flatty

I only know one person running a flatty and he draws the most attention.

 

depends if you want the go factor or the wow factor. I think flat heads are pretty cool. But you have to ask yourself if you can live with less power.

 

I have A Few Options With my Build... With The Flatty It Could Really Be A Cool Rod BUt I Also Have Some Newer Engines In Mind (460/429/351) Any Suggestions would be nice...Im going with a flat black and red/chrome wheels(bfg 295/60/15 rear and 255/60/25 on the front) i know the flatty is a cool engine but can i still smoke the tires or should i just build a mini rod and put it in there?

Let me say first that I dearly love Ford/Mercury flatheads. I have had Hot Rods years back with them in it.

Now to your questions.

Yes, you can still "smoke the tires" even with a stock flathead and stock three speed trans. Speedshifting into second will squeal the tires as well. If you have an overdrive trans, you can get 60 MPH in first gear and 90 MPH in second (assuming you have a long straightaway).

Cost is a factor as to your choice. It will cost you about the same to build a "HOT" flathead as any other engine of your choice. In the end you would have a really neat looking flathead that does have a decent amount of HP; but will more than likely run a little hot, have lousy fuel consumption, and will be outrun by many stock late model cars. You would also have to upgrade your trans and rear end if you wanted any kind of longevity (if you "get on it" much). Cruising at todays freeway speeds will be hard on that flathead as well.

If you plan to only drive the car once in a while to rod events, cruise-ins, etc.; then the flathead would be my choice. I would definitely go with finned aluminum heads and multiple carbs. Use a Mercury crank (gives you additional stroke) and a nice 3/4 cam (Isky still makes them), and glasspak mufflers. If you can find them, replace the trans gears with Zephyr gears. You can really wind it up with them. Use 4.11-1 rear gears.

All that being said, the choice is yours. Personally, I'd go with the later engine and upgrade the trans and rearend as well as the front brakes. Dollar for dollar you will be way ahead.

 

Since you are not going back 100% OEM, keep the flathead for a later time when you may want to return the truck to it's original condition. Install the 429 and 4 speed and have a ball. While the flathead can deliver fairly decent HP, it will be expensive and you will not have the durability of the 429.

Vince

 

ok

hmm... very interesting... im hoping for the 429... but i was maybe thinking of buildin a rat rod or something, so im definitly keeping the flatty...but ill start with the 351 then when i find the 429 itll just bolt rght on in.........the flatty is a merc too i dont know if that makes much different...i think its the 272.........

 

Just my .02 but I would just use a 460 instead of a 429. Same bolt pattern and 31 more cubes.

 

I vote for keepin' the flatty! :thumbup: There's tons of speed parts out there for those ford and merc flattys.
I'm running the 337 Lincoln flatty. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find any speed parts for my application.

Rock on and God bless...

Señor

 

What should I do?

I vote for the Flathead first, and if not the Flatty, then go with the 460. Either go retro or whole hog.

What year is the Flattie? The most it could be as a stock Merc engine would be 256.

3 3/8ths bore, Offy Heads, Edelbrock 2 duece intake, Port and relieve, Isky 400 Jr cam, and headers would be the NUTZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!

And of course if that Merc engine has the 4 inch crank, then you will have a screaming 286 cubes.

If you are opting to go with an M block, bypass the 351 and go with a 400. Same 575 lb block, 50 more cubes.

 

the flatty is original

The flatty is the original 1953, and not run since 1968...How can i tell what engine i have?

Its has a single barrel carb, its lined up to a 4-std tranny and a 5.14 rear axle. It says icm... made in canada on the head.

 

I'm pretty sure that is 1CM not ICM. I think 1CM heads were in used 51, EAC heads were used in 52-53. At least that is how it was in the US, I don't know about Canada. I don't know much about flatheads but this should help your search.

 

NAAFH

As was mentioned previously, if that is the origional 53 Merc engine, it is 256 cubic inch.

Mercs came with the 256 cube engine from 50-53.

 

Just my point of view.

Flat black........

Red with chrome wheels........


Flattie would be cool........

 

NAAFH

Suede Paint Rules :thumbup:

 

Keep the flathead! Those other engines can't hold a candle to the flaty in terms of 'coolness factor'. Don't even bother to pump up the HP much because you will never go as fast as a stock SBC, but make it look like you have. 3 dueces (running just the middle one, finned aluminum heads, headers, etc.

 

NAAFH

Just happen to notice that Edelbrock has a new 4 bbl manifold # 1107, for your engine and comes with an adaptor plate for use with modern 4 bbl carbs. If thats the route you would choose to go, I would recommend running a 390 CFM Holley 4 bbl.
Their head #1115, for your engine.
I dont see any cams listed for your engine, but Speedway Motors in Lincoln, Nebraska handles a lot of Flatty stuff.

speedwaymotors.com

 

Keep the flathead.

 

Just my point of view.

Flat black........

Red with chrome wheels........


Flattie would be cool........

i agree, i would go for the classic "greaser" style... flatty has my vote. either way, it sounds like your on your way to a awesome ride. good luck with it.

 

right on

I love all the opinions i am getting... allways wanted the flat black with the red/chrome rims.. i have an interior donated from a 86 lincoln..buckets , interior lights.. i am going to do some fairly neat outer body work...grafting 2001 chevy door handels in.. cadillac bullet style revers lights... i have some cavalier(i belive) head lamps i plan to turn sideways to make my tail lights, i have a cargo light from a 79 ford (engine tranny and rear donator, unless i use the flatty...) and a few other random parts from old dodges buicks caddys and such....im slowly working on a sketch of it on pencil and paper so soom you can see my dream...

 

flatty

keep the flatty but maybe throw a blower and/or efi on it talk about cool factor then.

 

Flatty!!