Testing A 1937 Ford Flathead! - It Has Major Issues!!!!

It is Mike’s turn to slap his Flathead on the run stand!!! In the last update Mike finished up the valve train install on his 37 Flathead and Steve rebuilt a pair of Stromberg 97s. To first check that the engine will run we install a single carb intake that we test all of our engines with, to ensure there isn’t any major issues. Once the engine roars to life it’s time to install the dual carb intake and start to run it for longer and check for cracks. Unfortunately this is where things come unraveled and the engine fails our testing. Thankfully Matt comes to the rescue and we get Mike a good running flatty!!!
- Music Used -
- Blue Texas Trucker 5 - Victor Olsson - Epidemic Music Library
- Billyrocka 3 - Sven Karlsson - Epidemic Music Library
- Heart In Hand (Instrumental Version) - Ramin - Epidemic Music Library
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[@trevin4197]

Mike this was not a "foolish mistake". You pay your money and take your chances. Such is life.

[@IEchuckie]

Just like marriage

[@ralphmillais5237]

Yes, all part of the game I am afraid. You cannot win every time.

[@garycamara9955]

Only if you have a leaky wife!

[@Knobstock]

Yeah, I don't get it. Why is this labeled "Mike's Mistake?" Schidt happens.

[@rickkyriakopoulos1103]

When all is said and done and mistakes are made and battles won . You three men make a great team !! Thank God for good friends and mechanics like Steve , Matt and Mike !! Excellent video !

[@robertszymanski7804]

Rick you hit the nail on the head the way Matt, Mike and Steve interact is a blessing!! I think that's why I love watching, the real life skills friendship and joking around. I really enjoyed Mike pulling his kids into the clip. That's what it's all about friends, family and hot rodding ❤❤❤

[@shotsrodder]

Poor Mike 😤 but lucky Mike for having great friends to help out 😂😂

[@Zillustration]

Great to have a helper like Nate when messing with an engine block! Way to go, Dad!

[@frankjamann5671]

Who would have thought that it would have cracked in there? It's great to have a spare. Be seeing you soon, thanks guys for the video

[@chuckb9867]

In the long run Mike's one step closer to driving the old one step back and two forward keep marching to Victory

[@rolandtb3]

Sometimes what look good may not be so good. Life lessons on buying used and being more thorough. Not a rookie mistake, but more awareness and extra checks. Another example of water cracks on a flathead. Great catch Matt/Steve. Engine test stand came through. Quickly highlighted a major issue. Lucky for the available engine replacement.

[@ralphoard3187]

Congrats Mike a step further to getting your hot rod

[@brucesmallwood6251]

Sometimes we get overly excited about a find and miss important things. New engine from warehouse sounds great.

[@NCSRFSH]

Don't think you were foolish Mike. How would you have known about the crack with out running the engine with no exhaust hooked up. Just one of those things that could happen when buying old stuff.

[@marioa1272]

Mike flatheads are always a gamble, . But at least you were able to have a good one at the warehouse. Not alot of people are that lucky.

[@notsure8041]

sucks to have waited so long for that to happen but he got a way better engine. I would have thought Mike was a nailhead guy.

[@Ecosse57]

those kids are the sweetest. love the happy doggo too!

[@raylarkin5004]

Things occur beyond your control. Fortunately, you have resources.👍🏼

[@xozindustries7451]

You can’t win them all, you guys have had a lot of great luck with these motors, you’re gonna hit a bad one now and again, I’m glad that you were able to find another one to go with

[@chrisclark4813]

Sorry for your loss Mike. (Great video though) Hay Ho,.........great bunch of Mates, partners, and 'Know how'. Can't wait to see this on the road.

[@johncrawford6992]

Great video you show the successful runs and the failures ,That’s just how it goes luckily you have the parts to move forward . This won’t be the last bump in the build ,Thanks again for showing the ups and downs

[@maryannherrschaft8842]

Bars Leak Block seal , Rite on the run stand.

[@kdsboosted4954]

Very cool🤙I just acquired a 41 ford pickup that has a "fresh" 24 stud in it that's never been fired. The truck is partially restored and in a barn. I'll be pulling it out shortly. I have a couple more things to finish up around here. I'm making space haven't put any content up later but I've been acquiring cars and parts I have 7 cars to bring back to the stable.

[@jakeswartout4456]

I spotted the Pharaoh quote! It's the principal!!!

[@DuckReach432]

Does Mike's dog ever get to visit Moon? Looking forward to that car getting its own engine fitted.

[@SaneCayne]

Ha. 20:03 I was hoping for a 3 Stooges-esque cocoanut crack sound effect when y'all shot your heads down to look inside the engine. 😆

[@scottmartin6955]

The new motor sounds great 👍 bummer the first one is shot .but your boys jumped on it for you and sorted you out ( your shout was it Mike)

[@pinwizz69]

Awesome, Mike's car is finally getting an engine which is one step closer to him cruisin' around their little burg Mike and his Honey with big smiles on their faces as everyone around watching them going by is jealous.

