Need advice on a flathead build can I.....

[saints]

Ok Im looking to get this flathead on the road and not max HP….. I tore down the engine today and the bores look good the valve seats look good but Im going to have to buy new valves as I had to get ruff with some……question is can I just ball hone or deglaze the cylinder and re-ring and throw in some more rod bearings and get it going …..I have a local guy that has built engines for me but he has never built a flathead but im just needing him to hot tank the block and mag the block and check for cracks ill do the rest….what do you think
I have done some 283,s this way with good results but the flathead is a whole diff animal

 

[Bruce Lancaster]

Answer on cylinders depends on measurement of any wear, taper, etc.

 

[Flathead]

Be sure to cut the cylinder ridge if you haven't already done it. Be sure the ring grooves in the pistons are not too worn. Go for it, plenty of Flatheads were "rebuilt" this way in the past. It will get you on the road.

 

[Ol' Ron]

The answer is yes, we did this back in the 50's and 60's to get rid of some of the old oil burmers. The Grant rings worked best. With luck you can get 10-15 k out of this.

 

[Hitchhiker]

As long as the bore taper and wear is within acceptable tolerances it will work okay.

 

[saints]

there is 0 ridge or wear at the top of the cylinder Ive tore down about 5 flatties in the past 2 years and this is the first one that has me thinking without machineing I can get this back on the road.....Ill measure the bores, does anyone have the specs handy I have a book by tardel that is somewhere...and ring tolerances in the piston rings anyone havethe numbers????

 

[Ronnie]

Sounds like it has seen a recent rebuild look on top of pistons for size.
You may be able to do this at a reasonable cost.Keep us posted. A ball hone is a good choice for deglazing.

Ronnie

 

[saints]

yep I measured .020 over....still should be good

 

[John Kennedy]

The answer is yes, we did this back in the 50's and 60's to get rid of some of the old oil burmers. The Grant rings worked best. With luck you can get 10-15 k out of this.

Why only 10-15k?

 

[JM 35 Sedan]

It's certainly worth a try. Why spend big $,$$$'s doing a complete rebuild when you may be able get back on the road for a few hundred $'s. I have two 21 stud engines in similar condition that Iplan to try the same thing with. Very little if any ridge at top of bores. I'm also thinking Ol' Ron may be a bit conservative with his 10-15k mileage estimate.