million dollar question? ha ha :)

Flathead,
An 8BA block with a 4" Merc crank and whatever pistons you want
will be a great foundation for a killer motor. A truck motor has an edge I think...
the ones with the clean out plate on the bottom of the oil pan.
Get JWL's book as mentioned and go from there, it pays for itself quite
quickly.
The 8BA easily allows the use of a SBC converted dist, the best and
least costly ignition. Compression is key, don't assume anything, 2 or 3 days of head
work can yield a real happy motor, match the combustion chambers to the actual
piston locations. It may be hard to swallow but a stock '52 - '52 cam will give
a lot of leg to a serious street motor.
I've sort of described the motor in my '41....3:78 gears ( since I blew
the Columbia ) 60 plus in second ,easily pegs the speedometer in 3rd....yep EAB
matched iron heads and a vac can on the SBC converted dist. , '52 Oldsmobile
Rochester 4 bbl ( $25 swap meet carb ).
Blah , Blah , Blah !!!
Charlie ny
 
in my 41 pick up i had a 59 motor, then an and 8BA. both stock, has 3.55 gears and a T-5 with OD and it would cruse at 70 all day on on trips from texas to georga and back... and get 21 MPG.... good truck, wish i had kept it.... don
 
Please don't take offense, but It does not sound as if you are very experienced. Your best bet in time and money is probably to go to one of the reliable builders and buy one that is done from motor he has on hand.
 
I suggest you buy JWL's book "Flathead Facts" This will eliminate allot of the myths. The average 276 I built cost aprox 4K and got 135 HP , most are still running, one had over 100K before it tossed a rod.
I'm gonna price em and see if I got the funds to get em now.
 
Please don't take offense, but It does not sound as if you are very experienced. Your best bet in time and money is probably to go to one of the reliable builders and buy one that is done from motor he has on hand.
I didnt friend the Flathead is a new animal to me, I'm used to the old Willys go devil engine and OVH v8. But I'm gonna price out the books and get them :) for future engine diagnosis and repairs. I love the old Flatheads and always wanted one for a roadster.
 
I'm gonna price em and see if I got the funds to get em now.
Sometimes I wonder how we ever did what we did back in the days before
'puters an' book learn'n.
Perhaps you should get Ole'Ron's book also.
These guys did.

ORweb.jpg
 
Flathead,
I'm going to jump in one more time only because West Virginia is not
really that far from western New York State. There is an engine builder near me,
he does my work, and has a life time supply of Flathead motor cores. 85% of his
work is Flathead V8's, the rest is T's and A's.
To say I pound my '41 is a true statement ( I also maintain it ) and Marks
motors hold up. He'll build a motor the way YOU want it and will work with you
in Q and A sessions and on thru the build. Mark Moriarty 585 786 2876
mkansas @yahoo.com Mark is a Kansas boy transplanted up north back in the
day.
Charlie ny
 
I found a place in ohio called Gollers hot rods, since their near me I'm gonna walk in and ask em what it would be to build me a 276 and support through the process, with breakin and garrentee.
 
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