[@johnkranz4004]

Congratulations Mike Sounds good It’s just part of the game of Cars

[@stevenkarnisky411]

Glad to see you working with your family, Mike. There is always another motor, but not another family! Or friends!

[@jacobjawson5556]

Nice to see you guys at the Monroe Swap Meet. Hope the spiciness of State Route 99/Aurora Ave N added a bit of unexpected cultural under belly of Seattle to your trip.

[@tkirkwood3366]

That’s hot roding , great video. Thanks!!!

[@roberthaynes8467]

Life is a gamble. Don't beat yourself up.

[@billmiller7138]

I believe I would have tried some Irontite ceramic seal before I gave up on that one.

[@donhoughton271]

Great to see you have a good runner.😊

[@JonDraeger]

Without bringing a run-stand to the purchase, how would you have known? Bummer, but definitely not your fault Mike.

[@jonlennon3348]

There is a company that can fix them. They draw a high vacuum and inject a special loctite into it and it fills the cracks.We had a hemi that was a sprinkler system.When it had been done it was water tight.

[@CapnBubbaa]

Great video, and Lesson too!!

[@nickmeoli6903]

Great video!

[@kalinagoedge2777]

We all get tripped up. Great recovery!

[@petercavanaugh6510]

Another possible use for Mikes leaky engine would be in a boat with raw water cooling. You'd have a continuous supply of water and it gets sent out the exhaust anyhow.

[@garyhughes9199]

Have to make the mistake to learn this lesson. I did. So glad to see you have a motor for the roadster. I really like to see this one coming together. Steve I hope you have your eye on a hot rod project.

[@stephenhammer7357]

shop looks great, more organised

[@brycechessum4684]

Good running engines, you pays your money you take a chance, ex WW2 V8s were entertaining to dismantle and find one OS piston or undersize bigend only enough to make em go was done the next install could get blown to bits by artillery anyway

[@hotrodmyk]

Don't beat yourself up Mike. Flatties are a gamble anyway. We've all been there.

[@benchildress4309]

I still love the sound!!!

[@brucethompson1879]

Steve is magic engine man!

[@halloweenjunkie666]

Sounds wicked

[@tonymartin4255]

no problem just keep a look out for a bare block you still have a good rotating assembly

[@edwardwerick2420]

Since the right water pump is adjacent to the exhaust passage, could you access the crack by drilling the back of the pump with a hole saw, repairing the crack and re welding the back of the pump? I have some 98% nickel welding rod which is designed for repairing cast iron and which works great with no preheating required. It would make this type of repair feasible.

[@steveclark4291]

Mike , it wasn't a foolish mistake you took the person's word at it was a good engine ! Anyone can take a person's word on anything but end up not working out right !

[@minbannister3625]

Unless you have X-ray eyes mistakes can always be made, it's a lottery it's not "foolish".

[@terryeustice5399]

So the bock you had was cracked. Well at least you have several engines around. Thanks ! 💯👍

[@darrelldormer5842]

Speedway Motors South ceramic coating block sealer works for awhile

[@darrelldormer5842]

That meant to say sales

[@michaelbenardo5695]

There are thermostats for these engines. They drop in the hose outlets on the heads. If you can't find those, you can use standard-size modern thermostats and grind off the flanges, and put them in the upper hoses and secure them in place with hose clamps.

[@hammerandhatchetengineerin4967]

Years ago I had a cracked hipo 289 head. None of the welding shops would touch it. My Dad found a shop that repaired heavy equipment and they were able to repair it. I think it was called furnace brazing. Might want to look into that as an option to repair the block. Good luck 🍀

[@jeffroagogo5215]

Mike has beautiful kids & now, a beautiful Flat Head! but as a Volkswagen guy, why would anyone wanna put water in a motor? lol

[@rscruiser3533]

I'm not so sure it was a mistake ---- Mike ------- there was no way you could tell --- that there was a crack up inside the exhaust port ----- and as we watch you guys start up these flatheads whenever one is put on the Run Stand ----- we are told --- The true test ---- is to let it run for approximately twenty minutes or so to ----- SEE IF IT DOES LEAK -----it's not a mistake ----- it's a gamble ---- that it is a GOOD engine ------------- Thank you guys for a Good Video ---------- Rodney

[@batterymakermarkii2654]

02:39 Your kiddo's are adorable.

[@marydickson5871]

Interesting and informative video. Lots of nice work, too bad about the disappointment. Had you all considered hydro pressure testing blocks before investing in assembly? I have done a number of smaller engines, 4-cylinder tractor engines. I too "learned the hard way". Hydro testing is simple, takes a not to expensive hand pump and a few others bits n pieces. Since I started doing it on blocks after machining and before assembly I'm not so nervous anymore. You could do it before investing in machining too.

