The Ford Barn

TomT/Williamsburg · 06-15-2010, 10:30 AM

Hey, Vic, you and I are having loads of flathead fun!!

Vic Piano · 06-15-2010, 10:44 AM

Tom, After 45 years of messing with these Flatheads I'm still trying to convince myself that this is fun

Don't ya just love it

George/Maine · 06-15-2010, 01:03 PM

You could start it, just hot wire it neg to coil,you may also be 180 out of time.Top dead center the rotor should be straight down 6 o clock.and if the cap is marked #1 is left or right of cap clip.Did you hear that motor run?

Vic Piano · 06-15-2010, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by George/Maine

You could start it, just hot wire it neg to coil,you may also be 180 out of time.Top dead center the rotor should be straight down 6 o clock.and if the cap is marked #1 is left or right of cap clip.Did you hear that motor run?

The motor was running when my friend pulled it out of his '51 F-1 to install a "Full House" Flathead he built. I plan on "hot wiring" it this Saturday to get it to fire and after that, I'll try to trace the problem with the starter button... Something simple I'm sure, we'll find it.

Vic Piano · 06-19-2010, 12:39 PM

It’s ALIVE, it’s ALIVE...

We got the 8RT that we put in the '53 Panel to fire up today and she is sweet.

The problem was (I hate to admit) I had the plug wires 180 out at the distributor cap... It's the first time I've ever made a mistake

. Pete, she runs really well, all we need to do now is a little tweaking on the timing and carb as she kicks up a little under a load in second gear. I' am a happy camper. Now on to the next project.

Steves46 · 06-19-2010, 01:06 PM

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Hey Vic that's great news and releaved to hear that it was a simple fix! Wish I could have been there.

Pete Fl/Wi · 06-19-2010, 03:09 PM

Vic, Glad to hear that motor started. It's got to be that carb making it run rough. Ha,Ha.
I bought my next project yesterday a 1940 panel. It's needs major work but that what I love. I will post pictures next Friday.
Pete

Vic Piano · 06-20-2010, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete Fl/Wi

Vic, Glad to hear that motor started. It's got to be that carb making it run rough. Ha,Ha.
I bought my next project yesterday a 1940 panel. It's needs major work but that what I love. I will post pictures next Friday.
Pete

Pete, I think a couple of the plug wire ends might need to be replaced and, as usual, I don't have any extras in my stash... I'll have to get some this week. I'm sure we'll get the bugs out. The '40 Panel sounds like a neat project, can't wait to see some photos. Vic

TomT/Williamsburg · 06-21-2010, 09:13 AM

Good for you, Vic - sounds like you got a winner!

Vic Piano · 06-21-2010, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomT/Williamsburg

Good for you, Vic - sounds like you got a winner!

Thanks Tom, I sure hope so

. Here are a few photos of the new 8RT between the fenders, etc.

TomT/Williamsburg · 06-21-2010, 01:42 PM

Wow - I never saw the inside of a panel. If it runs as good as it looks, you hae a definite winner!

Looking good!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vic Piano

Thanks Tom, I sure hope so

. Here are a few photos of the new 8RT between the fenders, etc.

Vic Piano · 06-21-2010, 02:05 PM

Tom, thanks again. It took me half the day to clean it out...

While it was out of commission I was using it as a catch all for parts, etc. from some of our other Flatheads. This Flathead sounds like it'll be a good strong runner.

I just called NAPA and ordered a new set of 7mm plug wires, I'll pick them up tomorrow and install them at lunch time.

Django · 06-22-2010, 09:36 AM

Lookin' good!

Vic Piano · 06-22-2010, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Django

Lookin' good!

Thanks.

I'm still working out some of the kinks; I put in a new set of plug wires earlier and took it for a drive... Still breaking up under a load in first and second

so... I poured a little MMO down the carb while the motor was running, went for another ride and things did improve,

I think I'll drive it around a bit more today and if things don't continue to improve, I'll check the points and maybe tweak the timing again... We'll get it working right.

Vic Piano · 07-08-2010, 09:14 AM

Problem solved!

It turns out that the vacuum advance in the distributor was not working as it should. My friend Art had an NOS distributor that the let me use to see if the truck would run right.. It worked! I'm not a big fan of the Ford vavuum advance and I usually swap out the stock unit for a Mallory dual point, that's next, but for now I'm using Art's NOS distributor and the truck is running really well.

Brendan · 07-08-2010, 11:14 AM

cool, i had a falcon with a 170 and when the vacuum advance would not work right it would drink gas

37coop · 06-04-2013, 03:40 PM

I,m a new boy working with trucks ,cars bikes no problem, trucks ,I just luv em

41panelmark · 06-04-2013, 05:25 PM

What ended up being the "broken" part of the old flat head?

Vic Piano · 06-04-2013, 05:35 PM

It turned out to be the head gaskets; they just crumbled when we removed the heads...

The big surprise was, it was a Merc Flathead.

Before we installed new head gaskets, we flipped it over, pulled the pan to check the main and rod bearings, the crank was stamped 8CM… We bottomed out a piston and stuck a ruler in the cylinder to make sure it was a 4” stroke. Now that Flathead resides between the frame rails of our ’51 F-1.

