ferguson aluminum flathead blockferguson aluminum flathead block

The solution is to raise the boiling point by upping coolant-system pressure to 17-21 pounds, using a modern crossflow radiator and higher-pressure cap. 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. The man behind it all is Mark Kirby of Motor . Chrisman, Rathman and others had Al build custom parts for their cars. 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. Fabled Stromberg 97 carbs are back, but you can also upgrade to modern Holley four-barrels or even electronic-fuel-injection systems. Flathead History Lesson courtesy of Charlie Clark, 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. I'd love to retrofit my 36 Ford coupe back from it's current 302 to a flathead. For that, you're getting cylinder heads with a ton of development work and premium-quality pieces. Whether you're looking for a full blown show engine or hopped up daily driver, H&H Flatheads can help build the engine you need. 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. The search lasted about two years before Amie found the right car. And there are always billet caps and girdles available. Theres a fine juggling act between compression and promoting proper transfer from the offset valves across the piston top. Back in the day, four-barrel carbs had barely been invented. "Of 17 new records established at this meet, 12 of them were set with overhead valve engines." It was in the 40s that the Stewart-Warner Southwind used them in Fords. 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. 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. 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. Somewhere in the middle is the largest group: Potential street rodders who just want reasonably fast hot rods without having a cookie-cutter, 1-800-car. Fel-Pro and Victor continue to make head gaskets too. I'm doing an open 14.5 ci flathead for a friend of mine for the Big O from some stuff he has from a stock appearing and other flathead pieces, we're sleeveing a raptor III block down to 2.548", a Lunati .400 on a ARC 4.250" rod, 34.5 mm intake valve on a reverse port ground .437L cam. 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. Here we have botha great car and a great story. Tony Baron runs 10 degrees of base timing and 23 degrees max at full advance. What am I missing here? 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. Don asks. And Don has rimmed the valve cover with an O-ring for leak-free sealing. That should get any hot rodders beat to quicken and pique his curiosity. There are kits to install Weiand and Magnuson superchargers, or even one or two GMC 71-series blowers. 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. Made in the USA. Flatheads began to come back, and prices of swap-meet stuff skyrocketed. Speed-O-Motive still advertises Merc crank cores if you want to go this route, but it's no longer necessary, what with all the aftermarket alternatives available. A good supply of new French (really) blocks exist and outfits like Scat make new H-beam rods and sell cranks with up to a 4.5-inch stroke. The times they were a-changin', and change was happening fast. 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. The new old cars got a lot of attention. Besides, multicarb setups look cool. The Motor City/Shadow Rods block is an entirely different piece. Its a hot rod befitting any road well-traveled. A new player is Gemini Electronic Fuel Injection, a complete bolt-on flathead conversion kit based on the self-programming Prodigious fuel injection system. You have to beat him/her at the same game. 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. Most hot rod engines use oversize valves. Ford Flathead V8 The engine that gave birth to Hot Rodding is back!! Most hot rod engines use oversize valves. He started The Hot Rod Shop in 1945 where he fixed and customized cars. Eventually you could build a whole street rod out of aftermarket commodity parts. Whether they were or were not intended for use on Ford trucks, and whether they were or were not copied from the French Talbot design, and why they are so similar to the early Chrysler Hemi are all points that have been argued before. Ultimately, you can move up to one of Cornhusker Engineering's custom front cover and late-model water-pump setups. One solution is adopting a small-block Chevy damper. He apprenticed as a pattern makers helper when the war broke out. 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. 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. Wilcap also sells '32-'48 Ford mechanical-clutch hardware. Flathead gurus like Don Ferguson and Tony Baron strongly urge that hot rod engines run a harmonic damper. Keep it under 8.0:1. He offers spark plug tubes in two diameters: a reproduction of the originals, which will fit the original plugs, and a new style, narrower tube that accepts contemporary plugs and offers a little more room to clear the rockers, should you want to get more radical with the lift. It should be remembered that, although the Ardun has gained cult status over the years, the Arkus-Duntovs didn't have the money for fancy engineering and were working to a tight schedule as well as the restraints of the Ford engine block. It spawned the modern aftermarket speed-equipment industry and became a favorite of bootleggers, dry-lakes racers, dirt trackers, street racers, and a whole generation that just wanted a fast car. I once asked him if he'd considered aluminum and I think he