This isn't that flathead that **** Landy built a few years ago to put into the Flat fire streamliner to set a record, and it's not the blown Cadillac put in that '39 Chevy called Flatcad, this is the one Ron Cooper is putting in a '39 Ford to try and set a record. There's some pretty innovative stuff going on in this build, like the cam bearing used to get the lobe list over .400 and the welded up combustion chambers, dry sump oiling system, with 3 pickups, etc. etc. Hopefully I'm not giving away any of Ron's speed secrets since it's only weeks away from Speed week at Bonneville. Flathead guy's Enjoy!
That really puts a smile on my face, local guys from Washington state going for it, with style and engineering!
All of that work and advanced engineering and only 249.5 (honest) horsepower? A ,lot of my friends have been lying to me!
@tubman I don't even want to know how much it cost to go 132.876 M.P.H but it is a record so.... Hopefully Ron won't be pissed at me for posting all this speed secrets before Speed week in August because I think he's on the H.A.M.B.
Don Garlits tells a story about seeing a poster in a Chrysler dealers window and it explains why the flathead started to go away...
Being a Flathead aficionado for over 60 years, I noticed three differences on building peak power from what I understand to be expected modifications in the flathead world. Not saying they are right or wrong differences,but just different from what I think are accepted practices. However making 250 horses is pretty outstanding for a Flathead so they (the engine builders) obviously know their product well. Observation #1 is unported(making bigger) intake ports.#2 no relief on valve area#3 end exhaust gases enter the header directly across from each other rather than one entrance being higher or lower than the other so the gases would not be directly across from each other. I have fun making good power with my 4 engines I regularly “shuffle” in and out of my early Ford hot rod. Flatheads Forever!! Still picking up outside knowledge at 75 years young!
Some great innovation there from the Dorten's, long time NASCAR wizards. I met Keith at the salt in 2016, was introduced by Vic (@krusty40), nice guys, and record setters as well. I often wondered how much power Kenny Kloth was making to run 150 in his stock body 49 Merc. Looking forward to seeing it at Speedweek.
Well, It's just a Northwest Legend, looking over the shoulder of one from the Southeast. My impression of him was a humble genius, nice guy. I do have a question, how fast did Bill Ross run in the car ? I have one of his handouts. Good luck, I should be over the Covid in plenty of time to go, and see you there !
Bill got the Record Elmo and blew up the motor at Bonneville, His car was my old drag car ,I bought it back after he blew it up ,Ron cooper tried to buy it from me but he missed it by a couple of days so I built him the silver car . Bill worked very hard to get the Record and a Faulty hose clamp got him .
The Jalopy Journal
