The stock flathead oiling system is marginal for performance use. Barney Navarro started machining Weiand speed equipment right before he started making his own in 1947. (Yes, gasoline!) Before he joined General Motors, Zora Arkus-Duntov, with his brother Yura, operated Ardun Mechanical Corporation in New York. A step by step book on how to identfy and rebuild a ford flatheads. They fit original '39-'53 blocks, French blocks, and (perhaps the ultimate evolution) Ferguson's new aluminum block. BlockNew 356 high-grade aluminium by Don Ferguson at Ardun Enterprises and polished by The Polishing Shop in Oxnard, California. Ultimately, there are equal-length race headers available from Tatom Custom Engines. His greatest impact was at the salt lakes where he is a legend. Fel-Pro and Victor continue to make head gaskets too. The flathead's compression ratio is well suited to supercharging, and besides, what could be more hot rod than a blower poking through the hood? In the end we should be so lucky to drive our end result as many miles as we traveled in our quest. This isnt any ol ARDUN-equipped Flathead, if theres such a thing, but rather the highly desirable V-8 from ARDUN Enterprises; now under the watchful eye of Don Jr. and Don the III. With no rocker arms, a flatheads total lift must be generated entirely by the cam lobe. Too high a compression ratio and the engine peaks early due to restricted top-end breathing. At first everyone was dumping modern engines into old metal, but eventually the supply of stock bodies dried up and reproduction glass bodies took over. Most builders convert the stock oil system to a full-flow design with a modern, remote-mounted oil filter. Sometimes it takes just a better idea. Don Jr. was the man showing us around the shop; his father was a longtime land-speed racer in whose arsenal were Ardun-equipped motors. French blocks are hybrids, essentially a '49-'53 8BA in terms of deck height and front-end, but with the integral cast bellhousing and corresponding oil pan as found on the '38 1/2-'48 59A. But that just leaves these pristine virgin blocks for us normal street guys. Seal the heads to the block using slick new graphite-impregnated head gaskets available from Best Gasket, Reds Headers, and Tatom. Strombergs were the favorites, but Chandler-Grove/Holley, Zenith, and Rochester two-barrels were also in use. By designating a new model, Ford was able bypass wartime restrictions on price. After reading this article, you'll be capable of . There are several reasons for developing a new aluminum block for the Flathead. A new player is Gemini Electronic Fuel Injection, a complete bolt-on flathead conversion kit based on the self-programming Prodigious fuel injection system. Keep it under 8.0:1. Don asks. Amadeo Amie Angelo from Drummond, Montana, is a cattle rancher by trade so long hours, hard work, and great distances are not foreign to his daily life. For this group-whether building a rat rod, yanking a Chevy that just doesn't look right in that old Deuce, or building a brand-new car-the outlook couldn't be rosier, even better than the flathead's heyday so long as the bucks hold out. I've sold Don my 409 Chevy to Flathead aluminum water pump kits for years. Orosco had 30 sets made, sold all but two (one set is on the So-Cal coupe), and realized the undertaking was more than he wanted to continue. That first 50 G's supplied a blueprint -more or less- And that was all. After 1953, flathead production continued in other countries, most notably in Europe, where the engine continued to be used in French military vehicles through the '90s. Ratios are 1.375 on the intake side, 1.2 on the exhaust. The downside was, as Flathead Engineering's Charlie Clark puts it, street rods "began to look about as exciting as a belly-button-everyone had one. Newly Engineered Flathead V8 Block - Motor City Speed Equipment - Automotive American Newly Engineered Flathead V8 Block - Motor City Speed Equipment Advertisements Googling around as you do I initially found the story of Mark Kirby's newly engineered Flathead V8 block on the Coker Tyres website This is a quite old story from back in 2010 Kop You need to know the differences and which one is right for your build. They fit original 39-53 blocks, French blocks, and (perhaps the ultimate evolution) Fergusons new aluminum block. But it didn't take long for the hot rodding community to learn about these conversion kits and how well they hopped up the