That's an odd one, I've never seen that on a flathead. If I were to guess I'd say it was part of a heater, like an advanced old manifold heater.
Is the cap on top a vent or is it closed? I'd guess it's some kind of primitive heat riser, but I'll wait for Bruce to chime in on this one... Flatman
I'd say part of a manifold heater, but that's just a guess....assuming it's only partially complete. What side of the engine?? Most manifold heaters were on the passenger side. OK...I looked more closely at the picture and see it's on the drivers side.... I have no clue...
Ohh that's an easy one, that's one of the old ford flathead exhaust do-hickies... or was it a thing-a-ma-bob.... of hell, what is heck is it?
I'm not sure what it DOES but the I'm pretty sure what it IS. The parts look to be from an old fashioned hand drill (brace?) . An extra long bit bent into the shape of a trumpet with the ball( that you would brace against your chest) on top. The tapered part is where the bit would get tightened into the chuck.The finned thing... Not too sure... and WHY? Chalk it up to "Folk Art", I guess.
The trumpet shaped tube is too thin to be leaned on in another life. The top is stamped sheet metal also. I cannot feel any holes up under the cap. No moving parts that I can detect yet. Sure is installed good on the manifold. May have to pull the manifold to investigate more.
They were used in the thirtys for cooking and warming food or heating water for coffee or tea. People used them when they travel. The flat plate on top is for the pan.
really...flathead 34 nailed it....It was an after market OKIE device, set your can of beans on it.......go for a drive,...Ding ding!!! Dinner's ready!
Whoa, I was way off ! After living in the jungle too long everything starts to look like a tool that doesn't need electricity! Yeah, Flathead 34 ... cooking HAS to be it. My dad had one of those contraptions that clipped onto his '60 Chevy exhaust manifold. It was shaped like a T bone steak with a separate baked potato compartment. It bolted together super tight. The drive to Spokane from Missoula produced a fine feast. It came with a cookbook (with mileage estimates) titled MANIFOLD DESTINY ! The White Elephant probably still has some dust ones in the back....
They used to sell something that looked like that in the U.K. it was called The Geferator or something like that. It was supposed to improve fuel economy. On a v engine there should be one on each manifold
just found this so registered to reply, yep it was a geferator when sold in uk in 80's, idea was to allow fresh air in when inlet stroke started and exhaust valve was still open, brought down emissions and increased low down power/ smoothness, there's a vid on youtube of an XR3i with 2 units fitted, you can see them from about 38 secs for a few seconds http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2AduSENTEI some manufacturers fitted them as well for a while, think volvo and mazda on some models but can't be sure
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