Featured Features Tom Cobbs: Flathead Homicide

A few questions; maybe I missed it from previous posts, but what transmission/s did they run?
Does anyone happen to know the compression ratio and cam specs?
And not trying to be a smart-ass, just truly want to know, were they Jahns pistons?

 

Come on man, you’re killing us with this stuff.
And while the engine was not in any production vehicles Chevrolet, undoubtedly through Duntov’s****istance, made sure they were available to speed merchants for development.

 

Huh, I didn't even think about the engine not being available yet.
I just****umed the Edelbrock tri-power intake he used was for small block Chevys. Was it not? Was it adapted from an Oldsmobile or similar one? Or did Vic Edelbrock get to work with it in advance as well?

 

Can't wait.

I mean I can wait.

 

After seeing how he took pictures, I can only imagine what kind of mad scientist level of notes are hiding in those notebook scans.

 

Thinking that Edelbrock intake manifold was their first 3/2 intakes (355), the 265 Tom screwed together was pretty innovative, he had to have been really well connected.

 

Incredible!

 

@DDDenny I enlarged one of the photos and sure enough it looks to be an Edelbrock C355. Had to have been one of the very first ones; if not pre-production. Apparently those were for just the 265ci motors.

 

Truly magnificent, this realm of Tom Cobb's, that is being revealed, through this element of the H.A.M.B.
We are all so fortunate, to be able to see and learn about his world!
Thanks @Ryan

 

Ironic the last photo shows a flathead similarly equipped, put aside but destined by many in various configurations to rise again for decades in the future.

 

Wow 1954, wonder when Chevy started developing the small block, and who all was involved. They wouldn’t give just anyone an engine in the development stage. WOW

 

This is like going to the University of Hot Rods. The lesson plan is fantastic.

 

Ed Kelly was the head of Chevrolet Engineering in 1951 when design work was begun. Cole came on board as the new chief engineer in ‘52 and the work changed dramatically, he wanted the engine to be economical to produce, simple to work on and especially lightweight. In effect it was to be the antithesis of the Caddy V8 he had developed earlier with Harry Barr.

 

I was curious about the de-stroke and after seeing the large round exhaust ports in the head I guessed that Tom used larger valves and, since the engine is supercharged , he opened up the combustion chambers to improve flow. a 3.810 bore with a 2.900 stroke gives about 264 Cubic in. I'd love to see a pic of the bottom and intake side of those heads.

 

To this day, there is a massive aftermarket that is riding on the shoulders of all of the guys mentioned and as much as I respect guys like Yunick, Jenkins, Lingenfelter and everyone between and after it's those GM engineers, the Edelbrocks, Hilborns, Cobbs, Duntovs, etc. that we salute, otherwise we might all still be driving around in 6 cylinder powered cars.
And all the guys that still worship the "six poppers", please send no cards and letters, I'll be kept busy with the Caddy, Olds and flathead guys!

 

damn

I'm interested in the crank driven adapter, looks welded up, were there similar set ups for the flatheads?

 

Yeah, one of the first things I noticed too was the hogged-out exhaust ports. And also the casting marks on the heads; these were I suppose essentially the same heads that the later low-performance 2-barrel small blocks used. So there had to be a bunch of cylinder head work involved. And it's doubly amazing to me that Tom Cobbs documented all this stuff through his photos. How many people back then would have thought about doing that?
Every one of these Tom Cobbs photo posts is an absolute historical treasure. I'll be waiting for a forthcoming book.
Seriously.

 

I just hope your Will and Testament has your superior collection going to Peterson or some noteworthy museum to be kept forever. You have an amazing collection of really cool history.
Thanks, keep those posts coming.

 

I wonder how welded up the intake was. Those nozzles look a bit vertical. The fuel pump and tach driven off the mag shaft, too kool. Flathead trans pattern surely didn't mean a walnut shell Ford trans, likely a popular pattern for racing parts. The whole engine seems to exude something akin to superior aircraft engineering simplified.

 

Simply amazing! The gift that just keeps giving! Thanks again!
Thank you @theHIGHLANDER for pointing out the fuel pump driven off the mag. I was wondering about fuel delivery.

 

WORD

 

T = THE
O = OLD
M = MASTER


C = COMPLETELY
O = ORIGINAL
B = BLOCKS
B = BUILT
S = SPECIAL

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