replied that they'd be on the market now. Scat offers affordable cast Pro Stock cranks through 4.375-inch stroke, with either 2.00- or 2.138-inch rod journals. Reputedly, they are cast with 10 percent higher nickel content, and the quality of the modern castings is a lot smoother with much less core shift. Still not enough? And there are always billet caps and girdles available. The flathead blocks to get are those with a 3 3/16-inch bore. However, the main caps are beefier than traditional stock flatheads. Relieving a Flathead, which is the process of removing material from the block between the valves and the cylinder for better breathing, is a subject unto itself. A recent test of a prototype set of Hammerhead's castings bolted on a 427ci small-block stroker produced over 600 hp with a streetable hydraulic roller camshaft and 600 lb-ft of torque. There is also an ugly governor mounting boss on the left-rear of the block that many rodders prefer to machine off. Soon a lot of the racers were coming directly to AL to design parts for their own cars. It must have a stock style front for the pumps and front cover or my water pump kits wouldn't work. The two most common Flathead motors are the 59AB (1946-1948) and the 8BA (1949-1953). The Chevy's crank diameter is only 0.060-inch smaller than the flathead's. Now it's 2005, and the flathead's resurgence shows no sign of diminishing. Small-block Chevy valves remain popular, but with reduced-base-circle cams they may be too short to permit proper lash adjustment. H&H started in 1972 with rebuilding all early Ford Flathead engines from Model A, Bs, Ts and V8 Ford Flatheads from 1932-36, LBs, 59As, 8BAs,V8 60s, Lincoln 337, Lincoln V12s and Y Block Ford and Mercury. Valves are 1.875 inches in diameter on the intake side, 1.5 on the exhaust. For improved cooling efficiency, original 49-53 pumps have more impeller vanes than earlier models. And, how about 382 hp at 5,300 rpm, roughly four times that of a stock Flathead? I am SO interested in when these will be available. H&H Top Dead Center T-shirt is printed on 100% cotton. In the end we should be so lucky to drive our end result as many miles as we traveled in our quest. Stromberg in England is producing new Strombergs again. Whats right for your engine differs per application. One flathead builder, Dave Tatom, offers a unique line of custom grinds with wide 114-degree LSA for naturally aspirated engines, and 116-118 LSAs for blown motors. The third-design 8BA 49-53 engines have a bolt-on bellhousing, the distributor was moved to the top-right of the engine, and modern insert-style bearings are used on both the mains and rods. After reading this article, you'll be capable of . Charles Scott was also running an Ardun at the meet, a Hilborn-injected flathead nestled in the back of his Scotty's Muffler Service belly tanker. It was a statement, in effect saying, "I am not a cookie-cutter rod.". document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Chattanooga Area Hot Rodder Builds A Time Capsule, Make Plans NOW to Attend the Chattanooga Cruise In Toy Drive, Our Favorite Hot Rods from the 2018 NSRA Street Rod Nationals, Barn Find Report: 1947 ACF Brill Bus, The TenneSEEr. 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. The '39-'48 flatheads used a direct camshaft-driven front-mount distributor; '49-'53 engines use a gear-driven, vertical-mount distributor on the right-front of the engine. Flatheads are old, ancient, obsolete technology. Eventually you could build a whole street rod out of aftermarket commodity parts. ", Among this herd of sheep, a few original hot rods were brought out of retirement, complete with gennie flatheads as the powerplant. Besides the Ford flathead, H&H also specializes in Ardun conversions as well as rebuilding other vintage engines including Y-Block Ford, Nailhead Buicks and Chrysler Hemis. Sure, it's not cheap (really not cheap), but when was pushing the envelope ever inexpensive? 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. Most builders convert the stock oil system to a full-flow design with a modern, remote-mounted oil filter. $1,120. Cast in Los Angeles from the highest quality tempered A356 aluminum and CNC machined, the DIXON heads are designed to fit the desirable 1938-1953 59A and 8BA 24-stud flatheads. Privacy Policy. Most flattie builders modify factory pans. 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. Flatheads are old, ancient, obsolete technology. Flathead Myths courtesy of Tony Baron A step by step book on how to identfy and rebuild a ford flatheads. He is now replicating S.Co.T. For reasons known only to the crazy French, flatheads were used in French Army trucks through the early 90s. Tony Baron runs 10 degrees of base timing and 23 degrees max at full advance. Orosco approached the Fergusons about taking on the Ardun reproductions. He was a pioneer in the evolution of the flathead. 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. Thanks ! Click below to preview or download the complete catalog. $299.00. 226: Big News for The Custom Car Revival! When I was in the ninth grade (56-57), our physics teacher "proved" it would be impossible to accelerate to over some figure like that (138 sticks in my mind) in the quarter. 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. The front fenders were then modified to allow for valve cover clearance. Again, this is one of those hot rods that you must see in person to appreciate the amount of creativity and craftsmanship that was invested in this ride. 