The Ford Barn

1800wingrider · 07-31-2022, 09:46 AM

Hello Ford Barn,
I'm changing out a locked up engine w/auto trans out of a 51 Vic. engine has 8RT on heads. I'm going to attempt to put back a 8BA from a 51 4 door w/manual trans. Wondering if 8RT would be original to Vic, and if anyone has suggestions to what i might need to check or be aware of? I'm a newbie to flatheads and Ford-O-Matic's, but I do know my way around a car and a toolbox.
Thanks in advance,,

marko39 · 07-31-2022, 11:14 AM

8rt heads were used on truck engines. The blocks are the same as 8ba.

cadillac512 · 07-31-2022, 12:17 PM

I think there's a chance the crankshaft rear hub may not be machined for the torque converter snout. Might measure and compare to be sure. Memory is fuzzy on this one....also look at the water pumps and front pulley setup.

Terry

1800wingrider · 07-31-2022, 03:16 PM

Thanks for the input, I have been trolling forums and different websites for a couple of weeks now and found a lot of different opinions of the 8RT being just in trucks, also read about the crank hub but if info I read is correct all 51 blocks should have the same crank in them. But I will definitely measure, oh the water pump setup appears to be they same also

Ol' Ron · 08-01-2022, 09:05 AM

If the heads are 8RT the water pumps may also be 8RT and this will probably be the wrong crank as well. Check the rear carnk of your engine , they must be the same.
Gramps.
PS the heads and water pumps are interngeable. Good engines are hard to find.

Frank Miller · 08-03-2022, 08:02 AM

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The 8rt are lower compression and you might want to shy away from them. The correct ones for your car are 8ba. Later ones are EAB. We are dealing with ford here, Mercury got different numbers.
As far as I know all Ford 8ba short blocks are the same and you just bolt on different stuff to make t fit the model you're restoring.

rotorwrench · 08-03-2022, 09:00 AM

The automatic that came out in 1951 required the crank flange bore size change for it but it can still be used with a manual transmission of those years. The fywheel bolts right on. The 8RT heads were large chamber heads to reduce compression for hauling heavy loads. 8BA heads are a bolt on. If changing to a manual transmission then the 1951 had a clutch equalizer that fit on the shift cover so a person needs that shift cover for the OEM clutch mechanism to work. The bell housings from 49 thru 51 Ford car should work plus the oil pan to fit a Ford car. They have a center sump. The automatic starter is different too. Any standard transmission starter from 49 thru 53 will work. Any Ford car 9.5 inch with a 1-inch 10-spline trans input clutch will work. A 1951 manual transmission donor car will have all the pedal and equalized parts plus the transmission but this stuff may be floating around on flea pay or in the swap meet section. The EFV8 club is another good place to check for parts,

07-31-2022, 09:46 AM	#1
1800wingrider Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2022 Posts: 3	51 Victoria Hello Ford Barn, I'm changing out a locked up engine w/auto trans out of a 51 Vic. engine has 8RT on heads. I'm going to attempt to put back a 8BA from a 51 4 door w/manual trans. Wondering if 8RT would be original to Vic, and if anyone has suggestions to what i might need to check or be aware of? I'm a newbie to flatheads and Ford-O-Matic's, but I do know my way around a car and a toolbox. Thanks in advance,,

07-31-2022, 11:14 AM	#2
marko39 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: harpursville ny Posts: 1,040	Re: 51 Victoria 8rt heads were used on truck engines. The blocks are the same as 8ba.

07-31-2022, 12:17 PM	#3
cadillac512 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: Kansas Posts: 922	Re: 51 Victoria I think there's a chance the crankshaft rear hub may not be machined for the torque converter snout. Might measure and compare to be sure. Memory is fuzzy on this one....also look at the water pumps and front pulley setup. Terry __________________ "It don't take but country smarts to solve the problem" (Smokey Yunick) '41 Merc Town Sedan / 260" 8CM engine '66 Fairlane four door / "warmed up" 302

07-31-2022, 03:16 PM	#4
1800wingrider Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2022 Posts: 3	Re: 51 Victoria Thanks for the input, I have been trolling forums and different websites for a couple of weeks now and found a lot of different opinions of the 8RT being just in trucks, also read about the crank hub but if info I read is correct all 51 blocks should have the same crank in them. But I will definitely measure, oh the water pump setup appears to be they same also

08-01-2022, 09:05 AM	#5
Ol' Ron Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chester Vt Posts: 8,860	Re: 51 Victoria If the heads are 8RT the water pumps may also be 8RT and this will probably be the wrong crank as well. Check the rear carnk of your engine , they must be the same. Gramps. PS the heads and water pumps are interngeable. Good engines are hard to find.

08-03-2022, 08:02 AM	#6
Frank Miller Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Auburn, MA Posts: 2,106	Re: 51 Victoria Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) The 8rt are lower compression and you might want to shy away from them. The correct ones for your car are 8ba. Later ones are EAB. We are dealing with ford here, Mercury got different numbers. As far as I know all Ford 8ba short blocks are the same and you just bolt on different stuff to make t fit the model you're restoring. __________________ “The technique of infamy is to start two lies at once and get people arguing heatedly over which is true.” ~ Ezra Pound

08-03-2022, 09:00 AM	#7
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,440	Re: 51 Victoria The automatic that came out in 1951 required the crank flange bore size change for it but it can still be used with a manual transmission of those years. The fywheel bolts right on. The 8RT heads were large chamber heads to reduce compression for hauling heavy loads. 8BA heads are a bolt on. If changing to a manual transmission then the 1951 had a clutch equalizer that fit on the shift cover so a person needs that shift cover for the OEM clutch mechanism to work. The bell housings from 49 thru 51 Ford car should work plus the oil pan to fit a Ford car. They have a center sump. The automatic starter is different too. Any standard transmission starter from 49 thru 53 will work. Any Ford car 9.5 inch with a 1-inch 10-spline trans input clutch will work. A 1951 manual transmission donor car will have all the pedal and equalized parts plus the transmission but this stuff may be floating around on flea pay or in the swap meet section. The EFV8 club is another good place to check for parts,