Would anyone be interested in a billet alum water jacketed flathead Ford v-8 block for the street? Lippy
Figure out the retail cost, before going too far. There are rumors of at least one person working on an Aluminum Flathead block. Been a few years, not a simple project.
What rumors? I've never seen one. We have the capability to make them, just wondering if anyone would like one.
I'll get back to you on that. I'm not the machinest but he says it can be done with his 4 axis machine.
The only way I can see to do the water jackets is by having the block wet sleeved -- that would work on a OHV V8, but I can't see how to do that on a flathead...and certainly not with just 4 axis...you have the waterjacket around the valves/ports...not too mention the ports themselves. FWIW, Shadow Rods has been advertising an all-aluminum flathead block for a while as "coming soon".
What are you saying, there may be a cooling problem with a billet block? God forbid, a flathead with a cooling problem? J/K. I'll talk it over with Nasty and get some answers. I didn't ask how to do it, I just asked if anyone would like one.
Gosh only 10-12k lol, Engines worth more them some running cars! Ill stick to junkyards, craigslist, and swapmeets thank you. I see it can be very difficult to install a water jacket system into a billet block, those 5 axis machines can only get into such a small space.. I just had a quesion pop into my head, is cast stronger than billet?
Don Ferguson makes all aluminum Arbun flatheads. The Double Trouble roadster that competed for the AMBR this year had a fully polished, blown one. Pretty much the ultimate flathead. http://www.rodandcustommagazine.com/featuredvehicles/0906rc_1932_ford_roadster/index.html http://www.rodandcustommagazine.com/techarticles/0811rc_h_and_h_flatheads/index.html
All we have heard is that the aluminum block is in development. Last time I checked they were not being produced for sale. To make a production run would require a hell of a commitment financially. I dont see it happening.
One method is to mill the jackets from the sides and then install a removable plate. Check the DART billet blocks (SBC, BBC, LS1) for how it's done. There are even some videos on YouTube of such blocks being machined. That said, the cost is going to major $$$$ and out of reach of most everyone here. The ARDUN-specific block is expensive, and it's produced in a much cheaper method of manufacture with far simpler machining operations. Honestly, this will be nothing more than a pipe dream. Pessimistic, I know, but realistic. While a few of the Motor City / Shadow Rods have been produced, they're for the most part "vapor ware". I've heard there have been both financial and technical difficulties with that venture.
The Ardun block is relatively simple, as it has none of the original port and valve stuff. Machining a water jacket around the original exhaust porting sounds impossible to me, but I'm not a machinest. You have p***ages that amount to the same thing as a block-hugger header INSIDE the water p***ages in a flathead. If that can be done...and remember, p***ages have an inside, too...I would love to know the process comtemplated. With an aluminum block, I suspect some of the elaborate p***ages around the intake ports could be eliminated. It would be cool if it could be done at less cost than a new car!
Nasty is in Alaska right at the moment tuning a fuel altered for a guy. I'll talk it over some more with him and see what his thoughts are on the cooling system deal. We just thought it would be cool to have a billet block available, he said he could do it, and I believe him. What about a solid alum for nitro?
This ancient thread shows a picture of flathead cores...the row of odd things at bottom of the picture represent the posts that snake through everything. I have trouble just visualizing them...p***ages within p***ages. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...35&highlight=flathead+casting+cores&showall=1
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