New Aluminum Flatheads

Does anyone have any info on the new Aluminum flatheads that Shadow Rods is bringing out? Their website is pretty vague about schedule...........slide

 

look on motor city flat heads. site they are making the new metal blocks , mark kirby is working with shadow rods . I cant wait ! they had a running motor at a show a month or two ago , last time I called about them, street rodder was there doing a write up on them!

 

Yeah, I cant wait either. It's good to hear flatheads aren't going away anytine soon. Flatheads forever

 

. I think flatheads are just going to get better till the end of the world ! and then this planet will be brought up on a hot rod web site across the universe ! best planet find ever ! look what I beamed home ! Ha ha

 

Well boys, I hope their wallet is deep enough to fund the product and inventory and every flathead lover is so in love as to spend what it will cost to own such a NEW flathead. If repop ARDUN head sets are worth $15K wonder what a new aluminum block is going to be selling for???
Funny thing how many big talkers shut up and go underground when the product appears and the guy who fronted the deal actually wants to make a profit!

 

You can find Motor City Flatheads here ...

http://www.motorcityspeedequipment.com/

 

I could see 10 grand for a short block ! I would like to know the numbers ? to see if I could afford one ? I can live in my coupe.

 

There is a post a few days back about this. The guy from Shadow Rods was gonna update HAMB about the progress on the blocks after talking to Mark.
The blocks are NOT Aluminum by the way. They are a standard flathead block with a few updates from Mark.

 

Hmmm they just showed their aluminum block on Spike network yesterday, and I saw one at the Hot Rod and restoration trade show a year ago. The one I saw at the HRR trade show was absolutley beautiful, as nice as any all out raceing block I have ever seen (Rodeck, Donovan, etc).

 

Okay, will one of these make the same power as a Rodeck or Donovan?
Seriosly, what's the point?
Educate me.

 

so....the block is aluminum? Sweet.. I stand corrected. This I gotta see.

 

Here's a pic from the hot rod trade show a year ago. I think they are talking around 12k cost.

 

i heard it run at the GNRS. it was friggin AWESOME!!!! they have made tons of improvements to it over the standard cast iron Ford motor. i forget what all they did but it sounded like it would be one hell of a killer motor. and strong too.

it was somethin else to hear it run through open zoomies. BAD***!!!

 

If 12K is a complete engine with the innards and all that's not too bad. I spoke to Mark a few years ago about this engine. We were talking alot about the intake manifold you see in this picture. It was nicknamed the "Nascar" manifold since similar technolgy was used to create it. There is a bunch of nice stuff inside there as I understand it. If it's the same this engine will go to 340 cubic inches easily. All of what they have learned about Flathead breathing technology is built right in. They were testing engines near 300hp and chevy stomping torque with these design features. Torque is the Flatheads strength in the first place. That is why they feel so *****y for their small displacement size.

What's the going rate for a fully built Flathead? Yes I know you can buy a $10 sbc crate engine that pulls 500 hp, but for some only a Flathead Ford will do. This engine will fill that need. I wish Ford Motor Co would get off their dead *** and underwrite some of this project to help the guys make this new Flatty even more compe***ive pricewise.

 

That would be a shame. I realize it would'nt be fair having them go "head to head". Maybe a weight break or a cl*** within a cl*** for the new Flattys. Mark told me these things are designed to hold power, ie supercharging or even different fuels. The heads and bottom end use good design and modern long reach fasteners to tie the engine together for the big numbers. In the case of a race engine 12K is not bad at all.

 

Also the SCTA needs to think about this. Do they want to keep nostalgia cl***es around. At some point the need for a new block will be necessary. The supply is finite. The typical sbc that runs at the "flats" is all aftermarket anyways. Why not let Flathead technology progress naturally. It would be interesting to see the all out potential of Henry's basic design.

 

This manifold was on my coupe at the road agent rumble 2004, don't think any one noticed.

 

from the pic, it looks like something edelbrock would come out with new..... kinda "performer" looking

 

How about we tie this all together. They are going to be offering their new block in both cast iron AND aluminum. And as to the point. Why not?
Can't wait to see what an all aluminum Ardun head blown flathead will sound like and see how much HP it will crank out. Skinny wallets need not apply.

Frank

 

Found some pic,Was expermenting with Rodchester 2 barrels at that time.

 

Yup. I'm north of 5K on a budget build and I'm not done yet.

It's getting soo hard to find a rebuildable block these days that an 'improved' one is not all that bad a deal. If you want a motor for 3K - they're out there - but they ain't a flathead!

 

Now if I could only win the lottery; I could buy one of aluminum, and one of cast iron.

Like they say in a lottery ticket ad up here; "When pigs fly ...."

 

Yes,$15K is a bargain.Vintage parts and machine shop costs,add up very quickly!

 

Dave Tatom is building one fo these beauties now ! He said the block alone is $14K. The whole engine package he is building for his customer is over $40K....

 

$40k for a flathead? **** me gently!....................OLDBEET

 

Laughing my *** off, OB!!

I agree - and, even if I DIDN'T, my wallet's not nearly fat enough for one of them puppies!! Not sure when those things will by ready - last time I "talked" (e-mail) with Mark's righthand man, Paul Schalk (sp?), I THINK they were still having issues with the sealing of the "threaded" sleeves. Perhaps they've gone to a more conventional flanged sleeve by now - but DUNNO.

I think I may just put hidden nitrous under the manifold of a girdled iron flattie and call it a day.

C'ya - RAY

 

Go back to mystery flathead pictures. maby 15 or 20 threads back

 

I saw a booth for aluminum flatties at Columbus Goodguys 2 years ago. I don't remember the particular company but it was really a pipe dream then. I asked the guy how much they would be and when they would be out and he couldn't answer either question.
I kinda wondered why he had a booth there....

I can't say I'm surprised on the cost end. The general hot rod public really doesn't realize what it cost to build even a regular Flat motor these days.