41ford1 · 06-04-2013, 07:49 PM

A MERC in the F-1 !!! No wonder that truck ran down I-75 so well. You've a hot motor in the little red truck.

06-15-2010, 10:30 AM	#61
TomT/Williamsburg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Williamsburg, Virginia Posts: 2,654	Re: Flathead Fun this Weekend Hey, Vic, you and I are having loads of flathead fun!!

06-15-2010, 10:44 AM	#62
Vic Piano Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Odessa, FL Posts: 7,611	Re: Flathead Fun this Weekend Tom, After 45 years of messing with these Flatheads I'm still trying to convince myself that this is fun Don't ya just love it __________________ Imagination is more important than knowledge.

06-15-2010, 01:03 PM	#63
George/Maine Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mid coast Maine Posts: 1,878	Re: Flathead Fun this Weekend You could start it, just hot wire it neg to coil,you may also be 180 out of time.Top dead center the rotor should be straight down 6 o clock.and if the cap is marked #1 is left or right of cap clip.Did you hear that motor run?

06-19-2010, 12:39 PM	#65
Vic Piano Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Odessa, FL Posts: 7,611	Re: Flathead Fun this Weekend It’s ALIVE, it’s ALIVE... We got the 8RT that we put in the '53 Panel to fire up today and she is sweet. The problem was (I hate to admit) I had the plug wires 180 out at the distributor cap... It's the first time I've ever made a mistake. Pete, she runs really well, all we need to do now is a little tweaking on the timing and carb as she kicks up a little under a load in second gear. I' am a happy camper. Now on to the next project. __________________ Imagination is more important than knowledge.

06-19-2010, 01:06 PM	#66
Steves46 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lithia, FL Posts: 1,050	Re: Flathead Fun this Weekend Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Hey Vic that's great news and releaved to hear that it was a simple fix! Wish I could have been there. __________________ If it aint broke, don't fix it!

06-19-2010, 03:09 PM	#67
Pete Fl/Wi Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 281	Re: Flathead Fun this Weekend Vic, Glad to hear that motor started. It's got to be that carb making it run rough. Ha,Ha. I bought my next project yesterday a 1940 panel. It's needs major work but that what I love. I will post pictures next Friday. Pete

06-21-2010, 09:13 AM	#69
TomT/Williamsburg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Williamsburg, Virginia Posts: 2,654	Re: Flathead Fun this Weekend Good for you, Vic - sounds like you got a winner!

06-21-2010, 02:05 PM	#72
Vic Piano Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Odessa, FL Posts: 7,611	Re: Flathead Fun this Weekend Tom, thanks again. It took me half the day to clean it out... While it was out of commission I was using it as a catch all for parts, etc. from some of our other Flatheads. This Flathead sounds like it'll be a good strong runner. I just called NAPA and ordered a new set of 7mm plug wires, I'll pick them up tomorrow and install them at lunch time. __________________ Imagination is more important than knowledge.

06-22-2010, 09:36 AM	#73
Django Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Forest Park, IL Posts: 590	Re: Flathead Fun this Weekend Lookin' good! __________________ Obsessed with all things 1936 Ford since birth... thanks Dad.

07-08-2010, 09:14 AM	#75
Vic Piano Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Odessa, FL Posts: 7,611	Re: Flathead Fun this Weekend Problem solved! It turns out that the vacuum advance in the distributor was not working as it should. My friend Art had an NOS distributor that the let me use to see if the truck would run right.. It worked! I'm not a big fan of the Ford vavuum advance and I usually swap out the stock unit for a Mallory dual point, that's next, but for now I'm using Art's NOS distributor and the truck is running really well. __________________ Imagination is more important than knowledge.

07-08-2010, 11:14 AM	#76
Brendan Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: At my kitchen table in Santa Rosa, Ca Posts: 2,903	Re: Flathead Fun this Weekend cool, i had a falcon with a 170 and when the vacuum advance would not work right it would drink gas

06-04-2013, 03:40 PM	#77
37coop Senior Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: kent , u.k Posts: 519	Re: Flathead Fun this Weekend I,m a new boy working with trucks ,cars bikes no problem, trucks ,I just luv em

06-04-2013, 05:25 PM	#78
41panelmark Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,264	Re: Flathead Fun this Weekend What ended up being the "broken" part of the old flat head?

06-04-2013, 05:35 PM	#79
Vic Piano Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Odessa, FL Posts: 7,611	Re: Flathead Fun this Weekend It turned out to be the head gaskets; they just crumbled when we removed the heads... The big surprise was, it was a Merc Flathead. Before we installed new head gaskets, we flipped it over, pulled the pan to check the main and rod bearings, the crank was stamped 8CM… We bottomed out a piston and stuck a ruler in the cylinder to make sure it was a 4” stroke. Now that Flathead resides between the frame rails of our ’51 F-1. __________________ Imagination is more important than knowledge.

06-04-2013, 07:49 PM	#80
41ford1 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: ManchVegas, New Hampshah Posts: 1,589	Re: Flathead Fun this Weekend A MERC in the F-1 !!! No wonder that truck ran down I-75 so well. You've a hot motor in the little red truck.