The 2N has some component changes due to wartime shortages. But I digress. 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. 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. Traditional flathead airflow management practices call for relieving the block-removing metal between the valve-seat sides closest to the cylinder bore. Like all fads, once started, the process fed itself. Its everything you need to make the conversion. Baron also offers a modern version of the famous Tattersfield/Baron four-carb race intake in more civilized street form. The company they formed to produce these heads was named "Ardun," an acronym derived from their last name. I just got around to reading my Street Rodder magazine and again noticed an ad from Shadow Rods with that Aluminum Flathead engine. Also, what does "wet jackets" mean? 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. Just sold him a fresh batch so I assume he's still building engines? If you're interested in a complete Turn-Key engine give us a call 818-248-2371 or send us an email. With no rocker arms, a flathead's total lift must be generated entirely by the cam lobe. I once asked him if he'd considered aluminum and I think he replied that they'd be on the market now. Dressed with up to four carbs and that unique flathead sound accentuated by glasspacks, the old codgers were suddenly the rage again. Most flattie builders modify factory pans. 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. You can now build a brand-new flathead. Baron, Edelbrock, Sharp (Wilcap), Navarro, and Offenhauser make both old-style heads as well as improved new configurations. 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. Tony Baron says French blocks can be bored 0.250-over (1/4 inch). However, there are some significant differences in French blocks compared to the originals. $1,120. Does it use a Ford style crank and rods? Copper head gaskets are sold by SCE. 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. Tony Baron runs 10 degrees of base timing and 23 degrees max at full advance. With his knowledge of welding, painting and engine work it kept him busy until he attended Oregon State College in 1949. There are several techniques; the accompanying photos show the method preferred by Baron Racing. You need to know the differences and which one is right for your build. He has even made some aluminum flathead blocks, with massive main caps and deep, sturdy skirts, for those interested in making ultimate flathead power. "These engines look cool, run cool, and are reliable," he says. Correct-length flathead 1.800 intake/1.600 exhaust valves are available from flathead specialists like Baron Racing. 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. 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. The Ford flathead V8 is a V8 engine of the valve-in-block type designed by the Ford Motor. The 270-F, Tatoms 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. 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). 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. The foundation for this 1936 Ford three-window coupe is based on a Roadster Shop 1935-1940 Ford REVO chassis engineered for optimal street ride and handling performance. Most flattie builders modify factory pans. There are several reasons for developing a new aluminum block for the Flathead. A wide variety of headers are available for flathead engines, which certainly should not retain the restrictive stock exhaust manifolds. Eventually you could build a whole street rod out of aftermarket commodity parts. He also makes a pan for his block that is supposed to work on a stock block? 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. 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. 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. I'm not up to speed on the status of that item. Correct-length flathead 1.800 intake/1.600 exhaust valves are available from flathead specialists like Baron Racing. The front fenders were then modified to allow for valve cover clearance. ARDUN Enterprises is now replicating S.Co.T. 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. For even more protection, install a crossflow radiator and increase coolant system pressure to 17-21 pounds. French blocks are about 30 pounds heavier than a standard flathead, which is a good indication of better metal and thicker walls. Most stock flatheads never came with an effective harmonic damper. 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. The company they formed to produce these heads was named Ardun, an acronym derived from their last name. Tom Roberts' new two-piece crossflow utilizes the latest in airflow technology. The new old cars got a lot of attention. He improved everything he touched. 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. 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. Fair, is fair. How bout Uncommons twin 4-71 top-mount system, shown here in m, Reds Headers offers more than 60 different flathead header sets including this stream-lin, Tatom offers equal-length headers for all fat fenders and roadsters. Sharp 32 Super Dual Early Intake Manifold can accept either Holley 94s or Stromberg 97s. Custom billets stretch all the way to 4.5-inch stroke. The aluminum blocks used on the various all-aluminum Ardun builds are from Don Ferguson and are Ardun-only items. 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. At around the same time, old-time hot rods gave way to modern musclecars and street machines. i plan on building a T bucket in the next year and want to run a flatty. There are kits to install Weiand and Magnuson superchargers, or even one or two GMC 71-series blowers. Isn't Don Ferguson making an 8BA aluminum Flathead style block? Traditional flathead airflow management practices call for relieving the block-removing metal between the valve-seat sides closest to the cylinder bore. You may lose as much as 30 hp above 4,500 rpm. The Sharp 32 triple carburetor intake is one of the few that accepts Holley 94s and Stromberg 97s. 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. Maybe they are only for dragsters. The fastest guys both naturally aspirated and blown run high-dome pistons. For even more protection, install a crossflow radiator and increase coolant system pressure to 17-21 pounds. or Best Offer. 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. For this group-whether building a rat rod, yanking a Chevy that just doesnt look right in that old Deuce, or building a brand-new car-the outlook couldnt be rosier, even better than the flatheads heyday so long as the bucks hold out. 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. 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 Thickstun two-carb high-rise intake (today marketed by Baron) is an excellent street setup and it even provides clearance for the stock generator. There is also an Australian outfit, Flatattack Engineering, offering plenum-style, TPI-like systems controlled by either GM Delco or MoTeC computers. 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. Good question. Whatever, originals are rare, which explains why a select few individuals have looked into reproducing them. With 6 Ford Flathead Cylinder Heads for sale, and options to fit your needs including custom and direct fit Cylinder Heads for your needs. 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. Younger guys yearned for a simpler, back to basics approach. Most builders convert the stock oil system to a full-flow design with a modern, remote-mounted oil filter. Arms in a gennie Ardun head look downright delicate compared to the beefy 2024 aluminum arms in Don's Ardun. Learn how your comment data is processed. An ARDUN Powered 1936 Ford Coupe With 400 HP! - In The Garage Media Improved internal components and casting technology make them more reliable and leak-free. 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. The new valve springs facilitate increased valve lift, plus the lifters are an improved design over the originals. 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.