ferguson aluminum flathead block

Also, what does "wet jackets" mean? 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. Even stock flatheads can run 6-7 psi boost with no problem. Hilborn and Ardun Enterprises offer EFI conversions that look like old-time stacks but with EFI nozzles. Yeah, maybe in the thirties when Ford was considering powering airplanes with their V8's, but not these days. i plan on building a T bucket in the next year and want to run a flatty. Most hot rod engines use oversize valves. With such a small difference; it's 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. Amies Flathead is moving in the direction of 400 hp and for a street Flathead that should provide plenty of excitement. At the other extreme are dry-lakes, Bonneville, and nostalgia drag racers who have applied modern technology to the point where in some instances it is questionable whether the engine still remains a true flathead: Once-85hp engines now produce over 400 hp on gas and have exceeded 700 hp on fuel-all this on an engine with only three main bearings. The new block is capable of much more horsepower because of additional webbing and four-bolt mains. For even more protection, install a crossflow radiator and increase coolant system pressure to 17-21 pounds. Not only has Don Ferguson continued to reproduce the heads, but he's taken the baton and run with it, the result being this high-grade 356-T6 aluminum block that now means it's possible to. There is also an Australian outfit, Flatattack Engineering, offering plenum-style, TPI-like systems controlled by either GM Delco or MoTeC computers. For reasons known only to the crazy French, flatheads were used in French Army trucks through the early '90s. This block is completely beefed up, with four-bolt caps, reinforced bottom-end and webbing, furnace-brazed sleeves (max bore is 3.5 inches), and new-design head studs that tie into the bottom of the block. As its name implies, Red's Headers is the place to go for the widest selection of street-style headers. Aside from his flathead speed equipment, he built parts for almost every engine that ran down the strip. Subscribe to our RSS Feed, or use your favorite social media to recommend us to friends and colleagues! 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. After reading this article, you'll be capable of . Mostly true, but the French military used flatheads as late as the early 90s and ancient flathead technology has evolved to run over 300 mph at Bonneville. Still not enough? Provided you have an original bellhousing, you can use available Trans-Dapt adapters to install Ford passenger-car transmissions from the mid 60s to the late 70s behind the 49-53 flatties. And there are always billet caps and girdles available. 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. At present, the only aftermarket custom oil pan available is from Ardun Engineering. Younger guys yearned for a simpler, back to basics approach. It must have a stock style front for the pumps and front cover or my water pump kits wouldn't work. These Lincoln V12 Smooth Aluminum Heads are made in the USA and have the water outlet in the stock location. For even more protection, install a crossflow radiator and increase coolant system pressure to 17-21 pounds. He and Gene Mooneyham built and sold some of the first aluminum heads for the Chrysler Hemi. They fit original '39-'53 blocks, French blocks, and (perhaps the ultimate evolution) Ferguson's new aluminum block. All flatheads overheat, then the blocks crack. 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. All new design for 2019 is based on one of our favorite builds the blown, Ardun flathead. These are the only 337 high compression cylinder heads on the market. If anybody is following Terry Bertz and his five main bearing cast iron Model A block, you'll know the heartaches and headaches he's been dealing with and the only solution to his problems was to go across the Pacific. Stay tuned for further updates on this project. Automotive American Classic Vintage & Modern, Flathead Myths courtesy of Tony Baron The fastest guys both naturally aspirated and blown run high-dome pistons. 226: Big News for The Custom Car Revival! TCMP #538: Pro-Touring Update with Larry Callahan: How To Create a Garage Studio and Upcoming Pro-Touring Events! For that, you're getting cylinder heads with a ton of development work and premium-quality pieces. You can now build a brand-new flathead. 