Technical Ford Flathead V8 (Therm-Flow) Heads

I recently acquired a rare 1940 Boyce & Sons “PODH” hydroplane race boat from a owner who had it since 1950, while also watching the boat race through the 1940’s in Souther Cali.

Turns out the 1936 Ford Flathead V8 has the Federal Mogul Thermo-Flow Heads, which the boat runs like a top, but I am wanting to source head gaskets so I can restore the aluminum heads and other parts with my vapor blasting cabinet.

Any source for head gaskets would be great appreciated, because I would like to keep the heads on the boat being they have been there so long, but I am also debating on going with a more conventional race head to allow ease of parts sourcing.

 

What makes these heads different from other flathead designs?

Beautiful boat BTW.

 

These are a two piece head with the base being made of copper, and a top cap made of aluminum, which apparently was done for larger water ports and better heat dissipation

 

I answered my question when I came upon this thread:

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/how-rare-are-these-heads.1098812/

 

Yeah, I saw that post, but doesn’t offer any details as to Who or Where can source the gaskets, and it is a pretty old thread also, so sources may have changed if there were any at all.

 

Given the rarity of the heads, my guess is you will be making your own gaskets. That said, a standard head gasket will likely work between the block and head.

 

Be still my heart! That boat is off the coolness chart! Nice acquisition

 

Thanks man. I am in the process of refreshing it back to its former glory, which will not be that hard being it runs nicely and it basically just needs a sand and varnish job.

The last three pics are of one of my other wooden boats, which is a 27ft Triple ****pit boat, so this little 16ft Boyce & Son’s Hydroplane will be a different kind of style and fun.

 

You have some very beautiful wooden boats!! Your pictures helped me to remember many years ago when I drove my 1937 Ford woodie from M***achusetts to upstate New York for a combination wooden car-wooden boat show on the edge of a lake. Cars in the parking lot and boats tied up to a pier. They did a tour, with the wooden cars driving around the lake and the boats running with them in the water. I didn’t drive my car on the tour though, because my wife and I wanted to ride in a boat. It was so much fun! Please post some videos with sound of your boats with flatheads moving on the water. They are just so beautiful! Thanks HFH.

 

Here is a Video Link from yesterday’s start up

 

AWESOME!

 

That looks like a lot of motor for the boat. It should run good. I like how it smooths out when you get it up on plane.

 

Reminds me when as a kid, I spent a summer at the lake in Michigan about 1952. Uncle Charlie had a Chris Craft. Love those old wooden boats.

 

Wow!! "Wet Rods"... how cool is that?

 

Out fckin standing. I am in total love.
That is bad ***.
Thanks for sharing

 

Thanks for sharing the video. That was a lot of fun!

 

The Federal Mogel heads I had in the mid seventies were some kind of a br***-bronze alloy?? that did NOT have any water jackets in them;meaning the water flowed up to the head and turned around and went back thru the block. I was told they were strictly for track use and would run HOT when run on the street. I sold them to some man in Nebraska—-never trying them on the street. Flatheads Forever!!

 

@Iamtheonlyreal1 That looks like a boat I just seen on Facebook. Here's another thread I found, unfortunately no info. on head gaskets. https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/swap-meet-find-bronze-heads.364742/

EDIT. I just went back and read my old thread and it looks like @biggles might have info. on gaskets.

 

I have shared my boat project on Facebook, so I am sure that is what you are seeing.

 

Talk about getting LUCKY. I was able to chat with the engine build shop who did the work on this motor 15 years ago, and it turns out that the company they sent patterns off to for new gaskets to me made, still has the patterns and can make them for me.

It is Olsen Gaskets out of Oregon, and they are $85 a side, which both sides are different.

 

Beautiful boats. I love those things however I’ve only seen some inaction once. Quite a number of years ago about five of then in different sizes and shapes left Seattle, hung a right and cross into Canada. From there they made another right and went up the Fraser River and made a left into the Harrison River and then into Harrison La,e. Tied up and stayed a few days at the historic Harrison Hot Springs Hotel...

 

Wow. Thanks man. That is a very cool archive article, just wondering if there is more too it.

 

I wanna learn more about the runaway Diesel tractor.

 

Ran the first head through our vapor blast cabinet, and man do the pop. The good news is No Cracks and No Issues.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Earthworm-Tractors-Joe-Brown/dp/B00022LIKW

 

Well, I learned something today.
But my heart sank a little watching that touring car get crushed @ 1:50.

https://www.tcm.com/video/1006/earthworm-tractors-original-trailer/

Anyhoo, the heads are looking good. Good luck with the restoration.

 

My heads were definitely not 2 piece and the heads pictured had a combustion chamber over the piston as FLAT. My heads had a semi round combustion chamber similar to a hot rod aftermarket head made of aluminum. They had carbon over the entire head but shined up like a new penny with little work.

 

I think Clayton Paddison was having new heads made up. He may be able to tell you where to get gaskets. Mr Model T on here.