Flathead V8 ID?

[Martin Torres]

Hi all. Long time Ford guy (actually always) and first time poster here.

I came across a motor that I may acquire and wanted to find out how to identify it. I work on tractor electronics (GPS, auto steer, leveling, etc...) and I find some cool stuff sitting behind and in barns. Most are just disintegrating into the ground.

A farmer has a flathead V8 sitting on a crate back in the barn and wanted to know if I was interested in it. A friend of his put it there probably 30+ years ago and then passed away. Family told him to keep it. He believes it may have come out of a boat but he also is adamant that it is a Buick or Olds.

I'm a Ford guy but only 52 so not much flathead experience. This has a crab distributor on the front and the bellhousing is part of the block. I located a casting number on the bellhousing. Hard to read. 24 bolts on the heads but they are aftermarket heads. I will post pictures.

Any help would be great. My next project will be a ‘50’s or ‘60's Ford ratrod so this motor has me intrigued. I am sure I can get is for a steal also.