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? Of course, this modern stuff requires a 12-volt electrical system. The block, heads, intake manifold and water pumps are made out of aluminum, making this a very light alternative to its cast iron brethren. These new aluminum hemi heads will bolt directly to any small-block Ford from a 289/302 all the way up to 351W as well as Cleveland engines. He improved everything he touched. A very brief history goes something like this: In 1947, years before his involvement with the Corvette, Zora Arkus-Duntov, along with his brother, Yura, designed an overhead conversion for the Ford Flathead V-8, marketing them as Ardun-an acronym of their second name, originally manufactured in New York and later assembled in England and fitted to many Allard sports cars, hence the confusing differences in the script cast into the valve covers. The block also has a number of upgrade internally, in terms of its intake and exhaust ports, as well as its valve guides. Available in center and front water neck. They also produced the unique luggage rack that resides within the trunk. Yes, you can have a classic flathead with modern fuel injection. Then, about 20 years ago, traditional street rods suddenly became cool again. Doesn't anyone remember the one built by Mark Kirby of Motor City Flatheads 10+ years ago?? Notify me of follow-up comments by email. It will use a new oil pan and special bolt-on universal bellhousing that accepts most modern transmissions. While Orosco wanted the heads to be as exact a replica as possible"He would be at the foundry getting the shade of the aluminum in the valve covers just right," Don saysFerguson was less interested in the cosmetics and more concerned with re-engineering the heads for maximum performance. On the following pages, we'll 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. Here we have botha great car and a great story. Stromberg in England is producing new Strombergs again. The originals still are. This improves airflow, but the resultant effective combustion-chamber-volume increase lowers the compression ratio, in turn decreasing horsepower and fuel economy. 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. It also sells gear-re, This all-Wilcap engine sports Wilcaps Sharp heads and intake, a gear-reduction starter, a. Googled Don Ferguson Aluminum Ardun Flathead and came up with an article on the old R&C Hot Rod Network with pictures of an aluminum FH style engine using the Ferguson built block that was assembled by H&H. A high-pressure system will run fine with no boiling, even at 190-210-degree gauge temps. By the time the 60s arrived, engine coolant replaced gasoline as a method of providing heat probably a wise choice. Just a tall gray wall with a rolling bay door that blends so perfectly you may not even know it is a door until Don sticks his head out. This lateral flow severely restricts flathead breathing capability, although it does promote what today's high-tech engineers term swirl and tumble, which enhances fuel mixing and combustion. One solution is adopting a small-block Chevy damper. The company they formed to produce these heads was named Ardun, an acronym derived from their last name. Earlier 3 1/16-inch-bore blocks will only go 0.090-over. The street motors, on the other hand, typically put out "about 1 horsepower per cubic inch, unblown," he says. 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. There are several reasons for developing a new aluminum block for the Flathead. 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. Not all flathead water pumps are created equal, though. Speed-O-Motive still advertises Merc crank cores if you want to go this route, but its no longer necessary, what with all the aftermarket alternatives available. Its the ol friend of a friend connection that brought him to the correct 1936 Ford coupe. So, there is room for a little improvement over the original design, especially taking into account the advances in technology and engineering in the intervening 60 years! But with modern solid cams and big stroker cranks, overall engine rpm and piston speed is considerably higher than the old stockers. The high-tech engineered design has a runne, A unique feature of Magnusons Eaton blower is the bypass valve (arrow) that opens under c, The improved 49-53 pump (left) can be used in place of the early pump (right) by pluggin, Typical water pumps, from left: a 38-48 passenger-car pump modified for a bolt-on pulley, This is MSDs 8BA billet flathead distributor (PN 8574) that works with all the trick MSD. Starting in July 1938, the blocks went to 24 head-retention studs. He showed us dyno sheets of full-race engines making north of 800 hp on alcohol. Though parts will interchange with originals, these new heads feature stronger rocker stands and billet aluminum roller rockers with improved geometry and internal oiling restrictors, as well as greater adjustability. The exhaust is by way of RR&C headers featuring 1-1/8-inch tubes that link with a custom RR&C stainless steel exhaust system. