Hi i just picked up a Flathead intake and have no idea what or who its made by the only markings on it are " Central pattern and foundry Co,Chicago" Does anybody know any info about this it would be much appreciated.Many thanks Bob.
This is a streight out guess, but maybe it was made to mount the two Strombergs that came on the '40? Buick. I see only one has heat and the Buick had one real carburater and one that was more of an air valve secondary, with no idle circut or intermediet. Only of use at WOT
Really don't know other than its for a pre 49 engine. Don't belive its for a boat, as they usually sit at a angle and one carb flange is higher than the other. All buick strombergs that I have seen had a 4 bolt pattern. So leads me to believe its for a early hot rod.
I have a Buick Two - Two manifold and the Strombergs are three bolt same as a Ford. Overall size of the carb body is larger. Now i am not saying the manifold is for a Buick, of course. I am saying it is for some progressive two - two setup, hence the carb heat to only one-primary- carb. This is the same as the Buick in principal. Therefor I am guessing that it may have been made with adapting the Buick carbs to a Ford.
Nearly looks like they have copied an original intake and just added the front carb mounting pad on risers. Interesting intake, looks little ugly as they havent made the front mount the same as the rear, gives it a 'homemade' look. cool none the same.
Hi, Yes it does look like someone cast a second mount on it but when you look real close it has been made like that.It definately is for a early ford flathead as i know the motor it came off .If the foundry casting logo is on it surely they must have done a run of them and not just a one off.I agree it does look a little odd in the fact that the 1st runner is "round"in affect against the rear one which is a little boxy/stock looking.bob.
I have asked a mate of mine if he has heard of it, as he has a few intakes and has alot of knowledge on them.
Look at the thing. The rear carb mount has exhaust heat for drivablity on the street. Just like stock manifolds. The front mount has no exhaust heat riser because it is made for use under higher throttle openings. See race manifolds do not have carb heat. Street manifolds do. This is an attempt to have the best of both worlds. Pretty rare I bet and way cool.
Pretty neat stuff. Keep us posted on what this turns out to be. I've never seen one before. I'm not bragging, but I'm kinda into flathead intakes and that is the first one I've ever seen. Could you take a shot if it from the bottom?
I think Rich Fox is right. Who(m) ever designed it, was trying to get heat for the street with the rear carb. & a "cold" intake charge with the front. It does not appear to be an add on for the rear carb is too far back. You got a pretty neat & (I would ***ume) rare intake there.
I think its basic design is an artifact of a different origin...look at the notch in the front runners. Ford supplied hu****ous gnerators requiring setback carbs for use on ambulances and such...some of the Ford 1930's oversize generators had a stepped design that could use just that notch. Other suppliers also supplied non-Ford big generator rigs for special vehicles, and by the forties there was even an (also gigantic) rectified alternator for emergency vehicles... I've never found a Ford listing for the setback manifolds, and I think I've got more early V8 catalogs than anyone else I know...so they likely were supplied from outside. I think this is based on tooling for a 1930's-'40's Ford based emergency vehicle, and someone clever dragged out the old stuff and modified the basic tooling for the second tower to cash in on the speed equipment market.
Great ideas guys this is turning out to be really interesting. Whats been puzzling me is the fact that someone has commisioned the foundry to cast this up as is evidenced by the foundry castining mark that would imply that someone has the rights/design to it ,surely the foundry haven't tried to do it on it's own especially if it were to be Ford design without consent?. I'll try and find out more about the foundry as there is no company listed as that now in Chicago. Bob
Another dating point: The two plugs for vacuum are typical pre-'39 or so Ford. This might set original date, OR just be careful provision for easy retrofit.
Spent the last few hours trawling the net can't seem to find anything other than the fact that the foundry/company got done in 41 over some dodgy aluminium!!.bob.
just been informed that J C Whitney might have sold these "No name" manifolds years ago? Does this ring any bells with anyone? Other than that just turning up blanks.Bob
update:It seems that it must have been made prior to oct41 as this is the last bit of info i can find on the company that cast it due to them being stopped from trading for being caught using undeclared alluminium (unless anyone knows otherwise)which would tally with what Bruce said reguarding the vac*** take-offs identifying it prior to 1939.Definitaley a mystery but interesting all the same.Bob.
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