OT I lost the argument. Very angery and starting to question my flatty

[tysouthwick]

my neighbor who has his own business recently bought a 49 ford f250 with a flathead v8 my other neighbor who is in to hot rodding said to but a Chev 350 (EEWWWW!) in it he said this because flatheads have low horse power and are very unreliable and the parts availability and reliability of a 350 is much better and I said that this is not true with a mopar flathead and his stupid remark said that they were very unreliable and Chrysler sold the rights to Nash (is this true? I had nothing to say to this because I didn't know) he also said that they stopped making the flathead long before 1972 even when I said that they were used for stationary purposes and did not believe me when I said the military stopped using them in power wagons in 1968 anyways I am pissed as hell and I want to punch his face in. And I am starting to question if i should rebuild my flathead or put a hemi in it any one have any thing to say about this?

[55 Fargo]

I think the Chrysler L had 6 speaks for itself, 1937 to 1972, these engine were manufactured, and rebuilt by many engine builders too.

There apllications cars, trucks, boats, farm machinery,fork lifts, welders, pumps, you name it, a lot of military use too.

These engines were built with sturdy mains, full pressure oil lubrication, hardened valve seats from the get go.

I really think your so called expert Neighbour knows diddly squat about the Mopar flat head 6, there were and contiune to be fantastic work horse and very reliable engines.

I wouldn't punch his face in that would land you in the county lock-up, just forget this idiot, and build your engine, there are lots of parts still available.

Sold the rights to Nash, never heard of that , Chrysler built these engines until 1972, and sold millions, manya New York cab ran these engines for 100s of thousands of totally reliable miles.

Don't let this fool tell you anything different, he obviously does not know what He's talking about.........Fred

[Dodgeb4ya]

350 Chevy's are just plain boring, and installed in everything from Fiats to grandma's old Malibu. I think you can even order new ones from 7-11. Hot Rodders can have em!

Give me an engine I can cook my pancakes on-like my old MoPar flatheads!!!

[greg g]

Hmmm Nash was buildig OHV 6's in the early 40's, along with their own in house flathead.

So I doubt they were interested in buyig MOPAR's flat 6.

Tell him to keep his belly button motor and have fun being the same as everybody else.

Kinda like wearing a parochial school uniform. SBC Edlebrock intake, carb, cam and headers, white blouse knee sox and plaid jumper, yadda yadda yadda.

[tysouthwick]

Thank you some one actually knows what there talking about!(what a novel idea) I feel alot more confident about my engine!

[Robert Horne]

My little 36 Dodge enginr is very reliable. I have had it over 20 years. Starts very easy on the coldest mornings. I can let in idle for an hour on the hotest day, without overheating. It has plenty of power for the type car and weight of the car, it is in. Slant six replaced the flathead in cars around 1960, but the flathead was available in some trucks until 62. Military and industrial flatheads were used way past 62.

[T120]

Because of the absurdity of your other neighbour's remarks regarding Chrysler flatheads.It's actually very funny.I'm still laughing

[JoelOkie]

He was somewhat right about flatheads not having much hp, but that was about the Fords. The first ones were just 60 hp. As Fred pointed out, these engines were in production for a long time, which would not have been feasable unless they were dependable. I'd have to tell him to take a piss up a rope.

[40plyrod]

Our old fargo sawdust truck has a cracked block that has been welded up twice. The drive from the mill to our farm is about half a mile and you have to put water in it when you leave the mill and when you get to the farm, It hasn't had an oil change since before I was born, and this spring I finally cleaned the sawdust chips out of the carb and rebuilt it(no air cleaner)It sits for monthes on end and guess what IT ALWAYS STARTS AND RUNS! The main reason for me wanting to keep the flat six in my 40 is the reliability of those engines! that and the sound (you haven't lived till you've heard a flat six running right off the manifold) Also tell you neighbour the expert that Ford flathead v8's are very well supported by many aftermarket companies, pick up any hot rod magazine.

[moparbenny]

just like the idiot that told me Chrysler never made a 400..even though at the time i had 3 cars with 400 big blocks with the factory air cleaner that says 400..

guys like this turkey are everywhere and in every hobby it's why i like the driving/working on them part better then the meeting people part..

but the 350 chev is a good motor the head design on a big block mopar is almost the same design that's why big block mopars get better gas mileage then gm big blocks..

but if the said flathead is in good shape and not cracked and the owner wants to spend the $$$ he could build a healthy ford flatty..or put a 302 ford in it...ford in a ford? what's the world coming too?lol

[moparbenny]

p.s i have a '37 Ford big truck and it's getting a flathead...

[B-Watson]

The Mopar flathead sixes we all know and love first went into production in 1933 and lasted until 1972. In 1935 the engines received full-length water jackets to improved cooling. And as pointed out, they were used in cars, trucks, tractors, combines, as wells as stationary and marine use. One of the most reliable and durable engines built.

Nash's little flathead six as used on the Rambler was introduced in 1941 and gained an OHV version in 1956. The Ambassador six dated back to the early 1930's. So Nash bought nothing from Chrysler.

But you have to admit, when it comes to ignorance of things Mopar, nothing beats a Chevy fan.

