In the planning stages of building a 31 Roadster, "circa 1939", with a '37 21 stud V8 drivetrain. Basically, someone that already had a banger hop-up and somehow got ahold of a V8 drivetrain and made the drivetrain swap. Keeping mechanical brakes, wire wheels, model a tail light, etc. Not an Eddie Meyer lake racing type, just an average joe motorhead that wanted the V8. I've been poking around here and elsewhere (studied as many of the 57 pages of the "1940's period correct hot rods" thread here), but man, pre 1941 is very murky for V8's to me. I was trying to date when all of the various V8 intakes were designed (and more importantly, when they were sold to the public) and it seems that all of them are circa 1941 or 1946. The only thing close is Thickstun, but the PM-7 falls into the same category as the rest, I believe. I've seen a few "pre-war" Thickstuns for sale, but I am hesitant as to their year of manufacture and intended purpose (car vs. boat). It seems that anyone running a V8 pre-41 would likely be doing so with a stock ford single Stromberg intake, unless they literally made their own in a garage somewhere. Is that assumption correct? As much as I'd love to do a 2x2 intake, it just doesn't seem like something that was really around yet 39-40 for the V8's. I had originally thought of getting one of the bolt-on Y's that allows 2 strombergs on the stock manifold, but it seems those are a 50's thing, overlooking the fact that 2 carbs on a stock manifold would probably have zero performance impact (or a negative one). Any thoughts or info on intakes would be appreciated. -Tim
I would forget the mechanical brakes. First they don't work as well as hydraulics (major safety issue). Second if you were involved in an accident where the brakes were suspect it would be hard to explain why you increased the horsepower but didn't upgrade the brakes. Charlie Stephens
The Edelbrock Slingshot came out in late '40 (possibly'41). I've read that Edelbrock built it based on observations of a Thickstun or tattersfield that he'd been running earlier. I seem to remember a weiand on a 21 stud in the P. R. C. thread that was pretty early.
My tall Weiand was made in 1939. I also have one of the first-gen Thickstuns, but I don't know the exact date they were made.
Thanks guys! I'll probably keep an eye out for a tall Weiand, and run the thickstun pm-7 that I found cheap in the mean time. I do like the look of the tower intakes... same with iron heads and stock studs like alchemy above.
The pre-war intakes that were manufactured in appreciable numbers are few. Throttle magazine was published in 1941. Intakes that were advertised were Meyers, Thickstun, Burns, Edelbrock, and Jack Henry. Edmunds made pre-war intakes as did Roof and Ord. The tall Wieand was probably a pre-war item. Rare ones are Alexander and Davies. Happy hunting.
do not try and polish a stock alum. intake... they have hot air channels jusr under the skin... took 1 to a polisher, then 2, and 3... he said don't come back... paint it black you devil...
Here is mine. ROOF. I used a 35 intake and cut it to make the Gen mount. Took a 28 Powerhouse gen and put in an Alternator from a Kabota. Have tested it and it works great! Engine is a 36.
Here are some discussions of the famous "technical History of the Racing Flathead," which you need to track down. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...rmarket-intake-manifolds.841795/#post-9320487 http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/flathead-heads-made-pre-war.830092/page-2#post-9242693 http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...anyone-got-any-info.66736/page-2#post-1061261
Jack Henry's are good looking pre-war manifolds. He ran a little advertisement in Throttle magazines.
The Jalopy Journal
