Starting my 221 build

felix37

felix37

Well-known member
Well, I'm about to start my first flathead build. My 37 has been my daily driver for over five years, it developed a knock about four years ago and I just continued to drive her. this summer She finally said ENOUGH!
The Engine: it's a 1939 221 81-t I took it to the machine shop where they turned the crank 30/30 re sized my rods and bored the block .080 over.
This is my first flathead build. I'm hoping to do a step by step build with pics to hopefully encourage others to try building one themselves and to also get suggestions and advice from those of you who have a few of these under your belt.
Wish me luck!
 

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I agree with Charles. One suggestion, I'd get a different engine stand, (one that mounts to the exhaust ports) for better support while you are assembling the engine. Have fun.
 
Well, I actually started this build and forgot to update this thread, so I will start to update today and try to catch things up to date.
Here is my engine block, just back from the machine shop.
 

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felix37 said:
Well, I'm about to start my first flathead build. My 37 has been my daily driver for over five years, it developed a knock about four years ago and I just continued to drive her. this summer She finally said ENOUGH!
The Engine: it's a 1939 221 81-t I took it to the machine shop where they turned the crank 30/30 re sized my rods and bored the block .080 over.
This is my first flathead build. I'm hoping to do a step by step build with pics to hopefully encourage others to try building one themselves and to also get suggestions and advice from those of you who have a few of these under your belt.
Wish me luck!
Click to expand...
Hard to make out but I hope you have the front of the motor supported.Have weak bell housings. ken ct.
 
ken ct said:
Hard to make out but I hope you have the front of the motor supported.Have weak bell housings. ken ct.
Click to expand...
Wivestale !!!!40+ years & dozens & dozens of engines !!!
NEVER a problem !!!
Keep up the great work & keep us posted !!
Cheers
Tony
 
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Once I got the block back, I was still waiting on parts so I decided to debur the block.
 

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About a hundred dollars latter and a bunch a time it started to look a little better!
 

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They make a bracket that bolts to the exhaust ports and fits most engine stands. Makes it easire to rotate the engine. Much safer. Good luck.
 
I have already fabricated a new engine stand and the engine is now mounted on the side through the exhaust mount holes. These pics were taken a while back. just trying to update this thread. I only used the stand you see in these past few photo's to just clean the block. It never supported a complete engine. That being said, we have several flat heads at the speed shop in full dress that have been sitting for years mounted by the bell housings??
 
After getting the block smoothed out, it was time to start cleaning the block in preparation to start putting it all together. I spent about three hours power washing and scrubbing by hand with lots of dish soap. I also bought a engine cleaning kit witch had an assortment of brass brushes and extensions to help get in the hard to reach spots.
Even though my machine shop "tanked" the block, I was amazed at how much scale kept coming out! Each full rotation of the block would yield another crop of crap!
 

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The magnetic extension was great for retrieving much of that scale!
 

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After getting the block scrubbed up I blew dryed the engine, wiped everything down with acetone and lightly oiled all the machined area's.
 

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