flattie. Just sold him a fresh batch so I assume he's still building engines? Ken Austin grew up on a farm in Newberg, Oregon where his interest in cars started when he got his permit to drive to school. https://fordmanualblog.wordpress.com. We have continually grown and expanded our engine services. All flatheads overheat, then the blocks crack. The only drawback with the Ardun heads is cost. It has a f, Block mods for adjustable lifters: With the windowed solid flat-tappet lifter, drill a sma, Built to Barons specs, this 12-quart pan with integral windage tray fits 59A and French i, Baron Racings full-flow oil system: Plug the existing main-feed lower lateral port at the, Drill a 3/8-inch hole from the bottom of the cam bore to the rear main journal (photo 2, E, Baron Racing intakes include the Thickstun two-carb high-rise (left), shown here with Chan, The original Edelbrock four-barrel carb intakes were designed for small, now-obsolete, Car, Wilcap is reproducing Sharp intake manifolds. Among Flathead builders there is . Cams like this with good aftermarket heads are capable of producing 200 hp and 240 lb-ft naturally aspirated, and over 300 hp and 350 lb-ft with a blower. Mooneyes also offers throttle-bodies that resemble Strombergs. K&F Show #258: The Masters and Adam Sandlers 74 Duster; Movie Review Revisit Happy Gilmore! jimmy six, Jan 3, 2023. Valves are 1.875 inches in diameter on the intake side, 1.5 on the exhaust. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Just where did this engine come from? Before we get to the tech, some history: Ardun is a contraction of Arkus-Duntov, a name well known among the Chevy faithful, especially Corvette owners. Edelbrock, Wilcap (Sharp), and Offenhauser continue to market a wide variety of intakes. Of course, this modern stuff requires a 12-volt electrical system. (Tucked away in another barn are future projects, such as a 1940 Suburban and a 1938 Chevy cabriolet.) Scat offers affordable cast Pro Stock cranks through 4.375-inch stroke, with either 2.00- or 2.138-inch rod journals. Original price. - Frank Comstock @Hemmings, Newly Engineered Flathead V8 Block - Motor City Speed Equipment. With such a small difference; its relatively easy to take a little off the Ford snout then slightly hone the inside of a Chevy balancer so it slips over the Ford crank. Tony Baron says French blocks can be bored 0.250-over (1/4 inch). MCF's born-again flatty will come standard with a 3 1/2-inch bore and 1/8-inch-thick cylinder walls, thanks to special insert sleeves. TCMP #538: Pro-Touring Update with Larry Callahan: How To Create a Garage Studio and Upcoming Pro-Touring Events! Some fuel-injection setups even run distributorless coil-ignition setups. Although a great leap forward when it was originally introduced in 1932, by the '50s the aging motor could not stand up to the new generation of overhead-valve powerplants like the small-block Chevy. Not all flathead water pumps are created equal, though. Improved internal components and casting technology make them more reliable and leak-free. Orosco approached the Fergusons about taking on the Ardun reproductions. Shop 1949-53 Ford Flathead V8 Engine parts and get Free Shipping on orders over $99 at Speedway Motors, the Racing and Rodding Specialists. The new block is capable of much more horsepower because of additional webbing and four-bolt mains. Privacy Policy. There are builders on the left and right coasts and all points in-between who assemble reliable, powerful, 150-200hp engines, or you can buy new parts and build one yourself. Powered by vBulletin Keep it under 8.0:1. If the combination is properly tailored to the blower application, you should have no real problem. Traditional flathead airflow management practices call for relieving the block-removing metal between the valve-seat sides closest to the cylinder bore. These include the 39-53 Mercury and 46-53 Ford castings. Research has shown there's relatively little air movement over the base of the block. Navarro High Dome Heads are designed for special high performance applications. Learn how your comment data is processed. He showed us dyno sheets of full-race engines making north of 800 hp on alcohol. There is also an Australian outfit, Flatattack Engineering, offering plenum-style, TPI-like systems controlled by either GM Delco or MoTeC computers. The block is cast from aluminum and features a great number of changes from the original cast iron