How can you tell a Mercury flathead V8?
How can you tell a Mercury flathead V8?
According to Van Pelt Sales, the only visual method of differentiating Mercury and Ford Flatheads is to look at the front counterweght of the crankshaft. Mercury crankshafts have a longer stroke and are identified by a dimple on the top of the crankshaft counterweight.
How do I identify a Ford flathead motor?
How to Identify the Ford Flathead V8
- Count the number of studs on the cylinder heads.
- Locate the engine serial number.
- Decode the engine serial number.
- Measure the stroke.
What is an 8BA Flathead?
In general, the latter year flatheads were commonly referred to as the “8BA” type for Ford and “8CM” for Mercury. The truck version was identified as an “8RT”. Later 1952 and ’53 Fords and Mercurys were known as “EAB” and “EAC” respectively. These markings are generally cast into the cylinder heads.
Are flathead engines reliable?
Steadily improved through 1953, with millions produced, the flathead achieved acceptable reliability. Ford solved most of the flathead’s ills over time, upgrading ignition, redesigning water pumps, refining carburetion and boosting displacement—to 239 cid and on to 255 cid in the ’49-53 Mercury.
How much power can you get out of a flathead V8?
It was meant to be a carthorse, not a racehorse. Nevertheless, the flathead is the little engine that could. Despite having three rather than five main bearings, the flathead has stayed the course. With some exotic tuning, it has been known to produce 700 hp, and not just for short bursts.
What is a flathead V8 worth?
As already posted it is most likely worth in the $100 to $200 range. Some would not pay that, but then again some might be willing to pay more. Consider what you are willing to lose money wise if it turns out to be an unusable block and that is the price you should be willing to pay.
Why did they stop making flathead V8?
In 1953, Ford made the final flathead V-8. It displaced 3.9 liters and made 110 hp. As engineers sought more power, Ford scrapped the design in favor of an overhead-valve engine. Thus the flathead V-8’s tenure came to end.