Brian,
First,I am new here but, I'm not a stupid kid so, don't treat me that way. I'm almost 75, my dad was born in 1908, worked for a Ford rebuilder and only had Fords, including Model A & T's I have only had Fords, too. I grew up in the 50's and 60's when flatheads where still being used as everyday drivers and cracks and over heating where a common subject, so don't try to BS me.
I never said that all FH's crack. Please show me and everyone else, where I made that statement! But, over heating does happen with these engines. Also, I have read, on this forum about people buying multiple engines before find one w/o cracks.
My 68 engine was a replacement engine for my '35 truck and my '35 truck has only 17000 original miles. My engine is not cracked, that I can find, I can't say what may have happen to the original engine.
You infer that flat heads don't crack often and then go on to say the 8BA's crack more that early ones. I guess the 8BA's real aren't flatheads?
Last, have you had the cast iron from the 8BA and prewar analyzed? If not, you are spreading unfounded rumors or did you read it on the internet so, it has to be true?
Words matter!