Technical THE MOST EXOTIC FLATHEAD EVER?

Built built by Keith Dorton, Concord, N C.

 

Dennis, I think this might give it some competition.

 

^^^^ yes, sir!

 

Someone needs to explain this to me ?!?! Way too much to unpack here !

man that looks cool

 

Well when you go as far as you can, stop to think 'maybe I can go a little farther'
Then keep going that
NICE

 

You don't expect the exhaust to come out the intake ports. what do they sound like?

 

So how do they run both the exhaust and intake out of the top of a flathead? Got a picture of just the engine block with all the intake and exhaust stuff off?

 

@BJR hope this helps.

 

Wow thanks, now at least I understand how it works.

 

O M G YES!

 

Caddy Porn, I LOVE it. How do you keep a 3 main crank in'er though?

 

Done many times by many different craftsmen usually for longer high speed runs when peak horse power and torque work hand in hand.

All engines are just air pumps and modifications to them to increase efficiency and performance within the restriction of possible engine classes within sanctioning bodies are the only limiting factors.

A traditional Flathead Ford/Mercury 1932-1953 can be modified using this shown method with better results than Henry’s original design is obvious but not for every one.

Ron Mains Flatfire engine is now over 30 year old and technically obsolete to the ones being constructed today.

 

What makes you think that there are just 3 main bearings in these modified engines?

 

Just watched the entire vid yet again. Just fascinating to see all the ingenuity that went into the build. No expert by any stretch, but the biggest benefit has to be increasing the CR along with the valve lift which in itself is no small feat as can be seen in the vid. The 50 hp increase with their custom intake over an off-the-shelf one is also really impressive. Some true masters of their respective crafts involved in this amazing motor.

 

@Bird man that's a Ford not a Caddy.

 

While I personally dislike superlatives because humans keep pushing boundaries and asking what is the MOST EVER is almost always lazy and a wide definition that needs to be narrowed. However, this is a good example of pushing boundaries so I'll post it.
This guy's channel has some other great stuff too. A hand built 12.

 

Thanks for posting. That’s some real engineering and craftsmanship there.

 

X2....no one will ever one up the Flatfire engine!

 

I believe LANDY Industries built this. Landy as in Dcck Landy.

 

Mine. Certainly not the most exotic but still a little different.

 

Exotic yes powerful not so much. I know of a certain stock block NA Ford flathead V-8 that's making lots of power at only 292 cubes.
You may ask what stock block means? It means the intake and exhaust ports are still located in the stock as designed locations three exhaust ports etc. Maybe 5 main bearings but I won't tell
You want exotic that would be the 312 MPH current record holding flathead that beat out that flat fire Dick Landy built flathead. HP well over 700.
Ronnieroadster

 

I tried to find a picture of one I'd seen years ago with the carbs mounted on the exhaust ports

 

Thanks for posting that link.
Yes, Aardema is it, one of the most interesting guys around, & wouldn't be welcome on this board, at least not for long. ;( . Doesn't exactly think out-of-the-box, 'cause the miserable box is nowhere in sight anywheres around him. .
Kong Jackson did a vertical-exhaust pipes flattie, called it his "Calliope". I think Tex, or Ron Ceridona(sp?), did the interview/article in HRMx, had some neat photos. Iirc, Kong said he just bored into the exh runners(did not cut away the valley-top-port-inlets), turned up some tubes on a lathe, then pressed them down w/some "sealing stuff", & milled the port-top flat. Intake & exh tubes bolted on like a reg intake manifold. No problems. (WTF?) I tried for a long time to find out just what, exactly, was "sealing stuff". Never did. Would still like to know. He did say the engine exhaust note changed considerably, & rpm came on so fast it wasn't funny. I think they'd look real good w/a classic "bundle of snakes" as the exhaust system, & may as well run stacks out the side(cross-tubes if it could be pulled off), either some sort of FI, or side-draft webers. This'd be an interesting flattie.
Marcus...

 

Met Mr. Aardema way back when he had built his OHC conversion for the SBC and put it transverse in the back of a rod. Out of the box describes him to a T. I suggest that those who can handle non HAMB tech watch all the videos,. There is a bunch of thought and get it done in the shop going on.