Bill

Vancouver, BC

Edited July 4, 2010 by B-Watson
corrections

[tysouthwick]

You guys are awesome! I knew that every thing he said was wrong about flatheads minus that they were low horse power but thats a given, but he was right about the 350 being every where and easy to build he had a 41 ford with a flathead he said it had problems all the time I think it was just the car being rebellious to a Chev man like him self! but you just cant tear apart a truck that original and the engine ran perfectly (32300 original miles!) and gay it up by putting a 350 in it! he even told me to put a 350 in my truck! for the same reasons. Hhmmph hotroders!

[tysouthwick]

p.s i have a '37 Ford big truck and it's getting a flathead...

Awesome truck! I saw one of these at a car show about a year ago;)

[moparbenny]

Awesome truck! I saw one of these at a car show about a year ago;)

thanks:)...the biggest problem with ford flathead is over heating but Bob Drake makes a kit that will help the problem...

and 350 will go down the road just fine but there is something about the old flathead motors in general that are just cool...

[tysouthwick]

thanks:)...the biggest problem with ford flathead is over heating but Bob Drake makes a kit that will help the problem...

and 350 will go down the road just fine but there is something about the old flathead motors in general that are just cool...

That is one thing he agreed with that flatheads are cool, different motors

[dezeldoc]

The main reason everyone puts a damn small block chevy into everything is because they can't figure out how to work on a real motor! Chrysler was so far ahead of chevy and ford it is unbelievable, yet most guys don't know that and refuse to believe anything but a chevy can run! tell him to go and read his super chevy magazine and pound sand!

[tysouthwick]

The main reason everyone puts a damn small block chevy into everything is because they can't figure out how to work on a real motor! Chrysler was so far ahead of chevy and ford it is unbelievable, yet most guys don't know that and refuse to believe anything but a chevy can run! tell him to go and read his super chevy magazine and pound sand!

Its guys like you that make this forum awesome!

[Captain Neon]

I had a guy stop me yesterday and ask me if I had boughten my P15 in a neighbouring town. Claiming to have seen a similar car at the local Chevy dealer. I knew the car he was talkin' 'bout. I told him that I had had my car for almost 25 years, and that that car was a maroon '37 Chevy coupe while mine is a grey '46 Plymouth more door.

He then told me that he knew where to get a '69 Charger with a blown engine, torn up tranny and stuck rear end for $1000. Yeah, so, I said. Probably rusty w/ torn up seats too. He then told me that he had a buddy with a Hemi Cuda. Really, I asked.

Yeah, he says. It has a 340 w/ a 4 bbl. That's not a Hemi 'Cuda. Nice cars, but a dime/dozen vs. a real Hemi 'Cuda. Told him that I've been around cars for over 20 years and have never seen a real Hemi 'Cuda in the flesh. I've seen a few clones and I've seen a lot of 'Cudas but never a real Hemi 'Cuda.

Then there's the guy 8 years ago that argued w/ me that my '46 was really a '34 because it had suicide doors.

Self-proclaimed expert idiots are every where. Ignore'em. At most, just feel sorry for'em. They just ain't worth it. They're simply too stupid to realise what they don't know.

[james curl]

The six cylinder flat head Ford available up until 1951 had more horse power that the flat head V8 Ford. If you just look at a flat head Ford six, except for the color and starter location it looks like a MoPar flat head six. The 1941 Ford flat head six had 90 hp and 187 ft. lbs of torque where the flat head Ford V8 had 85 horse power and 157 ft. lbs of torque. By 1951 the flat head V8 had 100 horse power and 181 ft. lbs of torque while the flat head six had 95 horsepower and 180 ft lbs of torque.

Edited July 4, 2010 by james curl
last flat head six was 1951

[Jim Saraceno]

Yeah, this guy doesn't know squat about flatties. The fact that he had one and always had trouble with it tells us all we need to know about his mechanical abilities.

Go to this link if you'd like to read all about our flathead sixes...

http://www.allpar.com/mopar/flat.html

They also have a page on Nash engines...

http://www.allpar.com/mopar/nash.html

A quick look shows no mention of Chrysler selling the design to Nash. Don't waste your time arguing with him. Those types don't listen to reason (or the truth).

[Plymouthy Adams]

ford and chevy owners have always knocked the Mopar, face it they have no real knowledge of Mopar..I mean how could they, all they have even seen has been the taillight...

[P-12 Tommy]

Mopar to that!!!

Tom

[51bizzcoupe]

the small block chevy is the easy way out. love what you have and what makes it work properly. i have never understood why on earth you would remove the elements from an old car that makes them unique.there is a guy locally that put an LS5 in his 59 fury and pops his hood at the cruise nights and is all proud of it. he asked me if i wanted to get rid of my poly head and go with an SBC in my 60 and i told him " I will send it to the crusher before i power it with a chevy "

[Tim Keith]

The small block Chevy is a nostalgia motor too, as much as

a Harley Davidson V-twin. The Ford flat head 8 can work

well today but it is costly to do it right. Our Mopar L-head

sixes don't need much tweaking to live at freeway cruising

speeds.

Somebody should make a faux Ford L-head 8 with a Chevy

bottom end with the traditional L-head, or make the OHV

head look like the L-head. I think most of the Ford L-head

8 builders are after the look of the motor and just want to

drive around without it overheating.

I can't fault the '55 Chevy V8 design, it is ancient but has stood

the test of time. The next generation of GM pushrod V8s

will push the limits, with direct injection and variable valve

timing, because it has to, or the Feds will rule it out.