Technical Mystery Flathead Ford V8 Heads - Can Anybody I.D???

Mystery Flathead Ford V8 Heads - Can
Anybody I.D???

I came across a vintage pic of a hot-rodded
Flathead Ford V8 on the net with a pair of
unusual, obviously aftermarket heads. Does
anyone know what they are???

Mart3406
============================

 

I would like to know also!

 

Are those initials or letters cast right below the hose??

 

-----------------
I can't tell. I can't get any higher resolution
from the pic. Also, the site where I found the
pic - which doesn't actually I.D. the heads
either, by the way - is a Brazilian auto blog
(http://carrosantigos.wordpress.com/page/8/ )
so the text is all in Portuguese.

Mart3406
====================

 

I can see some air cooling ribs maby its from a generator off som sort ?

 

I think those came up on a Thickstun (and other flathead heads) pic thread and nobody knew them there either!

 

don't forget, dual plug!

 

...with only half of the plugs wired ???

 

For fuel economy...

..couldn't resist haha

 

I've seen either that picture before, or a picture of the same heads, can't remember where. They are pretty cool looking.

 

I will state up front that I have no idea what the origins of these heads are but offer some suggestions to think about.

Twins spark plugs are a common feature of aeronautical reciprocating piston engines. I believe the military may also demand such spec from time to time.

Whilst Henry's aero flathead engine, as I understand them, didn't have finned heads or dual plugs. I query if someone else may have had a go at an aero flathead?

The orientation of the fins is unusual and may suggest airflow other than conventional automotive use as depicted in the pic.

This could be completely off track and they are simply hot rod items designed to deal with detonation problems.

Looking at the front of the head it appears that the water jacket does not extend over the full width of the head. Further it appears that the lower side of the head where the water jacket bulge ends is solid and that part of the head is cooled and at the same time reinforced by the multiple fins.

Bruce, any thoughts?

 

Bump for the 'late night/early
morning' crew. Let's see if if we
can solve this one! Anybody??

Mart3406
=====================

 

Attempt to make photo bigger...... Hopefully more luck at deciphering the letters.

Very interesting......

Poor attempt to say the least!



Second try.....



HC.

 

Btt

 

Elco - Twin pluggs ? Not sure , but if you have a set .. Well then please share pix .....
Klaz

 

saw an add in hemmings from a guy named don orosco for new elco twin plug heads....


"







Location: Monterey, California, United States
(Google Map - Yahoo! Map) Description:

FLATHEAD Ford V8 speed equipment: want something rare and unusual? Elco twin-spark plug and Smith external water log cylinder heads and pre-WW II Ord heads & manifolds are available again after 50 years; also Nash twin-plug distributors and spare parts, as rare as it gets. Don Orosco, 831-649-0220, 831-626-2660, CA; dbo@oroscogroup.com**42-YR**"

btw, anyone else know what the cable that is strapped to the upper radiator hose goes too!

 

I'd say ELCO too...

 

found a pic on the HAMB of an elco dual plug head. def. not the same. also heard there are a couple different styles. one being a bronze marine head.

 

Has anybody considered the possibility that these were made in South America-Brazil or Agentina? There was some speed equip mfd down there.

 

Did the Ford Tri-Motors have 2 plug heads?

 

Ford Tri-Motors did not have Ford engines.

Bill

 

correct, but yes, they did have twin plugs heads. lol

 

could that be a Fenton logo on the water neck ?

 

The marking on the water neck is not a typical Fenton or Eelco logo from what I can see. It appears to maybe a single letter logo .

 

looks like multiple letters to me. The marine company Elco uses a much rounder style lettering. Eelco uses a blocky all caps logo that tapers I believe.

From my eyes, I'm seeing an "E" then an I,J or L then what could be a C, O A or D.

 

I passed the pics around the "old dudes" (just as if I was NOT one) out at my airport the other night. No hits, but the opinions as to the application echoed the sagacious suggestions by 'freduece' in an earlier posting. Military did require redundant ignition systems for other vehicles besides aircraft. This is very intriguing - if anyone can ask Orosco directly if he's ever seen/touched these heads, his response could only enhance our quest for info.

dj

 

If you take the pictures provided and invert the colors you will see why I think this is more of a one letter or possibly two letter logo than the typical full name logos that where primarily used back then.

 

the Ford Tri-Motor airplane had 3 radial engines

 

It looks like ETO or ETC to me.

 

Im going out on a limb here....
"possibly made in brazil..." was said earlier.
I did some redoing of the pic and it appears (to me anyway) to say "FRANCE" under the center stud, in an arc'd pattern...
putting two and two together, could this be an early version of the emisul motor by simca?? the way the heads are bulged looks like a way to make a "hemi" shape.
all this and the time frame of the the late 30s block...it could be!