The Ford Barn

skylarkman2 · 10-08-2016, 08:50 PM

Thanks Ol'Ron (we may be near the same age).
Calculating the costs, it looks like going the 8ba route is best.
Since I am a newbee to ford barn, tell me about your book.
Even if I don't use the 59ba setup, I am always interested in learning.
ol'dave -TX

Ol' Ron · 10-08-2016, 10:19 PM

My book is called 'Nostalgia" rebuilding and modifying the ford Flathead. You can get it from Max VP and allot of parts as well. If you want a good read about these engines, get JWL's book as well it called "Flathead facts". It's really a fun little motor.

jagnweiner · 10-09-2016, 08:17 AM

Here's a link to where you can purchase Ron's book. http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/F.../Nostalgia.pdf

"Max VP" refers to Max VanPelt, who is a forum member. (I'm new too, but am learning)

38 coupe · 10-09-2016, 08:37 AM

skylman2, where in Texas are you? There are several chapters of the Early Ford V8 Club, there may be one near you.

We put together an engine block ID thread a while back, it may have some information you are looking for: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showth...5301&showall=1

skylarkman2 · 10-09-2016, 09:50 PM

Thanks all.
I live at Ennis - about 40 miles south of Dallas.
As you can tell from my ID, I have a 62 Skylark convertible, and:
a 62 skylark hardtop
53 Chevy belair hardtop
64 dodge dart convertible,
40 ford pickup - hemi
2000 special edition Miata
and currently working on 46 tudor - mild, but not stock.
I also note that some end their posts with a clever thought.

Mine is - Learn from others mistakes, you won't live long enough to make them all yourself.

skylarkman2 · 11-25-2016, 07:09 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Update on my 59ab and 8ba saga.
My search for an 8ba crank turned up a nice one nearby.
It happened to be a Merc 4" that had already been turned and polished .010/.010.
Research showed that my 8ba rods were ok, but I would need different pistons.
My machinist said that was a good route to go, and suggested boring out to .125.
Speedway allowed me to return the 59ab pistons and then I got 4"- .125 pistons.
Early Ford let me return the 59ab rod bearings and I got bearings for the Merc crank.
Machine shop finished my engine work and I was looking forward to putting everything together this weekend.
Rear main bearing seemed a little tight. The crank would not seat on the thrust surfaces. Oh the fun of mixing parts.
Which is the correct bearing to use? The 59ab main or the 8ba main, or does the Merc crank use a different bearing?
dave-TX

flatjack9 · 11-25-2016, 09:59 PM

If y our block is a 59AB, you must use the 59AB bearings. The front and middle are the same for both engines, but the rear is unique to the block.

skylarkman2 · 11-26-2016, 09:17 AM

Thank you very much.
After I went to bed, still thinking about this, I remembered that I still have the set of 59ab main bearings +.010 that I got for the original 59ab crank.
I planned to check them for fit this morning.

Ol' Ron · 11-26-2016, 10:59 AM

Somebody should write a new book on how to put these things together.

skylarkman2 · 11-26-2016, 01:53 PM

Aw Ron, if you know what you are doing takes all the fun out of it;-)
Remember those days when there was no online, and few books.
Trial and error was our education.

40cpe · 11-26-2016, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skylarkman2

Trial and error was our education.

But we had more energy back then.

skylarkman2 · 11-27-2016, 04:35 PM

And we remembered what we did wrong.

Side note:
Those 59ab bearings I have are NOS.
An interesting find was that someone had packed a piece of newspaper in the box.
The top of the page was torn off, so I don't know which paper or exact date.
One side was stock market info and the other side were obituary notices.
I can't exactly determine the year, but the day was May 10th.
I am sure that it was a Massachusetts paper, because they list "Massachusetts soldiers missing or wounded".
There are a few used car ads that I can make out:
a 38 dodge coupe - $600, 41 olds w/16000 miles - $1400, 36 plymouth - $265.
Interesting find in a box that hasn't been opened in 70+ years.