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. 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. Traditionalists can go with Vertex or Mallory mags, while modern guys may want to move up to MSD or Mallory electronic distributors. 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. By the time the 60s arrived, engine coolant replaced gasoline as a method of providing heat probably a wise choice. K&F Show #259: The Dukes of Star Trek; Dukes Review S2E12 Arrest Jesse Duke. As for cylinder heads, Baron, Edelbrock, Navarro, Offenhauser, and Sharp (now sold by Wilcap) all have their adherents. There is also an Australian outfit, Flatattack Engineering, offering plenum-style, TPI-like systems controlled by either GM Delco or MoTeC computers. Blower Kits. They fit original '39-'53 blocks, French blocks, and (perhaps the ultimate evolution) Ferguson's new aluminum block. Early and late distributor styles can be interchanged by using the corresponding front engine covers and cam drive. The stock flathead oiling system is marginal for performance use. 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. Baron, Edelbrock, Sharp (Wilcap), Navarro, and Offenhauser make both old-style heads as well as improved new configurations. Small-block Chevy valves remain popular, but with reduced-base-circle cams they may be too short to permit proper lash adjustment. 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. Magnuson offers an Eaton blower kit, while Joe Abbin of Roadrunner Engineering has Weiand 142 and 174 supercharger setups. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ). Available in black t-shirt or white t-shirt. He also makes a compatible cast-aluminum block. Baron, Edelbrock, Sharp (Wilcap), Navarro, and Offenhauser make both old-style heads as well as improved new configurations. No detail has escaped Don's attention. Instead, air wants to go over the front of the valve and hit the chamber roof. Not many of the heads were madebest guesstimates put the number at 200 to 250 sets, with another dozen or so made for the smaller V-8/60 enginesand a few more were built in England during a short association Duntov had with Sydney Allard and his J2 sports car. In fact, the growing flathead movement has basically sorted itself out into three distinct groups. Ratios are 1.375 on the intake side, 1.2 on the exhaust. No signage, not even a number on the front door. Don has also raised the floor of the intake and exhaust ports to better move the air. Like all fads, once started, the process fed itself. When I think about it, an aluminum flathead block makes no sense, economic or otherwise. The heads and valve covers are made from 356 T6 aluminum, far superior to the alloy used back in the day. 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. The street motors, on the other hand, typically put out "about 1 horsepower per cubic inch, unblown," he says. Modern 12mm spark plugs seat flush with the hemispherical chamber, meaning they'll work better with modern ignitions. First invented in the 30s it was 1934 when Stewart-Warner eventually produced over 3 million for use in cars, planes, and military vehicles. 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. Available in center and front water neck. 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. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Copyright 1995-2021 The Jalopy Journal: Steal our stuff, we'll kick your teeth in. New stainless valves are available from several sources. Are you saying that theres a FLATHEAD in there ? About H&H Flatheads: Founded in 2003 by Mike Herman, H&H Flatheads is celebrating its 15th anniversary. Relieved blocks must have the reliefs filled to use Ardun heads. The headliner is a tan wool while the carpeting and floor mats are a dark brown tight weave pile all from the sewing machine of Putnam. Two things to watch out for are an extra water hole in the block and the lack of a breather standpipe in the block. Small logo on front, large logo on back. They fit original 39-53 blocks, French blocks, and (perhaps the ultimate evolution) Fergusons new aluminum block. Although new aftermarket iron blocks are reputedly under development, right now a real-world solution to finding a good core for your flathead is to start with a brand-new French block. Yes, you can have a classic flathead with modern fuel injection. Pull off said cover and the biggest difference you see is the change in the rocker arms. Tony Baron says that a good-running flathead should have no less than 0.400 lift and about 250 degrees duration at 0.050-inch tappet lift. 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. Reserve these early blocks for collector cars due to their inferior head-retention and bearing design; speed equipment availability for them is also severely limited. Why not let us all see? superchargers, which, like the heads, look period-correct and the case is filled with todays technology and outfitted with 4-71 helical-cut rotors. 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. Apparently, the old boys network doesnt want any youngbloods crashing their exclusive country club. 