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ). 1937 1938 1939 Ford Merc Flathead V8 Block Street Strip Custom Original Crank. The stock flathead oiling system is marginal for performance use. Imagine all the programming that went into this. The best balance has been the subject of debate for over 60 years. He was a pioneer in the evolution of the flathead. Isn't Don Ferguson making an 8BA aluminum Flathead style block? 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. Welcome to the web site of H&H Flatheads. The frame was fitted with brackets to accept a blown ARDUN V-8, TREMEC TKO five-speed, clutch pedal, power brake booster and pedal, and plumbing package, which includes stainless steel brake lines. But that just leaves these pristine virgin blocks for us normal street guys. In 1947, long before Zora Arkus-Duntov became famous for his work developing the Corvette and performance Chevrolet parts, he and his brother Yura designed what has been considered the ultimate flathead performance mod-turning the engine into an overhead-valve hemi. The arms have an internal oiling system that Don has set up with stainless lines, a compact banjo fitting on the edge of the head, and a drainback plug plumbed to a finned oil pan of Don's design. Besides, multicarb setups look cool. Short of machining the block oversize for custom roller-cam bearings, even with a reduced base circle this limits max cam lift to about 0.460 inch. Tom Roberts starts with the Speedway pump, modifies it for even more flow, and also redoes the snout to accept modern, bolt-on, serpentine-belt pulleys. He has even made some aluminum flathead blocks, with massive main caps and deep, sturdy skirts, for those interested in making ultimate flathead power. Schneiders 278F solid (0.420 lift, 250 degrees at 0.050 duration, 110-degree lobe separation angle) is one grind that falls within these specs. He is now replicating S.Co.T. Schneider's 278F solid (0.420 lift, 250 degrees at 0.050 duration, 110-degree lobe separation angle) is one grind that falls within these specs. Putnam also used the same leather on the center console and boot, the door panels, and the nifty accessory pockets in the doors. This encouraged the old-time flathead parts guys (or their sons) to start repopping the old parts. With no rocker arms, a flathead's total lift must be generated entirely by the cam lobe. Arms in a gennie Ardun head look downright delicate compared to the beefy 2024 aluminum arms in Don's Ardun. Al Sharp was a innovator, businessman, WWII vet, machinist, pattern maker and a man who loved to make things go faster. ". However, there are some significant differences in French blocks compared to the originals. Im not sure what has happened to the project since but some chatter on the H.A.M.B suggests that Jon Hall on Shadow Rods may be involved? Subscribe to Get Our Best Content Print, Digital or Both, Tech Engine, Transmission, & Rearend ACP, Tech Steering, Brakes, & Suspension ACP, Tech Engine, Transmission, & Rearend CTP, Tech Steering, Brakes, & Suspension CTP, Tech Engine, Transmission, & Rearend MR, Firing Up Street TakeoversNot Worth the Risk, Scotts Hotrods Independent Front Suspension Kit, Ron & Carnock Creations Built 1950 Studebaker, Sacramento Autorama 2023 Custom dElegance Winner, 1st West Coast Challenge Series Crowns Winner At Sacramento Autorama, Sacramento Autorama 2023: The Best Of The Cal Expo Car Show, Parting Shot Larry Wood, Designer of Hot Wheels Cars, Hot Rodder, and Now Inductee to the Automotive Hall of Fame, How Do You Diagnose a Charging System Problem, Tri-Five of the Year: Langes 1956 Chevy 210, Adding Stainless Steel Trim To The Ford Phaetons Old Dashboard, Dan Duffys Big Oak Garage Built Bubbletop 1961 Chevy Impala, Triple Crown of Rodding 2022: Best Street Rod Winner, Triple Crown of Rodding: Best Street Machine, Its All Grand National Roadster Show Early Move-In, 2023 Grand National Roadster Show Move-In, 2023 Barrett-Jackson Cup Awarded to a 1969 Pontiac Firebird. In fact, the growing flathead movement has basically sorted itself out into three distinct groups. Theres no doubt we love our Flatheads here at Honest Charley, and we had a visitor this morning that loves his, too. The fastest guys both naturally aspirated and blown run high-dome pistons. Flatheads are old, ancient, obsolete technology. Click below to preview or download the complete catalog. At present, the only aftermarket custom oil pan available is from Ardun Engineering. Seal the heads to the block using slick new graphite-impregnated head gaskets available from Best Gasket, Reds Headers, and Tatom. SPAL supplied the 16-inch electric fan, Powermaster supplied the starter, and the custom alternator runs off the blower drive all masterfully handled by RR&C, which also made the custom air cleaner. RR&C achieved this look by removing the divider between the truck and the passenger compartment. Don Sr. has passed away, but at the shop with us was Don Jr. 