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Post Info TOPIC: Looking for help with a 1950 Lincoln flat head.....
Jon H


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Looking for help with a 1950 Lincoln flat head.....
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I have a friend I grew up with in northern Minnesota that has a 1950 Lincoln with a 337 CI flat head that Lincoln used in cars from about 1948 through 1951 and then some truck applications. Last year he noticed a lot of coolant leakage and is sure he has a block problem. He tells me these old flat heads are kind of unique and it takes someone with knowledge of them to rebuild them. His health is getting to the point he can't tear down the engine and is looking for someone either in the twin cities or northern Minnesota that would be able to tear down, r/r and get his engine going. If anyone has knowledge of someone that knows these old engines and needs work please let me know and I will forward their contact information to my friend. 



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'69 Convertible,  Lemans Blue, 454, 200 4R, 12 Bolt. 

Jon H.  Lino Lakes
Lost in the 60s


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It's just a Ford flat head V8, only larger for more torque and hp. They have the same arrangement of 2 water pumps and the shaft seals may have deteriorated and let the coolant leak out. Did he say where the coolant appeared to be coming from ? Hopefully, the anti-freeze didn't deteriorate enough to allow it to freeze and damage the block. Frost plugs are steel and I've seen them rust out too.

Little Dearborn in Mpls may have info on rebuilding it.

http://portlance.org/portlance/dearborn/



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Mitch D.   River Falls, WI

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1966 Chevelle SS 396 M20

1970 Chevelle SS 396 M20

1967 Camaro SS/RS 350 M20
Jon H


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He tells me he is pretty confident the block is cracked. Is there a way "repair" a cracked block without total dismantle of the engine?



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'69 Convertible,  Lemans Blue, 454, 200 4R, 12 Bolt. 

Jon H.  Lino Lakes
Lost in the 60s


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Jon H wrote:

He tells me he is pretty confident the block is cracked. Is there a way "repair" a cracked block without total dismantle of the engine?

 Not long term and not really dependably. Somethings they can be brazed on the outside, but if it cracked internally, it's toast. Ask him if he has pulled the dipstick to check the oil level. Water will settle to the bottom and the level will rise on the stick. If he's run it with water in the oil, it will look like thick milk.

It could be a cracked head too. I just researched the block and it has no frost plugs, so it can't be that leaking.



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Mitch D.   River Falls, WI

Lifetime member of the "Cars apart Club"

1966 Chevelle SS 396 M20

1970 Chevelle SS 396 M20

1967 Camaro SS/RS 350 M20
OscarZ


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There was a guy at the Kath machine shop in Roseville that was a flathead aficionado.  That was awhile ago so he may have moved on or retired but may still be around.



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Michael S. - Cambridge
'71 Malibu
John D


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Stumbled across this awhile ago. Probably not feasible in his situation, but cool none the less

http://www.locknstitch.com/cast-iron-repair-videos-tutorials.html



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John D. - St. Louis Park, MN.

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Jon H


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That was a pretty cool fix.

 



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'69 Convertible,  Lemans Blue, 454, 200 4R, 12 Bolt. 

Jon H.  Lino Lakes
Jon H


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The back story is he did have a leak around one of the water pumps and since it is a 7.5 gallon cooling system he was going broke throwing anti freeze in so he went to straight water and drained the system every fall. Fast forward through a divorce and the car sat and did not get fully drained one year. Now there is significant water in the oil so he knows where the problem is.

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'69 Convertible,  Lemans Blue, 454, 200 4R, 12 Bolt. 

Jon H.  Lino Lakes
Lost in the 60s


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Jon H wrote:

The back story is he did have a leak around one of the water pumps and since it is a 7.5 gallon cooling system he was going broke throwing anti freeze in so he went to straight water and drained the system every fall. Fast forward through a divorce and the car sat and did not get fully drained one year. Now there is significant water in the oil so he knows where the problem is.

 Water in the oil means a different block/engine. I've been reading about these engines and they are somewhat crack prone from the valve seats to the cylinders. An internal crack into the water jacket will, most likely, be impossible to seal.

I haven't seen much for used 337 engines for sale and no blocks. Seems like it's going to be a difficult engine to replace.



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Mitch D.   River Falls, WI

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1966 Chevelle SS 396 M20

1970 Chevelle SS 396 M20

1967 Camaro SS/RS 350 M20
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http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lincoln-V8-Flathead-Engine-/152118915411



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Mitch D.   River Falls, WI

Lifetime member of the "Cars apart Club"

1966 Chevelle SS 396 M20

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Derek69SS


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I don't know what it would cost, but the best block repair guy in the country is located in Hudson Wisconsin. He's well known for welding together rare early blocks that have had large pieces missing, etc.

http://www.castmetalwelding.com/



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Derek Kiefer - Mantorville, MN

69 Malibu Pro-Touring stroker LS1-383/T56 - 69 SS396-325/3spd project
Larry Lucast


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They used to weld up all sorts of cracks in old flatheads. My brother had his 64 XKE in a Jag shop and they had a car in there that had an 8" crack down the side of the block. They drilled holes and threaded the holes, then screwed in allen screws and ground them flat. Then they brazed over it all to seal it. He said that was a pretty standard repair.

That guy in WI sounds even better.

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Larry L.

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Jon H


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I/we have talked to several people around the country but no one will guarantee the engine condition and want outrageous prices that is why he is looking at a rebuild. I have talked to several folks in northern Mn and no seems to have the time to do a project for someone else that is why I was looking at finding someone locally. I have sent my friend several options but it seems the same everyone is too busy.


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'69 Convertible,  Lemans Blue, 454, 200 4R, 12 Bolt. 

Jon H.  Lino Lakes
Lost in the 60s


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A rebuild of what, Jon ? If the block is so badly cracked as to be too expensive to repair, does he have another block/engine lined up ?

If he can find another block, the best thing to do would be build up a short/long block and have it ready to swap in. I would be willing to help build up a block and have it ready to swap in over next winter, but not to bring the car here to find out the block is scrap and have the car sit here for months while he is looking for an engine/funding.



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Mitch D.   River Falls, WI

Lifetime member of the "Cars apart Club"

1966 Chevelle SS 396 M20

1970 Chevelle SS 396 M20

1967 Camaro SS/RS 350 M20
Jon H


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Understood Mitch. His hopes are that it could be repaired. He has no plan B firmed up. I guess that would be a logical next step. Thanks!

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'69 Convertible,  Lemans Blue, 454, 200 4R, 12 Bolt. 

Jon H.  Lino Lakes
Derek69SS


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Auto Value in St. Cloud does a lot of old Ford engine rebuilds, not sure about flatheads but might be worth a try.
Dave Grose is the man to talk to there. He did the machine work and babbitt on my Model T engine.

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Derek Kiefer - Mantorville, MN

69 Malibu Pro-Touring stroker LS1-383/T56 - 69 SS396-325/3spd project
Jon H


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Thanks Derek.



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'69 Convertible,  Lemans Blue, 454, 200 4R, 12 Bolt. 

Jon H.  Lino Lakes
bowtie


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Have him call TPIS in Chaska on Monday. They can do that.

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Bryan-NW 'burbs
1972 Malibu
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Jon H


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Would never have thought of TIPS thanks Bryan.



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'69 Convertible,  Lemans Blue, 454, 200 4R, 12 Bolt. 

Jon H.  Lino Lakes
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