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. Different top-halves are available for mounting a variety of induction setups. With modern flatheads routinely putting out 250-300 lb-ft of torque, the original trannies obviously arent up to the job. Tony Baron says French blocks can be bored 0.250-over (1/4 inch). Parts Only. In 1947, they were commissioned by Ford to improve the output of its truck engines. All flatheads overheat, then the blocks crack. All have 1132-inch valve stems and get a three-angle cut to improve flow. At present, the only aftermarket custom oil pan available is from Ardun Engineering. Automotive American Classic Vintage & Modern, Flathead Myths courtesy of Tony Baron Learn how your comment data is processed. "Look, if you're going to spend upwards of $30,000 on a motor, why wouldn't you get the best components?" 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. 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. On the street, flatheads are happy on todays crappy gas, because thats the only kind of gas there was back in the 30s. superchargers, which, like the heads, look period-correct but are filled with contemporary tech, in this case 4-71 helical-cut rotors. What To Look For When Buying and Building A Ford Flathead Hot Rod Engines 101 Matt Murray @Irontrap Garage, H&H Builds a Flathead Motor Flathead For A Knucklehead (From HotRod Network), 1941 Ford fuels father and sons need for speed Alyn Edwards @Driving.ca, Hot rod Stovebolts and other Chevrolet six-cylinder memories Hemmings, Visit to Richard Edmonds Auctions Chippenham UK, The vilification of Leo Beebe: Ford's mission to win Le Mans in 1966 - Frank Comstock @Hemmings, So-Cal Speedshop SF Flatheads Stage 1 to 3 Mercury/Ford Flathead V8 Blocks, Was Leo Beebe a corporate villain or a good guy with a tough job? 225: Hooligans In Hot Rods Getting Hamburgers, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. From help designing the runners of his manifold to enter the block at a 45 degree angle to act as an extension of the ports to making his manifold have a 180 degree pattern to distribute the fuel equally. Seal the heads to the block using slick new graphite-impregnated head gaskets available from Best Gasket, Reds Headers, and Tatom. But with modern solid cams and big stroker cranks, overall engine rpm and piston speed is considerably higher than the old stockers. Likewise, the exact number of kits manufactured is up for debate, as well; for the longest time it was thought to be around 250 but now seems more like 400. Flat-O Products sells well-designed, complete kits to install the Ford C4 automatic and T5 manual behind either 8BA or 59A engines. Early and late distributor styles can be interchanged by using the corresponding front engine covers and cam drive. Although it sounds weird in this modern age of thin-wall castings, the 3 3/16-inch-bore, U.S.-built flatties can be bored 0.125-inch (1/8-inch-over). Apparently, the old boys' network doesn't want any youngbloods crashing their exclusive country club. Now its 2005, and the flatheads resurgence shows no sign of diminishing. 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. Four-bolt center main cap. 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. By Brian Brennan Photography by the John Jackson. This is an amazing process. There are several techniques; the accompanying photos show the method preferred by Baron Racing. They did a lot of work for different companies around L.A., including some of the early speed equipment makers. The best balance has been the subject of debate for over 60 years. High-compression is the way to go. If you look beneath the dash you will spot the makings of a South Wind gasoline heater. Ross, Wiseco, Egge, Arias, and others make pistons in any configuration you desire. It becomes an evolution,and makes the sport better, and everybody gains. And, of course, they also give you four rather than three exhaust ports for a more contemporary, balanced look.. 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. French blocks have some unique features and are covered separately. I've sold Don my 409 Chevy to Flathead aluminum water pump kits for years. There are kits to install Weiand and Magnuson superchargers, or even one or two GMC 71-series blowers. Putnam also used the same leather on the center console and boot, the door panels, and the nifty accessory pockets in the doors. Just where did this engine come from? An alternative are Pertronix conversion kits that fit inside the original distributor; they retain the classic look, and versions are even offered that function on 6-volt power. 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. But with modern solid cams and big stroker cranks, overall engine rpm and piston speed is considerably higher than the old stockers. 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. You need lots of timing to make a flathead run. At one end there are restorers who insist on putting everything back to exact original condition. ARDUN Enterprises is now replicating S.Co.T. No one runs the old weak stock ignitions anymore. 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. Most of these parts became the foundation for the Sharp Speed and Power Equipment company. Trust Speedway Motors for best in class Cylinder Heads for Ford Flathead - delivered quickly, efficiently and without any hassles. Aside from his flathead speed equipment, he built parts for almost every engine that ran down the strip. New stainless valves are available from several sources. Most stock flatheads never came with an effective harmonic damper. A stock flathead rod (rear) is forged from steel that will bend instead of break outright. Ultimately, there are equal-length race headers available from Tatom Custom Engines. The company they formed to produce these heads was named Ardun, an acronym derived from their last name.