Yp grating the flathead

[Ol' Ron]

Th3 last Flatheadwas mage in 1953/4. They were a good 50/75K engine. Today in perfick condittion, might be good for local use, but traveling across country would be pretty risky. Removing the fuel pump raider fan and converting to 12vand converting to one of Charley's distributors This will eliminate most of the long distan problems, on an early engine 37.48 switck to the 8RT water pumps they have better seals Now someone will say they wont work, that's the difference between a builder and assembler ,
I apologizes for the spelling

[deuce_roadster]

Spelling doesn't matter, EXPERIENCE does.

[19Fordy]

In 1972 I drove my stock 8BA from WI to south FL. Only problem was fuel vaporizing and a burned out generator in Newburn, TN. Engine is still running.

[Ronnieroadster]

Drove my 59A flathead engine block cross country and back coast to coast twice so far with a blower on top as one of the engine options and original ARDUN overhead valve heads. Highway speeds all day long as needed. No problems at all. Any Ford flathead block can easily accomplish this if its build correctly.
Ronnieroadster

[slowforty]

In the middle 50s a friend of mine and four others drove a 49 Ford across the country . He said it used almost as much oil as gas but they were running around 70mph

[tubman]

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When I got my'51 in 1987, it ran pretty good. I changed the oil, did a tuneup, and generally checked it out. The engine had compression in th 85-95 psi range, which I thought matched the believable 61K on the odometer. It also showed good oil pressure, but ran a little hot so I had the radiator recored. I drove that car over 30,000 miles over the next 30 years, including a couple of long trips (one from the twin cities to Chicago and back through Iowa. It burned a little oil, but was dead stone reliable, though performance was lacking.

By 2016, it was still running the same, but started to make a funny noise down by the clutch. Thinking my luck was running out, I decided to change the engine for a '51 Merc I had ready. I installed the Merc and while I was at it, added a set of Edmunds heads, a 2G on the Merc manifold and a Mallory dual point. The improvement in performance was surprising, indicating that the original engine was indeed getting tired. Since then, everything has been great again. In 37 years, the car failed to get me home only once, and that was my fault. I was using the car as a test bed for my 6 to 12 volt tachometer driver. I got a ride home and got my buddy (who had designed the circuitry in the tach box) to give me a ride back. I tried to start it again with no luck. He said "Wait a minute - There, try it again". Of course, it started right up after he disconnected the failed tach driver. The funny noise? When I was cleaning the Ford oil pan to install on the Merc, I found an inch long piece of the thrust surface of the rear main in the bottom of the pan. Was that it? I don't really know.

The bottom line of all of this? Even a half worn out flathead will be reliable and go a long time as long as it is treated well. I sometimes wonder if most of that 30 years was due to the radiator recore. After that, I never had an overheating or vapor lock problem with that car.

[KiWinUS]

Our great friend on here Lawrie drives his stock 33-34 Fords all over the Outback and let me tell you it is desolate out there.

[A bones]

Originally Posted by KiWinUS

Our great friend on here Lawrie drives his stock 33-34 Fords all over the Outback and let me tell you it is desolate out there.

And quite warm

[GB SISSON]

Originally Posted by A bones

And quite warm

And pulling a trailer....

[Ol' Ron]

I'm glsd to hrar of the good luck stories. Notic< nobodies have mast on the times they needed st toe,
JWL and I went to Bville, fuel pump crapped out on the way home Just remember get rid of thr posable problems.
Gramps

[38 coupe]

I have to disagree with Ol' Ron. I drove my 53 sedan from Texas to Indiana last summer to attend the Early Ford V8 Club Central National Meet, about 1,000 miles one way. I did not get the furthest driven award, that went to a fellow from Colorado driving a 40 convertible. I was also not the only person driving a 53 Ford sedan from Texas, a nicer car than mine drove in from the Dallas / Fort Worth area. These old Fords are reliable for distance driving. I do not have an electric fuel pump on any of my old Fords. I do not have an electric fan on any of my old Fords. I have put over 60,000 miles on my 53 Ford in the last 25 years. Get the vehicle in good mechanical shape and go. Add overdrive if you want to go highway speeds.

[mfirth]

I knew a guy from Ohio who drove his 53 Merc with auto trans from Ohio to Bradenton Fla and back evry year for a long time. First time I saw the car was in Fla., and asked if it was his Fla. car. He said it was, and drove it down every year. Just say'n ..... His nicname was "Flat Top" & he had a flat top haircut. And, A FLATHEAD ......

[Newc]

Remember Bruce Miller and his '49 convert ? drove Boston to Western Nats in Salem, Or and back. Newc

[Kens 36]

Actually, the late Frank Miller. RIP.

Ken

[Brendan]

Originally Posted by Kens 36

Actually, the late Frank Miller. RIP.

Ken

You he also drove it to the west cost a cople of times

[Lawrie]

38 coupe, Im impressed with the speedo reading.
Lawrie

[34fordy]

I am so slow I haven't even figured out what YP means. LOL

[ford38v8]

Originally Posted by Lawrie

38 coupe, Im impressed with the speedo reading.
Lawrie

You're not going to tell me you can read the mileage in that picture he posted?

[38 coupe]

Originally Posted by Lawrie

38 coupe, Im impressed with the speedo reading.
Lawrie

Overdrive is a beautiful thing.
Please also be aware that Texas has 80 and 85 mph speed limits on highways at various places in the state. I wasn't breaking the law.

[tubman]

"Upgrading"?