's son Don III.). Like a lot of race shops located in industrial sections of Southern California, Don Ferguson's place is nondescript to the point of camouflage. The block also has a number of upgrade internally, in terms of its intake and exhaust ports, as well as its valve guides. As for cylinder heads, Baron, Edelbrock, Navarro, Offenhauser, and Sharp (now sold by Wilcap) all have their adherents. Mooneyes also offers throttle-bodies that resemble Strombergs. Then the real work began on figuring out how to update and advance the original Flathead design, as well as how to cast the new parts. You may lose as much as 30 hp above 4,500 rpm. Again, like so many of us, he attended car shows most of his life but life doesnt always present the time necessary to dig in. But the times, theyre a changin and the opportunity wasnt lost on Amie. Coolant needs to remain in liquid form when it circulates through the motor. In the old days the hot ticket was dropping a '49-'53 Mercury 4-inch-stroke crank in place of the Ford 3.75-inch-stroke unit. Heck, not even a front door, really. Back in the day, four-barrel carbs had barely been invented. The bell housing mount is Chevrolet and I believe the water pump has a revision. 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. 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. Original 50-plus-year-old blocks without cracks are getting scarce. 226: Big News for The Custom Car Revival! It was great to meet Mark and Phil, and we hope they have a safe trip back to the cold and snowy territory called Michigan. The first-design 32 through early 38 engines had only 21 cylinder-head studs and until mid 1936 even used poured babbit main bearings. Al moved to So Cal with his family from Oklahoma in the 30s and started working in shops and garages. The Chevys crank diameter is only 0.060-inch smaller than the flatheads. Correct-length flathead 1.800 intake/1.600 exhaust valves are available from flathead specialists like Baron Racing. Bridging the gap was a couple of Ardun conversions of note. The Chrisman coupe ran three engines at Bonneville that year, but only one, Harry Duncan's 258-inch Ardun-Mercury, held together with any success. Wilcap also sells '32-'48 Ford mechanical-clutch hardware. New stainless valves are available from several sources. Now it's 2005, and the flathead's resurgence shows no sign of diminishing. - Frank Comstock @Hemmings, Newly Engineered Flathead V8 Block - Motor City Speed Equipment. As we go to press, word is just in that Mark Kirby at Motor City Flathead has joined forces with Shadow Rods to develop an all-new, improved '49-'53-style aftermarket cast-iron flathead block. While exact ignition timing will vary per combination, in general flatheads running gasoline like about 23 degrees total advance normally aspirated and just 19 degrees with a blower. Small-block Chevy valves remain popular, but with reduced-base-circle cams they may be too short to permit proper lash adjustment. Four carbs on a properly designed intake manifold offer the best distribution short of todays dry EFI systems. There are several reasons for developing a new aluminum block for the Flathead. If theres one thing that we all have in common its the miles we travel and the time we invest in finding the right project. 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. Fel-Pro and Victor continue to make head gaskets too. Motor City also manufactures aluminum cylinder heads for Flatheads, and plans to build these all aluminum Flatheads in crate engine form. The search lasted about two years before Amie found the right car. Posted: Sat Mar 19, 2016 6:17 am Post subject: Re: Chrysler 6 cyl flathead. Tony Baron runs 10 degrees of base timing and 23 degrees max at full advance. In fact, unless you have a badly core-shifted block, most of them can accept a whopping 0.1875-inch overbore (3/16-inch over standard). Instead, air wants to go over the front of the valve and hit the chamber roof. 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. Reliefs between the valves and bores are much less pronounced than the old days, only about 0.080-inch deep instead of the old-school 31/416 inch. 