10-08-2016, 08:50 PM	#21
skylarkman2 Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: TX Posts: 41	Re: 59ab & 8ba Thanks Ol'Ron (we may be near the same age). Calculating the costs, it looks like going the 8ba route is best. Since I am a newbee to ford barn, tell me about your book. Even if I don't use the 59ba setup, I am always interested in learning. ol'dave -TX

10-08-2016, 10:19 PM	#22
Ol' Ron Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chester Vt Posts: 8,857	Re: 59ab & 8ba My book is called 'Nostalgia" rebuilding and modifying the ford Flathead. You can get it from Max VP and allot of parts as well. If you want a good read about these engines, get JWL's book as well it called "Flathead facts". It's really a fun little motor.

10-09-2016, 08:17 AM	#23
jagnweiner Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Geneseo, IL Posts: 290	Re: 59ab & 8ba Here's a link to where you can purchase Ron's book. http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/F.../Nostalgia.pdf "Max VP" refers to Max VanPelt, who is a forum member. (I'm new too, but am learning) __________________ Regards, Scott '47 Mercury Convertible '25 Dodge Bros. Touring Car '63 MG Midget

10-09-2016, 08:37 AM	#24
38 coupe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Texas Posts: 1,631	Re: 59ab & 8ba skylman2, where in Texas are you? There are several chapters of the Early Ford V8 Club, there may be one near you. We put together an engine block ID thread a while back, it may have some information you are looking for: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showth...5301&showall=1

10-09-2016, 09:50 PM	#25
skylarkman2 Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: TX Posts: 41	Re: 59ab & 8ba Thanks all. I live at Ennis - about 40 miles south of Dallas. As you can tell from my ID, I have a 62 Skylark convertible, and: a 62 skylark hardtop 53 Chevy belair hardtop 64 dodge dart convertible, 40 ford pickup - hemi 2000 special edition Miata and currently working on 46 tudor - mild, but not stock. I also note that some end their posts with a clever thought. Mine is - Learn from others mistakes, you won't live long enough to make them all yourself.

11-25-2016, 07:09 PM	#26
skylarkman2 Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: TX Posts: 41	Re: 59ab & 8ba Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Update on my 59ab and 8ba saga. My search for an 8ba crank turned up a nice one nearby. It happened to be a Merc 4" that had already been turned and polished .010/.010. Research showed that my 8ba rods were ok, but I would need different pistons. My machinist said that was a good route to go, and suggested boring out to .125. Speedway allowed me to return the 59ab pistons and then I got 4"- .125 pistons. Early Ford let me return the 59ab rod bearings and I got bearings for the Merc crank. Machine shop finished my engine work and I was looking forward to putting everything together this weekend. Rear main bearing seemed a little tight. The crank would not seat on the thrust surfaces. Oh the fun of mixing parts. Which is the correct bearing to use? The 59ab main or the 8ba main, or does the Merc crank use a different bearing? dave-TX

11-25-2016, 09:59 PM	#27
flatjack9 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oshkosh, Wi Posts: 4,526	Re: 59ab & 8ba If y our block is a 59AB, you must use the 59AB bearings. The front and middle are the same for both engines, but the rear is unique to the block.

11-26-2016, 09:17 AM	#28
skylarkman2 Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: TX Posts: 41	Re: 59ab & 8ba Thank you very much. After I went to bed, still thinking about this, I remembered that I still have the set of 59ab main bearings +.010 that I got for the original 59ab crank. I planned to check them for fit this morning.

11-26-2016, 10:59 AM	#29
Ol' Ron Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chester Vt Posts: 8,857	Re: 59ab & 8ba Somebody should write a new book on how to put these things together.

11-26-2016, 01:53 PM	#30
skylarkman2 Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: TX Posts: 41	Re: 59ab & 8ba Aw Ron, if you know what you are doing takes all the fun out of it;-) Remember those days when there was no online, and few books. Trial and error was our education.

11-27-2016, 04:35 PM	#32
skylarkman2 Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: TX Posts: 41	Re: 59ab & 8ba And we remembered what we did wrong. Side note: Those 59ab bearings I have are NOS. An interesting find was that someone had packed a piece of newspaper in the box. The top of the page was torn off, so I don't know which paper or exact date. One side was stock market info and the other side were obituary notices. I can't exactly determine the year, but the day was May 10th. I am sure that it was a Massachusetts paper, because they list "Massachusetts soldiers missing or wounded". There are a few used car ads that I can make out: a 38 dodge coupe - $600, 41 olds w/16000 miles - $1400, 36 plymouth - $265. Interesting find in a box that hasn't been opened in 70+ years.