickled engines are any good. But manifolds, carbs and dist were pulled to make them fit in drums. So they are all projects at best.
 
An old saying comes to mind. "A pig in a poke" How about 15 pigs in 15 pokes hidden in old engine oil. Maybe you could sell tickets to watch the "pig unveiling" as they rise from the pokes! Or lottery tickets? Could you send us a few pictures of the treasure hoard Ralph. I hate to sound sarcastic but I do find this exciting! Please don't pay any mind to an old man's opinion or my dry humor.
 
A similar situation came up 6 years ago. No conclusion posted though.

P

Thread 'Flatheads,nature,time and effort'

I will begin by saying I am in no way a flathead expert.Not even half smart on them.
I ran across a guy who has 30 or more Ford/Mercury flatheads laying around his farmstead.Most are complete with transmissions.Some are from large trucks.There is also a large quantity of heads and iron intakes laying about.
These all have been laying on the ground and exposed to the Minnesota weather for years. I believe I can get them for scrap weight.
My question is this. Is it worth the time(2 hours one way to the property) and effort to gather all the parts up? I would prefer not to haul back...

But those were outside, not pickled in oil. Sounds like a super messy job.
 
It would be very messy to do. And to add to it, it’s getting cold and snow is on the ground.
I don’t know why I didn’t take pics. I wish I could find two more buyers, split it three ways, and only have to drag one truck home :)
I’ll have to work on that.
 
RalphM said:
I’m trying to figure out what to do here. I have an opportunity to buy about 15 Flatheads, All 59 A-B except for one 8BA and one pre 38.
Most have been pickled in drums full of oil for thirty + years. I’ve known about these for a long time.
New owner now, just wants to get rid of them. But it’s a take all or nothing deal, which includes a bunch of Transmissions and a lot of other parts, along with three 1940 heavy duty trucks in poor shape.

I would like to have a couple of the engines to see what kind of shape they’re in. But I have absolutely no room for the entire package. Owner said there has been other interest in the engines as well, but nobody wants to take everything.
Price is right, but I don’t need another project now.
20 years ago, I would’ve jumped on this like a chicken on a June bug.
Click to expand...
I don't see any mention of where you are located.
Would be nice to know!..
Karl
 
Time and effort vs. investment. Plus the oil mess challenge and disposal. In my opinion the entire pile would have to be dirt cheap as more and more come out of hiding. In the last year I outbid the scrapper and paid $45 each on 4 nice 59AB engines at an estate auction. At another estate dispersal I paid $200 for 7 nice 59AB engines mostly complete. I probably have 40 plus engines in my stash so for me the fact that they are stored in oil is an absolute Forget it. In my opinion if someone is wanting a flathead pay the $ for the style of block you want that is stripped, clean, crack tested, pressure tested and sonic checked. Knowing well the effort involved, the cost to achieve the above and trips to machine shop to achieve this paying $1500 for a block that checks all the boxes is a great deal. You could easily spend that buying engines only to find them cracked let alone all the work and cost to find out they are cracked. My $0.02.
 
Karl,
I’m in North Pole Alaska.
There’s not a ton of interest for Flatheads stuff up here. I know this because I’ve tried to advertise some of the stuff I have to get rid of it. I just can’t bear to throw it away. But in a few times I have advertised very little interest has been shown.
And if I grab all of this stuff, I have a feeling that it will sit for a long time. Because I have two projects going on right now and will not have time to process any of that.
And by the time I get done, I’ll probably be too old to mess with it.
So maybe I can talk myself out of this!
 
I would advise you to not buy this stuff. Especially considering where you are located. Parts value has plummeted and most likely will continue to do so.
Add the additional cost to get something from Alaska, and you slim down your opportunity to sell.
I do understand your dilemma having been in this hobby for over fifty years.
Times are changing. No surprise at all.
I had just yesterday decided to sell the remainder of my "goodies" and throw the rest of the parts in the trash. Sad, but that's where the hobby is.
 
Ralph, Sometimes you just have to "pass" on the opportunity to
accumulate more stuff. Do NOT BUY IT as you will end up
just like the seller..........lots of stuff that won't sell and would
cost to much in shipping even if you gave it away.
 
If i was local to you id gladly go halves in this deal. Give him a cheeky offer and see how you go, it all depends on your level of energy and need :)
 
Yeah, I think I needed the voice of reasoning. I really don’t even have time to work on the Flatheads I do have.
Maybe I’ll just make an offer on one or two of them and see what happens, worst he can say is no. And I’ll probably be better off for it.
 
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