Flat Head Engine Pricing

[Model A Fan]

I am looking at purchasing a flat head engine and was wondering what the going rate for one that is in running condition, doesn't need a rebuild and doesn't have any of the extra bolt on pieces (as if it was just pulled from under the hood of an old car).

My girlfriend's Dad has a penchant for old Fords and has a flattie in one of his old trucks in his yard and I've been talking about building myself a rod of sorts and he says I should go with a flat head. If the engine doesn't need a rebuild, what price am I looking at as a reasonable offer? It has a transmission too.

If it is not running, short of a rebuild, what would I have to do to it to get it running? Would it need to be broken down and taken apart? Just add gas and go? I don't want to get in over my head when I could buy one that is already running, but would need to add pieces to as I go along.

Anything I should ask/look for? It is in a 1949 truck I believe.

Thanks!

[Ralph Moore]

There's a good looking 40 flattie for sale on the HAMB now, it's in South Carolina and he want's $950. You would have to figure out how to get it to you, but where there's a will....

[Barry WNY]

If it has a 1/2 or 3/4 ton,
light duty 3speed floor shift it's golden, also you want the crossmember
with trans mount
& pedal set &master cyl.
& shock mounts
& brakes
So git the whole damn thing
& radiator

[Scott H]

This past summer I bought a used, complete, running flathead for my 38 chassis. Everything from air cleaner to fan belt. $900 delivered to my door from about 100 miles away.

[Fibber Mcgee]

I bought a 50 8ba for $450 and he threw in the rest of the truck for $50 more and I've put about 5000 miles on it and it still runs.I think I might of got a better than average deal.

[46ford]

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Non-running flatheads around here are $300 to $600. I've seen "can hear it run" engines for $800 or so.

[Scott H]

Originally Posted by 46ford

Non-running flatheads around here are $300 to $600. I've seen "can hear it run" engines for $800 or so.

That sounds about right for the northern Illinois area also. I sold a stuck shortblock for $200 but I paid $900 for a running complete used stock engine. That was after looking for only a couple weeks and comparing prices and descriptions. Of course if its a fresh rebuild or has any go-fast goodies on it the price will vary greatly.

[Ol' Ron]

A good running Flathad for under a thousand dollars is a gift. Unfortunately there is allot of good running junk out there. Good blocks are hard to find and a cleaned m Magged block is worth 500-750 bucks. Yhis is allot of cash to start with. When I was rebuilding engines, good blocks ran 5:1 (5 bad to 1 good) Today we can fix blocks that have cracks and I've don several of them, but they were customers blocks. I never sold one with a fixed crack. Right now I have a .060" *ba block with one sleeve in it. comes with 1 set of new pistons/w rings. 1 crank, one set of rods.. Pistons have to be fit. $1000

[Jason M.]

I paid $650 for a complete, running 59A. Long story short the couple stuck valves had pitted seats and it's now all apart and at the machine shop. Block checked out and it would have been good had it not sat so long outside under a very secure tarp. Be VERY cautious with stuck valves when purchasing a stored engine, if it's been sitting, 99% it will have a couple stuck or sticky valves.

[Hitchhiker]

Originally Posted by Jason M.

Be VERY cautious with stuck valves when purchasing a stored engine, if it's been sitting, 99% it will have a couple stuck or sticky valves.

How can one tell if a valve is sticking?

[flatjack9]

If the engine isn't running, you would need to remove the heads or intake manifold to view valve operation.