The Ford Barn

47 flatbed · 10-25-2011, 07:31 PM

Yes I am on the road at least for now. As far as break in we got her warm torque heads as the manual says over and over and for good measure I did it again when it got warm. Drove the truck tonight seems god but I get a stutter once in a while. I think it's iginition related. I've change oil three time since rebuild to keep it clean oil now seems like the water is diappearing, so far. What should I do with igintion this hase the lucas distrubitor with the cap that has two sets of wire exiting out the top one for each side not the crab but I think I will go that way or to more modern electric?

JonC · 10-25-2011, 08:15 PM

Hey your last post was promising I think you will get this solved. For what it's worth when I rebuilt my 36 I had so many overheating issues I was going to junk it. After radiators, water pumps timing and all you have gone throught, the thing that solved it was drilling out the jets in the carbs, I was running too lean, a friend of mine who races these things took one look at the plugs and said I like them rich on a flathead, he was right it runs cool and wonderful now. On top of all that I had an oil leak that required removal of the pan three times, only to fing out the gasket behind the flywheel was leaking so out it came and now I wouldn't trade it for any other motor, you will get it right.

Mike in AZ · 10-25-2011, 08:23 PM

i think you need to drive that engine hard, with hard accelerating, then deceleration....to seat the rings....others may have better ways, but that is the way i've heard....don't baby it, i guess....good luck....Mike

Gumpy · 10-25-2011, 08:24 PM

Can you post some pictures of the motor and distributor?....you may need a crab distributor ...

flatjack9 · 10-25-2011, 10:18 PM

You should always retorque after the engine has cooled. I also like the crab distributor and the stock unit is very good. No need to go to an aftermarket distributor that probably won't have the proper advance curve.

jimTN · 10-26-2011, 06:55 AM

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Not sure what you mean by Lucus, stock 46-8 fords had two caps, the external or far forward one had two outlets like horns sticking up that the wires went out of. Providing your wires are good, the dist itself is the same as the 42 that came with the crab cap. Have that dist strobed and you should be out of ign problems.

Gumpy · 11-04-2011, 12:42 AM

how's the truck running now?

ken ct · 11-04-2011, 01:18 AM

46-48 used what i call the rabbit eared one.Same as crab but has 2 PITA caps. Convert it to a crab with 42 cap,rotor and clips. Much easier to wire it. Around $60 to change it over. ken ct.

10-25-2011, 07:31 PM	#41
47 flatbed Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Ohio Posts: 419	Re: Dead flathead Yes I am on the road at least for now. As far as break in we got her warm torque heads as the manual says over and over and for good measure I did it again when it got warm. Drove the truck tonight seems god but I get a stutter once in a while. I think it's iginition related. I've change oil three time since rebuild to keep it clean oil now seems like the water is diappearing, so far. What should I do with igintion this hase the lucas distrubitor with the cap that has two sets of wire exiting out the top one for each side not the crab but I think I will go that way or to more modern electric?

10-25-2011, 08:15 PM	#42
JonC Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Central NY Posts: 629	Re: Dead flathead Hey your last post was promising I think you will get this solved. For what it's worth when I rebuilt my 36 I had so many overheating issues I was going to junk it. After radiators, water pumps timing and all you have gone throught, the thing that solved it was drilling out the jets in the carbs, I was running too lean, a friend of mine who races these things took one look at the plugs and said I like them rich on a flathead, he was right it runs cool and wonderful now. On top of all that I had an oil leak that required removal of the pan three times, only to fing out the gasket behind the flywheel was leaking so out it came and now I wouldn't trade it for any other motor, you will get it right.

10-25-2011, 08:23 PM	#43
Mike in AZ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Waddell, AZ Posts: 2,540	Re: Dead flathead i think you need to drive that engine hard, with hard accelerating, then deceleration....to seat the rings....others may have better ways, but that is the way i've heard....don't baby it, i guess....good luck....Mike

10-25-2011, 08:24 PM	#44
Gumpy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Sf bay area Posts: 1,464	Re: Dead flathead *Can you post some pictures of the motor and distributor?....you may need a crab distributor ...* __________________ "I believe God is managing affairs and that He doesn't need any advice from me. With God in Charge, I believe everything will work out for the best in the end. So what is there to worry about". Quote by Henry Ford

10-25-2011, 10:18 PM	#45
flatjack9 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oshkosh, Wi Posts: 4,600	Re: Dead flathead You should always retorque after the engine has cooled. I also like the crab distributor and the stock unit is very good. No need to go to an aftermarket distributor that probably won't have the proper advance curve.

10-26-2011, 06:55 AM	#46
jimTN Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Powell, TN Posts: 2,617	Re: Dead flathead Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Not sure what you mean by Lucus, stock 46-8 fords had two caps, the external or far forward one had two outlets like horns sticking up that the wires went out of. Providing your wires are good, the dist itself is the same as the 42 that came with the crab cap. Have that dist strobed and you should be out of ign problems.

11-04-2011, 12:42 AM	#47
Gumpy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Sf bay area Posts: 1,464	Re: Dead flathead *how's the truck running now?* __________________ "I believe God is managing affairs and that He doesn't need any advice from me. With God in Charge, I believe everything will work out for the best in the end. So what is there to worry about". Quote by Henry Ford

11-04-2011, 01:18 AM	#48
ken ct BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: stratford,ct Posts: 5,971	Re: Dead flathead 46-48 used what i call the rabbit eared one.Same as crab but has 2 PITA caps. Convert it to a crab with 42 cap,rotor and clips. Much easier to wire it. Around $60 to change it over. ken ct.