The Ford Barn

Houbill · 12-24-2011, 02:02 PM

I am a first timer with the flathead V8, restoring a 1951 F1. Just purchased the Bishop and Oddo books. Several questions:

How is the distributer removed/installed? It does not have an external clamp, etc like my 289's.

Should the water pumps be rebuilt or purchased? If rebuilding how is the pulley fastened to the pump shaft?

The books show a device for removing the valves. Where can I find it?

Thanks. Just turned 80 - hope I finish the truck.

Charlie ny · 12-24-2011, 02:55 PM

Houbill,
Dist is clamped on the RH cyl head with a stubby clamp and a 5/16-18 cap screw. Buy new pumps or send yours to SKIP HANEY in Punta Gordy Florida.
Here's the real straight scoop. Find a good rebuilder in your area and sit down for
a minute with him and tell him what you want, your budget and time table and
when you find the right guy take the motor to him. I'm 70 and have broken down
a lot of Flatheads but now having given away or sold the specialized tools to
do it I now use a couple different shops and write a check. The reality is you will
at some point have to take the motor to a rebuilder for machine work anyway. It is
not unheard of that a rookie can do a lot of unnecessary damage when breaking
down a Flathead.
If not already a member by all means join the V8 Club of America. Here is
best piece of unrequested advice....call Bob York in Lavon Texas he can direct you
respected motor [email protected] 972 843 3334
Bob is the recent President of the V8 Club.
As one old timer to another biting too much can cause a person to loose
interest.
Charlie ny

ford1 · 12-24-2011, 03:28 PM

the ford flathead engine is one of the simplest and easiest engines to work on, you only need two special tools, the valve guide pry bar for pulling the valve guide down so you can remove the horse shoe shaped keeper that holds the vavle guide on the guide bore, and a bent punch that goes past an open valve to drive the guide down in case you cant pull the guide down with the valve bar to remove the keeper, other than those two tools just a set of regular tools will let you do it

JM 35 Sedan · 12-24-2011, 03:30 PM

Congratulations on becoming a Flathead Ford V8er at 80! I have a friend who is 90+ years young and he is just about finished putting his '35 standard RS 5w coupe back together. He kept telling us he didn't think he would get it done especially after having brain surgery. I think the project gave him a reason to keep going.
I can't tell you much on the 8ba distributor questions.
You can buy good reproduction water pumps from many of the Ford parts suppliers but I personally prefer to send good original cores to Skip Haney and let him rebuild them. I prefer to have an American made part rebuilt in America keeping an American employed.
That valve tool (bar?) can be purchased at Mac's Antique Auto Parts as well as many other Ford V8 parts suppliers.

Kurt in NJ · 12-24-2011, 08:50 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

When removing a waterpump there is a hidden bolt down inside the lower hose opening--I like to use a stainless bolt there.

12-24-2011, 02:02 PM	#1
Houbill Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Houston, Tx Posts: 6	Remove Dist & Water Pump I am a first timer with the flathead V8, restoring a 1951 F1. Just purchased the Bishop and Oddo books. Several questions: How is the distributer removed/installed? It does not have an external clamp, etc like my 289's. Should the water pumps be rebuilt or purchased? If rebuilding how is the pulley fastened to the pump shaft? The books show a device for removing the valves. Where can I find it? Thanks. Just turned 80 - hope I finish the truck.

12-24-2011, 02:55 PM	#2
Charlie ny BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 3,019	Re: Remove Dist & Water Pump Houbill, Dist is clamped on the RH cyl head with a stubby clamp and a 5/16-18 cap screw. Buy new pumps or send yours to SKIP HANEY in Punta Gordy Florida. Here's the real straight scoop. Find a good rebuilder in your area and sit down for a minute with him and tell him what you want, your budget and time table and when you find the right guy take the motor to him. I'm 70 and have broken down a lot of Flatheads but now having given away or sold the specialized tools to do it I now use a couple different shops and write a check. The reality is you will at some point have to take the motor to a rebuilder for machine work anyway. It is not unheard of that a rookie can do a lot of unnecessary damage when breaking down a Flathead. If not already a member by all means join the V8 Club of America. Here is best piece of unrequested advice....call Bob York in Lavon Texas he can direct you respected motor [email protected] 972 843 3334 Bob is the recent President of the V8 Club. As one old timer to another biting too much can cause a person to loose interest. Charlie ny

12-24-2011, 03:28 PM	#3
ford1 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: oroville ca. Posts: 1,554	Re: Remove Dist & Water Pump the ford flathead engine is one of the simplest and easiest engines to work on, you only need two special tools, the valve guide pry bar for pulling the valve guide down so you can remove the horse shoe shaped keeper that holds the vavle guide on the guide bore, and a bent punch that goes past an open valve to drive the guide down in case you cant pull the guide down with the valve bar to remove the keeper, other than those two tools just a set of regular tools will let you do it

12-24-2011, 03:30 PM	#4
JM 35 Sedan Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Near Rising Sun, Maryland Posts: 10,858	Re: Remove Dist & Water Pump Congratulations on becoming a Flathead Ford V8er at 80! I have a friend who is 90+ years young and he is just about finished putting his '35 standard RS 5w coupe back together. He kept telling us he didn't think he would get it done especially after having brain surgery. I think the project gave him a reason to keep going. I can't tell you much on the 8ba distributor questions. You can buy good reproduction water pumps from many of the Ford parts suppliers but I personally prefer to send good original cores to Skip Haney and let him rebuild them. I prefer to have an American made part rebuilt in America keeping an American employed. That valve tool (bar?) can be purchased at Mac's Antique Auto Parts as well as many other Ford V8 parts suppliers. __________________ *John* *"Never give up on what you really want to do. The person with big dreams is more powerful than one with all the facts". Albert Einstein*

12-24-2011, 08:50 PM	#5
Kurt in NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: on the Littlefield Posts: 6,158	Re: Remove Dist & Water Pump Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) When removing a waterpump there is a hidden bolt down inside the lower hose opening--I like to use a stainless bolt there.