The Demize of the Flathead
- Thread starter Ol' Ron
- Start date
39portlander
Well-known member
Good thread Ron and I would agree with you because the car shows are full of early Fords with the you-know what drive train and I have stopped going to them due to excessive boredom.
As others have said, In a lot of areas its the RISE of the Flathead and because of the good folks here on Ford Barn I doubt the rage will stop.
Several years ago I bought a complete 39 merc Flathead with 3 speed that was hiding in a crate in the boiler room I was working in. "There still out there boys"!
As others have said, In a lot of areas its the RISE of the Flathead and because of the good folks here on Ford Barn I doubt the rage will stop.
Several years ago I bought a complete 39 merc Flathead with 3 speed that was hiding in a crate in the boiler room I was working in. "There still out there boys"!
jake197000
Senior Member
im 59 and i followed in my dads footsteps he was a life long mechanic and i was his only son.he was a ford man all the way.he taught me so much.hes been gone for awhile now.ive been wrenching all my life.modern cars power plants r pretty much throw aways.u can get a good used engine and u r good to go.i rarely rebuild anything newer.almost all my rebuilds r old stuff. and i love it.some performance work on later stuff.most of the younger guys scoff at the old school stuff and laugh at the power out put. they dont understand the sweet sound of a flatty.and thats ok,at least there into cars.i can dig that they got there own likes but dont dis what i like.
I wouldn't worry Ron, the flathead is still here and going strong, and will be for a good time.
The elevated flathead numbers at stuff like NSRA type deals in the '90s and for a while was fashion. The flathead was fashionable for the street machine lot, the same as pro street, mini trucks, VW's, vans, you get my jist.
This did us some good, in got a bunch of flathead stuff made and or available again.
Those fashion followers are now in Chevrolet LS engined, tubular A arm, coil over sprung, multi link adjustable poly bushed everything, Holley dominator controlled EFI/ignition/transmission, huge brakes, huger wheeled (or rims as they tend to call them) rubber band tired, turbo charged 1000 hp creations. Pro touring is the key phrase right now. Or beat to **** pickups with a 4" deep pickup bed due to ridiculous frame kick up and air bag suspension, so it can " lay frame" I believe is the term for the frame Sat flat on the ground. I've even see a pickup circa 1970's that when the hood was open you can see the wheel sticking clear out of the inner fender and up into the hood space!
The flathead is doing very good away from this "scene". Look at The Race Of Gentlemen or Pendine sands Hot Rod Race's. Look at the Hot Rod deluxe type mags and so on. A lot of stuff at these events never goes to the NSRA national type events.
These observations above are not in disrespect of what folk chose to do to there vehicles, each to his own, they are just observations.
Flatheads ain't going away, they just going in an alternate path.
Martin.
The elevated flathead numbers at stuff like NSRA type deals in the '90s and for a while was fashion. The flathead was fashionable for the street machine lot, the same as pro street, mini trucks, VW's, vans, you get my jist.
This did us some good, in got a bunch of flathead stuff made and or available again.
Those fashion followers are now in Chevrolet LS engined, tubular A arm, coil over sprung, multi link adjustable poly bushed everything, Holley dominator controlled EFI/ignition/transmission, huge brakes, huger wheeled (or rims as they tend to call them) rubber band tired, turbo charged 1000 hp creations. Pro touring is the key phrase right now. Or beat to **** pickups with a 4" deep pickup bed due to ridiculous frame kick up and air bag suspension, so it can " lay frame" I believe is the term for the frame Sat flat on the ground. I've even see a pickup circa 1970's that when the hood was open you can see the wheel sticking clear out of the inner fender and up into the hood space!
The flathead is doing very good away from this "scene". Look at The Race Of Gentlemen or Pendine sands Hot Rod Race's. Look at the Hot Rod deluxe type mags and so on. A lot of stuff at these events never goes to the NSRA national type events.
These observations above are not in disrespect of what folk chose to do to there vehicles, each to his own, they are just observations.
Flatheads ain't going away, they just going in an alternate path.
Martin.
jim1932
Well-known member
Well... as a 50 year old (give or take a decade), I see the issue differently. The issue is that most of the surviving flathead cores are sitting in the older generations garages. The ones that hit the market are anchors, or fetch insane dollars. Not to worry, there are several generations of us waiting to get our hands on the flatheads and winfields you guys have been hoarding. LOL
Ronnieroadster
Well-known member
I remember way back in the 70's my roadster and one other T tub were the only open cars running flatheads at the Nats East Timonium Maryland also I remember one closed car a 40 Ford flathead powered a grand total of three. Fast forward to 2016 I have more flatheads and ARDUNs to build for people than ever before. The flathead is timeless there will never be a demise. 
I'm glad to hear it Ron. Yeah, they aren't going anywhere. Now get out there and come up with some new old tricks.
Seth Swoboda
Well-known member
Ron, you're in good company, I've been running out of money for years.
Wick
Well-known member
Here in Va. The Flathead is Hot stuff! I've picked model a stuff for years,a little t stuff and ended up with some flathead parts. If you take Good Flathead stuff to a swap meet its the first to go. Street Rodders are replacing small blocks with Flatheads. The Richmond AACA swap meet is next week!!!
Old Redneck
Well-known member
I got 6 Flatheads screaming for the road. I enjoy driving them every chance I get. I may be reaching the end of my road but the flatheads are not by no means. Did get a new dog to ride with me. He like the flatheads also.
FRANK PKNY
Well-known member
Ah the quest for perfection, has never waned , flat-heads
will live on, just like old Fords have never been more popular then they are today!
will live on, just like old Fords have never been more popular then they are today!
louisb
Senior Member
It may be the shows you are going to as well. A lot of us younger guys are more into driving our cars than sitting in a parking lot. At 44 I am doing my first flathead build. (Actually my first motor build since I usually stick to metal work.) I decided to build the flathead so I could learn how and maybe one day pass that knowledge on.
Having said that I think the biggest deterrent are good blocks and lack of knowledge. There are not to many around to teach how to build these engines. The knowledge that gets shared here and in books by Ron and JWL are greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
--louis
Having said that I think the biggest deterrent are good blocks and lack of knowledge. There are not to many around to teach how to build these engines. The knowledge that gets shared here and in books by Ron and JWL are greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
--louis
Tinker
Well-known member
I think sometimes they might be too popular.
5 blocks here....
2 - 37/early38 blocks, 1 totally rebuilt and both running in vehicles.
My backup motor a 81a running motor on a stand.
1933/34 complete long block and a 8ba truck motor.
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TomT/Williamsburg
Well-known member
Hey Ol Ron - had my avatar, flattie/5-speed, up to 84 mph going UP a grade! With the right gearing, they can stay with the overheads at speeds in excess of 70, no problem - I am proving it right now as I run my flattie HARD all day long (10 hours +) going to the LA Roadster Show!!!