[@1936fordcrazy]

This video gives me anxiety, as I haven't fired my 47 ab yet glad you had a spare motor and it didn't slow you down much

[@robertdornblazer3373]

I would try boiler sealer in it. Take a chance .

[@Awsom47Merc]

* Flatties Forever !!! 👀. 🤘😎🤙

[@qwiked]

JB Weld and Bar’s leak is all you need for leaking flatty..

[@ackroid008]

where's your little helper? never mind... there he is. cute kids!

[@addictedtoeverything]

great video, maybe you should do a video on where to look for failure spots on flats?

[@jimmiesmith5379]

have you every used liquid glass in a cracked flat head to seal the cracks it work's real good

[@desmondcooper3590]

I've been pulling for🎉 you mike hate that happened

[@jeffthorpe8667]

That fuel pump is like nails on a chalkboard

[@ProjectRescues]

I have a 21 stud '36 Ford engine in my 36 Ford with a similar issue. It needs to be gone through, its been parked a few years now due to a blown head gasket and other misc issues. Might consider pulling it out and putting in a 24 stud engine.

[@eliembree4637]

Stromberg Steve in his natural habitat

[@crazywickedcustoms7272]

It runs at least , its rebuildable

[@theodoredugranrut8201]

I would not call this a "foolish mistake " without handheld pressure testing or X-ray vision. Your old motor would be perfect for vintage hydroplane racers. Central California watching

[@homerbolen6826]

Try k d block sealer it worked for us and lasted till the moter wore out from hard use

[@guywerry6614]

Sweet children. You are a rich man.

[@TimothyColbeck-uh5zc]

Mike I had a head bolt leaking did the same thing , l saw with a boring scoap

[@randyham6172]

cute family mike

[@mikeypl1957]

I thought Mike was going with a Buick Nailhead motor

[@terryhodgson8798]

Thought you had a nail head all hotroded put that in that roadster!!!!

[@ImGdiddy]

I love the old Buick nail heads because the way they look is so unique. It isn’t going to happen because Mike seems set on a flathead

[@vr6swp]

Unless you pressure-tested the cooling system (hard to do with the motor out of the car and sitting on the floor) there's almost no way you could have known the first motor had a cracked block

[@walterspouse6772]

Take that block and turn inro a coffee table for a man cave. Glass or wood top a little paint . Sell it as iron trap art. .

[@AJStarch]

I know how you feel Mike, my “running when pulled” flathead has a lifter with the bottom knocked out and a cam with one very worn lobe. It may have run, but it didn’t run well…

[@jamessmith7691]

I'd trust it here in a home made doodle bug. Sad to see it happen like that.

[@AndyGeesGarage]

Not a foolish mistake. How could you have spotted this issue when buying this engine? Other than putting it on a run stand and running it like what was just done there is no way of knowing. We but old stuff and roll the dice. At the very least there’s a good crank and pistons that could go in another block or perhaps Iron Trap needs a vintage dragster to take to nostalgia races?

[@jesseramirez8418]

Pee Ons get to do all the fun shit....lol

[@michaelguinn5736]

Morning Mike, Matt & Stromberg Steve..that really sucks Mike!! Is there any way you can pressure test your blocks before assembly? Mike, I don't understand why you think this was a mistake on your part?

[@caltrask130]

#1

[@allanrichards3752]

As this has happened twice now is it not possible to make something up to first just put water in the blocks and pressurise the water to check for these cracks before doing time consuming and maybe costly work to the engines.

[@adman6380]

Bummer

[@nederpiet]

Put more "Steve" in all your videos, please. Or make a "Steve Special", because we hardly know him.

[@paulwhite7475]

Wonder weld

[@grandudetonesnob7107]

Just tell Mike that it has marine manifolds on it, it'll be fine...

[@rapidrrobert4333]

Hamms and PBR, you must be a midwesterner. Wisconsin or Minnesota maybe?

[@waynemiracle8928]

But how can you tell in buying an engine whether it’s good or not? Unless it is running in a car or on a engine stand?

[@bobhalstead1879]

Wheres the lube on the cam u r installing

[@dennisschickling2249]

😢 But nice Video in the End. #STAYSAFE #PHILLYPHILLY 🇺🇸

[@geofflewis8599]

..cracked block..water injection!..

[@MrRasZee]

India could fix that cracked block and you know it 👍

[@josephskeie]

Idk why but I hoped you were going to put a nail head in your car

[@johnclifford1911]

Why do these engines sound like they have a lopey cam?

[@michaelbenardo5695]

What in the heck are you doing running it so long with no water? Trying to crack or seize it?

[@IronTrapGarage]

The engine didn’t even get up to temp.

[@donwalker7931]

Nice haircut, Mike. Know anyone who does hair? dw

[@pennypincher6730]

Not totally foolish you now have experience building a flat head. And you tested it before install. Te foolish thing would be having it installed and then find out it's bad.

[@fastyzzzff]

None of my business. But how much did it cost ya?😢