Flathead V/8 Question?
 

I have a few French Flatheads ,They have been out of the trucks for some time and are stuck !

I took the heads off of them and found one or two cylinders very rusty and the rest of the cylinders allmost perfect
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Does that point to a crack in the block in that cylinder area or has the corrosion gotten in because the valve is open and maybe damp storage they all had spark plugs in them.
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If there is a crack in the cylinder would a sleeve cure the problem or is the block Junk?

Thanks for any help in advance
John Cochran

Re: Flathead V/8 Question?
 

find any acorn shells or such in a cylinder. Could be mice. Yes, mice piss.

Re: Flathead V/8 Question?
 

A sitting engine will always have some intake and exhaust valves open. The open valves let moisture in.

I wouldn't assume anything is cracked. Cracks happen for two main reasons: overheating and freezing water inside the jackets, you didn't have either of those things happen.

Re: Flathead V/8 Question?
 

You can sleeve the rusty bores and have them bored back to the same size as the other pistons unless they're still standard and in good condition which would only require honing to specs if you're fortunate enough. You can also bore them all out to an acceptable size to clean everything back up. SIMCA Flatheads can be bored out to 1/8-inch larger diameter and more if you need it with no problems. The French engines should have the same wall thickness as the 8BA engines did.

Re: Flathead V/8 Question?
 

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I found two very rusty cylinders in my engine after sitting for over 25 years & determined that the 2 spark plug washers were cocked & did not let the plug seal the spark plug hole, water had entered the cylinders from rain over the years I guess. Sleeves did fix the problem when it was overhauled. I have had no problems with this engine in 7 years now. :)~~Walts37~~:)
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Re: Flathead V/8 Question?
 

One of these engines has a crack in the cylinder, From what Mike's saying I guess that it might well be due to frost or overheating it has a timer on it and has only been used for 208 hours from new !! also had 1/2 cup of water in 2 cylinders funny enough they weren't as rusty as some of the ones that didn't have water in them . Just seems a shame!!

I know what Lawson means about Mice!!! I seem to be plagued with them from time to time, but I don.'t think they have gotten into these engines ,
I bought a Model B diamond block engine last year that had them in the water jacket it took hours to get the crap out with a welding rod and the vacuum cleaner !!!
also found them in a NOS box of Ford script valves they were ruined !!!
I have a box trailer stored on a farm to keep some parts in ,I keep putting poison down for them and they even ate into the poison box!!!
It proves one thing Mice can't read !!!

Thanks for your help
John Cochran

Re: Flathead V/8 Question?
 

Sounds like you need some cats!

Re: Flathead V/8 Question?
 

Mice!!!!!??????? We don't have any stinkin mice around here!

Re: Flathead V/8 Question?
 

Would you belisve it Mike but we do have a Cat!!! He used to be Champion Mouser!!!

but I am afraid he is too OLD to cut the Mustard now !!!!

Looks like it's time to find a replacement like done4 has ,

that looks like a fine Cat he has there plenty of room for a few Rodent s in him I bet

John Cochran