design. Flat-O Products sells well-designed, complete kits to install the Ford C4 automatic and T5 manual behind either 8BA or 59A engines. Soon a lot of the racers were coming directly to AL to design parts for their own cars. In fact, the growing flathead movement has basically sorted itself out into three distinct groups. There is also an ugly governor mounting boss on the left-rear of the block that many rodders prefer to machine off. According to Baron Racing, the limiting factor is not piston-to-head interference, nor even valvespring coil-bind-it is running out of cam bearing clearance for the lobes. Hilborn and Ardun Enterprises offer EFI conversions that look like old-time stacks but with EFI nozzles. These are the only 337 high compression cylinder heads on the market. Flat-O Products sells well-designed, complete kits to install the Ford C4 automatic and T5 manual behind either 8BA or 59A engines. Copyright 1995-2021 The Jalopy Journal: Steal our stuff, we'll kick your teeth in. And, of course, they also give you four rather than three exhaust ports for a more contemporary, balanced look.. TBI injection through billet Stromberg 97 carb-like throttle-bodies is available from Flathead Engineering. Trying to gain back compression ratio by using popup pistons may improve airflow provided proper attention is paid to the transfer area and overall piston-to-combustion chamber interface. Correct-length flathead 1.800 intake/1.600 exhaust valves are available from flathead specialists like Baron Racing. It was only at the very end of the flatheads reign that the first small four-barrel carbs appeared; back then everyone used multiple-carb setups. There are over 50 different flathead intake manifolds, but they arent all created equal. Like all fads, once started, the process fed itself. Turns out that's the third of three such engine combos owned by Scott Gillen, whose gray Deuce is this issue's cover car. Simple by today's high-tech standards, during its performance reign from the late '30s through the mid '50s, the flathead was unsurpassed for building go-fast power on the cheap. Because the French version was used in trucks, the intake- and exhaust-port throats are choked down under the valve pockets, so extensive port-work is required for racing. Keeping three sets, he sold the remaining 27 and then sold the tooling, dies, and plans to Don Ferguson Jr. You can find out more at Don's Web site, www.ardun.com. We mentioned an ARDUN Flathead V-8. According to Baron Racing, the limiting factor is not piston-to-head interference, nor even valvespring coil-bind-it is running out of cam bearing clearance for the lobes. The two most common Flathead motors are the 59AB (1946-1948) and the 8BA (1949-1953). But, he says, most of his Ardun-related business is for hot rodders, not racers. Research has shown theres relatively little air movement over the base of the block. Finally, there are brand-new aluminum blocks and Ardun OHV conversion heads and valvetrains. Four carbs on a properly designed intake manifold offer the best distribution short of todays dry EFI systems. By doing so it gives the interior a more spacious feel as well as allowing room for the positioning of the custom bucket seats utilizing 1956 T-bird seatbelts. All have 1132-inch valve stems and get a three-angle cut to improve flow. ", Among this herd of sheep, a few original hot rods were brought out of retirement, complete with gennie flatheads as the powerplant. The times they were a-changin', and change was happening fast. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ). While attending college he gained interest in making parts for himself and started making some speed equipment and honed his pattern making skills.In 1964, Ken built an improved air-powered vacuum system known as the Air-Vacuum System which helped found his dental equipment company A-dec. Ken and Joan have grown the company to become the leading manufacture of dental equipment in the world offering a com-plete line of dental equipment.Throughout the years he has been a classic car collector and enthusiast. Well, what kind of motor do you want? Bolted to Zora Arkus-Duntovs creation is a TREMEC TKO five-speed from Modern Driveline, which also supplied the clutch, flywheel, and a handful of trans mods to make the package work. The single and twin u, Gemini Electronic Fuel Injection looks like traditional mechanical fuel injection but is a, Roadrunner Engineering offers complete