Best Flathead Motor Book?

[smross]

I'm a Flathead newbie (and new to the Forum) having just picked up a '37 Standard Coupe with a 286 inch Jim Lowrey-built 59ab.
Can anyone recommend a good Flathead motor book that has info on specs., mods, etc? Frankly, I'm amazed at the large number of books available.
Thanks in advance.

[JSeery]

Depends on what you are interested in, the JWL book "Flathead Facts" (at VanPelt) is an interesting read. For rebuild information there are other books.

[4tford]

Both JWL book "Flathead Facts" and Ol'Rons book Nostalgia are on the top of the list.

[jake197000]

id agree with that!

[Binx]

I bought Ron Bishop's book when it first came out and I was the new proud owner of my pickup. It is a great beginner's book that is well organized, loaded with service manual specs and written in a conversational manner that is easy to follow with lots of tips and tricks. No mods it this book. Just meat and potatoes.

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rebu...=9780830620661

Lonnie

[39topless]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Originally Posted by Binx

I bought Ron Bishop's book when it first came out and I was the new proud owner of my pickup. It is a great beginner's book that is well organized, loaded with service manual specs and written in a conversational manner that is easy to follow with lots of tips and tricks. No mods it this book. Just meat and potatoes.

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rebu...=9780830620661

Lonnie

This really is a great little book. Reading it is like sitting around the wood burning stove in an old gear head's garage and listening to him talk about old Ford flatheads. I would highly recommend this book.
Phil

[19Fordy]

RE: " This really is a great little book. Reading it is like sitting around the wood burning stove in an old gear head's garage and listening to him talk about old Ford flatheads. I would highly recommend this book."
Phil

Just a little tidbit of information that I discovered years ago.
If your rebuilding a flatty on page 69 of Ron Bishop's book there is a misprint of the correct firing order for 1946-48 and 1949-53 flatheads. The book shows 15846372.
It should be 15486372.

[felix37]

I used O'l Ron's book when I built my Flathead, but that being said, you can never have too many Flathead books. I have found that I learn something new from all my books.

[john worden]

You really need to read everything in print about the flatheads.

[bobH]

Originally Posted by felix37

I used O'l Ron's book when I built my Flathead, but that being said, you can never have too many Flathead books. I have found that I learn something new from all my books.

I've got ALL of the books mentioned above, plus a couple more. As noted above, seems like I can't have too many. I'm primarily a 'stocker'-type, and I was trained in the 40's and 50's using Motor Manuals. So, that's where I usually look first, if working on a stocker. The material in Ron's and JWL's books is very valuable whenever I want to know anything about 'built' engines. Bishop's book is also a good reference. I like the factory manual that Ford did for the Military in 1942 if I want to check what Ford had to say. The reprint of the Service Bulletins, 32-37, is very helpful for working on stuff of that era. I have a Workshop Manual for 32-48, done by Scientific Publications, New South Wales, which is a good resource, but redundant to the other books. For 49-51, I have the factory service manuals. I also have one other manual, I think it's a Chilton, but I can't tell because it's old, poor, and the cover and title are missing - redundant to the other manuals, but excellent for stockers, with excellent specification pages. I've got the FMC Service manual 42-48, which again, is redundant to other books, and I don't use it. And, I've got Frank Oddo's builders book - pretty good, but I like Ron's and JWL's books better. And, I see there might be a couple more on the shelf, and I'm now wondering why the heck I have all these books. I sure don't need all of them, although I've enjoyed reading them along the way.
edit... I forgot to mention the most important resource of all... This Forum. If you follow this Forum long enough, and if you use the search feature, it seems as though you will learn more than all of the books combined, including all kinds of info that you can't find in ANY book. JMO

[Ol' Ron]

For those just getting into Flatheads, getting an old 50's/60's motors manual is a musr, also Rom Bishops book is a must. I learn thing every day about these things.

[chap52]

If your considering "building" your flatty a bit you may find: Ford Flathead V-8 Builders Handbook" by Frank Oddo very helpful in determining your course. Lots of great information and for us somewhat challenged, lots of pictures.
And as Ol' Ron said, get a Ford Manual.
Enjoy the adventure.

[studearch]

Got to put in a plug for my friend, Joe Abbin's books. The first two were based on his years of mechanical engineering, supercharging, actively racing and dyno-testing flatheads. He knows what works, what's hype, and where to put your money. His latest, third book is about identifying engines, parts, and pieces. It's available on line or through Roadrunner Engineering.

[36tudordeluxe]

If you have Ol'Ron's, JWL's & Bishops's book, you'll be good to go. BTW Ol'Ron & JWL are frequent contributors on this site........it doesn't get any better; they helped me many times during the build of my 276.

[smross]

Thanks for all the great replies. I already have several of the books on order.

[59ab]

I agree with all the above and would also like to wecome you to the Barn!

[Diavolo]

A serious contender for flathead books are the ones written by Joe Abbin. I have both of them. The latest one is invaluable for combinations using superchargers as well as naturally aspirated. Included are dyno charts and good recipes for what parts go together with what. I consider it invaluable.

If I had to buy only one of his books, I would buy the first link.

http://www.amazon.com/Blown-Flathead...=1418106101405

http://www.amazon.com/335-Flathead-F...ords=joe+abbin

Also, spend a few minutes at his website, where you can also buy his books.

http://www.roadrunnerengineering.com/

[john in illinois]

I would also suggest this web sight where you can find reference to almost anything flathead. http://www.btc-bci.com/~billben/flathead.htm

John

[quickchange34]

Joe Abbin by far has the best flathead books. The latest one is Ford & Mercury Flathead V-8 Identification and Rebuilders Guide .They all are a great read with tons of proven information.

[39topless]

Originally Posted by Diavolo

A serious contender for flathead books are the ones written by Joe Abbin. I have both of them. The latest one is invaluable for combinations using superchargers as well as naturally aspirated. Included are dyno charts and good recipes for what parts go together with what. I consider it invaluable.

If I had to buy only one of his books, I would buy the first link.

http://www.amazon.com/Blown-Flathead...=1418106101405

http://www.amazon.com/335-Flathead-F...ords=joe+abbin

Also, spend a few minutes at his website, where you can also buy his books.

http://www.roadrunnerengineering.com/

Are you kidding me? $396 for a paper back book? Has to be a misprint! A first edition, signed, copy of the Bible wouldn't cost that much!
Why is this little book so valuable.
Phil