The Ford Barn

jfw900 · 04-11-2020, 10:48 AM

Has anyone had experience installing EAB ('52 - '53) Heads on a '49 8RT Flathead Truck Engine? I am restoring a 1949 Ford F-6 Dump Truck and have rebuilt the original 8RT Flathead V-8. I installed a Merc Crank and Cam - everything else is stock - valves, lifters, pistons, rods, etc. Are any modifications needed to the heads for piston or valve clearance or changes in head gaskets? Any advice is much appreciated. THANKS

19Fordy · 04-11-2020, 11:15 AM

Prety sure the EAB heads will work . Trial fit a head, turn the engine over by hand and check out valve clearance. Read through all this Google info:
https://www.google.com/search?q=will...hrome&ie=UTF-8

flatheadmurre · 04-11-2020, 11:49 AM

EAB heads and then some cutting...that´s how i build them.
Have a boatmotor in the shop right now.
Merc crank .125 os pistons EAB heads dual carb intake.
Valve lift ain´t gonna be a problem if stock.

51504bat · 04-11-2020, 02:36 PM

I'm running EAB heads on the 8ba in my '39 p/u. When it was rebuilt the heads were surfaced and the block decked. I'm using what I believe to be a stock Merc cam. Not issues and it runs strong. The EAB heads with the 4 inch Merc crank should give you higher compression than if you were using the stock Merc EAC heads or so I've been told.

Ol' Ron · 04-11-2020, 06:31 PM

Best move you could take. I would also have the heads milled to provide .045/.050" piston to head clearance. This will improve throttle response and economy. Other than the combustion chamber size, they are the same as the 8RT heads

tubman · 04-11-2020, 09:38 PM

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Yep.

rotorwrench · 04-12-2020, 10:32 AM

An F6 can be loaded pretty heavy. Ford used the low compression heads to prevent detonation when the truck it loaded up. I have no idea how the truck will perform with all the changes done to it. My Pop had a 48 F6 and I drove it quite a few times loaded with grain or cattle and it performed well enough for such a dated design but it was no powerhouse and I don't know if building it up will help very much. I hope it meets your expectations.

flatheadmurre · 04-12-2020, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rotorwrench

An F6 can be loaded pretty heavy. Ford used the low compression heads to prevent detonation when the truck it loaded up. I have no idea how the truck will perform with all the changes done to it. My Pop had a 48 F6 and I drove it quite a few times loaded with grain or cattle and it performed well enough for such a dated design but it was no powerhouse and I don't know if building it up will help very much. I hope it meets your expectations.

Fuel was way worse back then...i don´t think you have any issues with detonation under heavy load with modern fuel.

04-11-2020, 10:48 AM	#1
jfw900 Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2019 Posts: 1	EAB Heads on a 8RT Flathead Has anyone had experience installing EAB ('52 - '53) Heads on a '49 8RT Flathead Truck Engine? I am restoring a 1949 Ford F-6 Dump Truck and have rebuilt the original 8RT Flathead V-8. I installed a Merc Crank and Cam - everything else is stock - valves, lifters, pistons, rods, etc. Are any modifications needed to the heads for piston or valve clearance or changes in head gaskets? Any advice is much appreciated. THANKS

04-11-2020, 11:15 AM	#2
19Fordy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Coral Springs FL Posts: 10,950	Re: EAB Heads on a 8RT Flathead Prety sure the EAB heads will work . Trial fit a head, turn the engine over by hand and check out valve clearance. Read through all this Google info: https://www.google.com/search?q=will...hrome&ie=UTF-8

04-11-2020, 02:36 PM	#4
51504bat Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: SoCal-Redlands Posts: 3,024	Re: EAB Heads on a 8RT Flathead I'm running EAB heads on the 8ba in my '39 p/u. When it was rebuilt the heads were surfaced and the block decked. I'm using what I believe to be a stock Merc cam. Not issues and it runs strong. The EAB heads with the 4 inch Merc crank should give you higher compression than if you were using the stock Merc EAC heads or so I've been told. __________________ Making the simple complicated for over 30 years.

04-11-2020, 06:31 PM	#5
Ol' Ron Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chester Vt Posts: 8,860	Re: EAB Heads on a 8RT Flathead Best move you could take. I would also have the heads milled to provide .045/.050" piston to head clearance. This will improve throttle response and economy. Other than the combustion chamber size, they are the same as the 8RT heads

04-11-2020, 09:38 PM	#6
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 10,319	Re: EAB Heads on a 8RT Flathead Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Yep.

04-12-2020, 10:32 AM	#7
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,436	Re: EAB Heads on a 8RT Flathead An F6 can be loaded pretty heavy. Ford used the low compression heads to prevent detonation when the truck it loaded up. I have no idea how the truck will perform with all the changes done to it. My Pop had a 48 F6 and I drove it quite a few times loaded with grain or cattle and it performed well enough for such a dated design but it was no powerhouse and I don't know if building it up will help very much. I hope it meets your expectations.