kits including beltdrives for the Weiand 142 and 17, Uncommon Engineering specializes in, well, uncommon setups-modern renditions of the most f, Dont want a front-mount? All tidier and more efficient than original. If the combination is properly tailored to the blower application, you should have no real problem. Flatheads need high compression because they don't breathe. Recommended bottom-line street-gas-friendly compression ratios are between 7.5-8:1 on naturally aspirated engines and 6.5-7.0:1 with a blower. There's a fine juggling act between compression and promoting proper transfer from the offset valves across the piston top. The Ferguson ARDUN project (picked up where the late Don Orosco of Monterey Speed & Sport had progressed) is based on an aluminum Flathead block (with enhanced main caps and deep skirts, for those wishing Flathead numbing power) and enhanced ARDUN heads (significant design modifications); ARP hardware is used throughout the engine. The engine may "feel better" with 27-30 degrees total timing (as read on the crank), but Baron says "it slows up the flame travel. Next to the heater you will see a panel thats held in position by a pair of clips but its what rests behind the panel thats of interest. It was at this point in the journey when Ben York, of Roseville Rod & Custom (RR&C) in Roseville, California, entered and he and Amie linked up. K&F Show #258: The Masters and Adam Sandlers 74 Duster; Movie Review Revisit Happy Gilmore! He works with a couple different cam grinders and will help spec the stick to deliver the poweror the lopedesired. https://www.howacarworks.com/engine-block, https://www.cokertire.com/blog/top-sminum-flathead. Enter the Ferguson family. 1949-53. . With modern aftermarket cranks and rods using modern insert bearings, 5,500 rpm normally aspirated is not a problem, even with only three main bearings. The king of adapters is undoubtedly Wilcap. What's right for your engine differs per application. The fastest guys both naturally aspirated and blown run high-dome pistons. The pinnacle of flathead tech, this Dick Landy-built 700-plus-horsepower motor powered Ron, The 38-48 59A block (right) has an integral cast-in bellhousing. It comes with the standard REVO IFS with drop spindles, splined sway bar, upgraded to Penske double-adjustable coilover shocks. This is an amazing process. As the story goes, the owner really didnt want to part with the coupe but six months of perseverance finally netted Amie the decisive weekend of negotiating when a deal was made and the coupe was brought home. Although a shade darker than stock, the Cloud Mist Gray comes from the color charts of PPG. It offers adapter kits to mate GM automatic transmissions and Ford C4 automatics to '49-'53 8BA blocks, as well as a variety of adapters to mate both early and late flatheads to most GM and Ford manual transmissions. The H&H Flatheads catalog has the complete line up of Flatheads compenents for your Flathead V8, V12 and other vintage motors. Melling still makes a high-volume oil pump (PN M-15). Not all flathead water pumps are created equal, though. He is now replicating S.Co.T. Coolant needs to remain in liquid form when it circulates through the motor. Maybe they are only for dragsters. Back in the day, four-barrel carbs had barely been invented. The heads come complete with Isky valve springs, 1.5-inch diameter stainless steel valves, adjustable push rods, lifters, custom head gaskets and a pair of exhaust flanges. The new Arduns have lighter 11/32-inch-stem stainless steel valves and accept modern 12mm, Save another 70 pounds with Arduns new aluminum block. Whats right for your engine differs per application. Written by Mike Herman and Tony Thacker, foreword by Ray Evernham. Making power with a flathead is a fine balancing act, juggling the higher thermodynamic potential of raising compression against improving airflow through the combustion chamber. Good question. Currently the most popular approach is running a big popup piston, but with a scallop on the side adjacent to the valves to keep the transfer area clear between the valves and the cylinder bore. Guys who once dreamed of owning a flattie back in the 50s but who had neither the time nor the money were now in their 50s, with lots of disposable income. Terms of Service. The best balance has been the subject of debate for over 60 years. TCMP #538: Pro-Touring Update with Larry Callahan: How To Create a Garage Studio and