Did a search on OHC SBC and it kicked this back. Not in the letter of the original post, but
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/ohc-conversions.150713/
Interesting post from one guy in there, @cleverlever, who is fairly low profile.

 

A couple more photos of Flatfire from Speedy Bill’s museum in Nebraska

 

Yes it was! A good feature write up is in Tex Smith's Flathead Ford book. Very innovative and awesome power from such a vintage engine...

 

Hello,

Exotic? Well, a Flathead motor was exotic as it was never a choice for our hot rod builds or purchases.
Oldsmobile and Chevy v8 motors were the choice of our neighborhood teenage friends in their trucks, sedans, and one fast 34 Ford 5 Window Coupe. They were simple to install with the multitude of adapter offers from almost every major accessory company and local speed shops. Take out the old motor, install any bigger v8 motor and instantly, more power over stock.

Yes, exotic Flathead was a name we did not use, as they were just a different motor. When I got my first purchase of a 1940 Ford Sedan Delivery, it came with a stock Flathead. It should have had a 348 Chevy motor as I had seen it in its original build form. But, the cost of the purchase of the newly created 348 powered hot rod was too much for a teenage bank account. We bartered back/forth until a compromise was reached. The sedan delivery with the 348 would have been the all purpose hot rod and surfing road trip/camping vehicle.

But, it was not to be in my future. A Flathead motor with about 80 hp was a sure start motor, reliable as we found out over thousands of miles of So Cal surf trips later. It even did not falter in Baja, Mexico using emergency Pemex gas when it was necessary. As it was the first one we had seen and owned in the salmon pink 1940 Ford Sedan Delivery, it was exotic.

Earlier in 1960, we had seen a full race Flathead motor in the Reath Automotive display area. Shiny fins on the heads, 2 carbs on top and a set of cool headers and wire looms on an engine stand. We did not give it much thought as we were in the throes of an SBC build. But, it did look nice. Exotic? Well, for me, yes.

A similar looking motor at Reath Automotive in Long Beach.

At the time, if the 1937 Chevy sedan with the 6 cylinder motor in the teenage group came rolling up to our driveway for a visit, it was not SBC powered. So, the interest in lifting the hood was not there and I did not do any maintenance on it as a little kid. I did not know what it looked like. There was no interest in Flathead v8 or 6 cylinder stock motors. Then we did get a stock Model A with a 4 cylinder Flathead motor and made it run. But, not a v8 conversion, although it was going to be an SBC motor in the Model A for our first dual purpose build.

Jnaki

But, with the purchase of a 40 Ford Sedan Delivery with a Flathead motor, now, it was learn and save for more activity using such a platform. Stock 80 hp, started easily every time in all kinds of weather, as it sat outside for daily parking space in our backyard. The road trips all over So Cal was a map of the best surf spots for teenage adventures. It all was possible with the reliability of the Flathead and low bank account savings… It just worked without spending much money other than for gas. And even that was provided by the kids I took to high school every day during the school year.

So, instead of a Chevy v8, would I have put in a more powerful Flathead motor? That powerful Flathead we saw at Reath Automotive would have been nice in the sedan delivery, but for that engine exchange to take place, why not just throw in a larger more powerful, Chevy v8? The sedan delivery did come at first sighting with a 348 Chevy motor and that is how the whole teenage scene started… the sound and power of a Chevy v8…
The alternative path for more horsepower...
Note:

As that exotic Flathead motor at Reath Automotive was front and center, it offered approximately 120 more horsepower as built. More, if I wanted another carb and a different cam. So, those steep hills along the coastline would have been a simple extra throttle cruising adventure, instead of a downshift, slow lane move, with the strong possibility of another downshift to 1st gear to make it up to the peak of the steep hill(s).

But, we were happy our simple one carb 80 hp Flathead was so reliable, with its no oil leak, smooth running, clean motor for our coastal road trips and campouts. Not your high-performance SBC motor, as noted, plus a new way to look at reliability and fun. YRMV
Many satisfied, happy miles of exploration and new adventures, although slow and steady wins the race...if there was a race... from 1960 to 65 was a good time for coastal adventures.