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. Automotive American Classic Vintage & Modern, Googling around as you do I initially found the story of Mark Kirbys newly engineered Flathead V8 block on the Coker Tyres website, This is a quite old story from back in 2010, This page led to me to the Motor City Speed Equipment (no longer available) Website. The first-design '32 through early '38 engines had only 21 cylinder-head studs and until mid 1936 even used poured babbit main bearings. Large-diameter, unshrouded valves combined with a proper combustion chamber configuration and piston design are needed to promote the proper transfer area from the flathead's valves to the far end of the chamber over the piston tops. 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? Its only right. Terms of Service. Turns out that's the third of three such engine combos owned by Scott Gillen, whose gray Deuce is this issue's cover car. Five different intakes are available including 2x2s, 3x2s, 4x2s, a 4 bbl and a blower and they cost $1,000 each. Scott's car, too, won its class and set a new B Lakester record of 201.015 mph with LeRoy Holmes at the wheel, becoming the first open-wheeled car to reach 200 mph. With his knowledge of welding, painting and engine work it kept him busy until he attended Oregon State College in 1949. Then, about 20 years ago, traditional street rods suddenly became cool again. Too high a compression ratio and the engine peaks early due to restricted top-end breathing. There is also an Australian outfit, Flatattack Engineering, offering plenum-style, TPI-like systems controlled by either GM Delco or MoTeC computers. The downside was, as Flathead Engineerings Charlie Clark puts it, street rods began to look about as exciting as a belly-button-everyone had one., Among this herd of sheep, a few original hot rods were brought out of retirement, complete with gennie flatheads as the powerplant. 225: Hooligans In Hot Rods Getting Hamburgers, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Edelbrock, Wilcap (Sharp), and Offenhauser continue to market a wide variety of intakes. Tatom believes spreading the centers helps combat overlap-induced reversion with the flathead's siamesed center exhaust ports. His passion for Hot Rods and to create new products has helped the after-market industry continue to grow, DIXON heads relocate the exhaust valve out of the block and into the head reducing overheating and allowing for vastly improved exhaust gas flow. 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. 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 And, how about 382 hp at 5,300 rpm, roughly four times that of a stock Flathead? Apparently, the old boys network doesnt want any youngbloods crashing their exclusive country club. There are kits to install Weiand and Magnuson superchargers, or even one or two GMC 71-series blowers. Navarro High Dome Heads are designed for special high performance applications. Mostly true, but the French military used flatheads as late as the early '90s and "ancient" flathead technology has evolved to run over 300 mph at Bonneville. ARDUN ENTERPRISES Don Ferguson P.O. He joined the Navy and went to the South Pacific as a Foundrymans Assistant. Strombergs were the favorites, but Chandler-Grove/Holley, Zenith, and Rochester two-barrels were also in use. Improved internal components and casting technology make them more reliable and leak-free. At the other extreme are dry-lakes, Bonneville, and nostalgia drag racers who have applied modern technology to the point where in some instances it is questionable whether the engine still remains a true flathead: Once-85hp engines now produce over 400 hp on gas and have exceeded 700 hp on fuel-all this on an engine with only three main bearings. If it boils, steam pockets form, and when you have steam, you'll get cracks. Ratios are 1.375 on the intake side, 1.2 on the exhaust. superchargers, which, like the heads, look period-correct but are filled with contemporary tech, in this case 4-71 helical-cut rotors. Don was interested, but his approach would be different from Orosco's. Valves are 1.875 inches in diameter on the intake side, 1.5 on the exhaust. Ground with a 114-degree LSA and 112-degree intake centerline, it has 0.395-inch lift and 234 degrees duration at 0.050. Good question. 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.
Tynemouth Surf Company Death, College Basketball Coach Salary Division 2, Seafood Sarasota Downtown, Homes For Sale In Fort Pierce Florida 34951, Abigail Adams' Letter To John Adams Rhetorical Analysis, Articles F