Upcoming Pro-Touring Events! On the following pages, well take a look at some of the stuff available for the flathead and also cover the lineage, interchangeability, and secrets of this proud forebear of modern hot rodding. And that brings us to this all-steel 1936 Ford three-window coupe. In fact, the growing flathead movement has basically sorted itself out into three distinct groups. Behind that door are bays, shelves, and rafters chock-full of streamliners and other cars under construction, customer engines on stands, the Ferguson's lakester under a car cover, bare engine blocks wrapped in plastic, a Superflow engine dyno waiting for its next tune session. The 2-inch rod journals are very popular because their diameter and width permits the use of readily available 215-inch-style Buick/Olds/Rover V-8 bearings. Pull off said cover and the biggest difference you see is the change in the rocker arms. Coolant needs to remain in liquid form when it circulates through the motor. 226: Big News for The Custom Car Revival! He also makes a compatible cast-aluminum block. The 270-F, Tatom's best all-around cam, is said to work well on normally aspirated or blown, stick, or automatic cars, with good idle quality and 18-19 inches of vacuum. Ronnie: Is the Ferguson motor allowed at Bonneville? "I can make whatever you want, but 350 horsepower in a hot rod will smoke the tires all day long.". Early and late distributor styles can be interchanged by using the corresponding front engine covers and cam drive. Flatheads may not have the cubes or brute airflow potential of many of today's modern mills, but there is a solution: Bolt on a supercharger. Magnuson offers an Eaton blower kit, while Joe Abbin of Roadrunner Engineering has Weiand 142 and 174 supercharger setups. A look inside gives you the sensation of an open air concept that could easily be seen in many of todays homes. One solution is adopting a small-block Chevy damper. It was a statement, in effect saying, I am not a cookie-cutter rod.. Much has been written about the legendary Ardun Flathead conversion over the years-some truth, some myth, and some hearsay. A stock flathead rod (rear) is forged from steel that will bend instead of break outright. The Thickstun two-carb high-rise intake (today marketed by Baron) is an excellent street setup and it even provides clearance for the stock generator. Mullins, a leading purveyor of surplus Jeep and other vintage military parts in Texas, accidentally discovered a warehouse full of brand-new French blocks about to be junked during a European trip searching for Jeep stuff. He wasn't about to change the iconic Ardun look, and he wanted to ensure his parts would fit the old flat motors, but he saw an opportunity to revamp the workings inside those bulbous covers. Traditionalists can go with Vertex or Mallory mags, while modern guys may want to move up to MSD or Mallory electronic distributors. K&F Show #259: The Dukes of Star Trek; Dukes Review S2E12 Arrest Jesse Duke. Only 200 original sets are known to exist, but fortunately, Ardun heads and associated conversion parts are back, reproduced in improved form by Don Ferguson of Ardun Enterprises. At one end there are restorers who insist on putting everything back to exact original condition. The Chevys crank diameter is only 0.060-inch smaller than the flatheads. With modern aftermarket cranks and rods using modern insert bearings, 5,500 rpm normally aspirated is not a problem, even with only three main bearings. The new old cars got a lot of attention. York and his staff used their substantial talents and blended a Roadster Shop chassis, an ARDUN Enterprises V-8, and a beautifully massaged 1936 Ford coupe with just the right number of modifications to bring this hot rod to life. Lifters look nearly identical to the originals, except his are made from solid chilled iron. The bell housing mount is Chevrolet and I believe the water pump has a revision. There is also an old article here on Hot Rod Network, I also found a video on YouTube from 2012 showing Mark discussing the project. Opens in a new window or tab. Some fuel-injection setups even run distributorless coil-ignition setups. Isn't Don Ferguson making an 8BA aluminum Flathead style block? The old cam grinders-including Isky, Schneider, Elgin, and others-have both old and new cam grinds. Fair, is fair. Wilcap also sells 32-48 Ford mechanical-clutch hardware.
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