Now that's how to post on your opinion as contrary to another. I totally agree with you as far as that 50's early hot rod feel and not just sticking another crate engine in it. That's not what I'm doing. It is an SBC, but it fits the era that I am building for (the 60's). In fact, I have spent a ton more on this 283 than I would have on a crate engine or even rebuilding the flat that is in there. Did you know that a non-chrome dipstick, tube and extender is almost $60? I could have done the $5 chrome thing but that's not what I want. As far as power, I doubt this motor will make over 250 (a far cry from the 100-110 the flat made stock but still not a ton) I could have gone olds, pontiac, an ohv ford or many others that wouls have also fit the era I am building for, but I heard a Curtis Indy roadster with a 283 and fell in love with the sound. I know flats have a distinctive sound (as does the Y in my 'bird), but I have always wanted a 283. As for walking by this car at a show, I don't show my cars. I go to our club cruise once a month, but mainly I drive them. The T-bird is my daily driver. The fordor will be my wifes (that's what I tell her) daily driver. She wanted me to buy a Lexus or BMW, I talked her into this. As far as pics, there are some posted here... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=277993&page=6
The motor is a very mild 283, I doubt it could use much more than 500cfm. The manifold on the left was designed for circle track racing and if memory serves the cl*** we designed it for had a 500-525 cfm limit. Yes the car is from Ohio, do you know it or is there some tell-tale sign?
looks like a solid 32 being from Ohio...being from here i know how ****py some can be! The new frame looks well put together and i'm sure you'll have a great cruiser. I'm more of a "straight axle, cringe when i see potholes, warts and all look" kinda guy but i see what you're building isn't just a slapped together pos. Best of luck. if i was closer, i'd take the flattie off your hands!
I do not know the car.If the seat is black vinly pleated it was comman here years ago.The black dash with pinstripes was also comman around here.Most cars around here were built to be drivers not show cars.That would explain the later flathead.I remember Barry Lobecks 1932 Ford 2 door sedan that he had the bottom of the floorboards painted body color in the mid 70s.I could not believe he had done that.Most of the rodders around here worried more bout how they drove instead of how they looked.Course i am talking mids 1970s and earlier also.Looks like a great project for your wife.Hope to see more pics.I love the looks of your bird.
I didn't know ford made them for american cars either. Isn't a 4 barrel too much for a stock flathead?
I'm a real flathead guy. I've go two cars flathead powered, and a bunch of extra engines. I've never heard of a factory four barrel manifold for a flathead. Is it really possible that they made a factory four barrel mainfold in Canada? I find it hard to believe, but in this case, I'd love to be proved wrong.
I was just at flathead pauls, he does the big boy heads, he has one in the shop and he also has an adapter for a four barrel to a quadra jet. I'll get some pics of it if I can. I didn't pull it down and look at it, we were busy loadin stuff up, but I did see a flathead intake that looked polished with a four barrel bolted to it on one of the shelfs.
Hey digger, You ***umed wrong, I deleted a comment that was already covered in the posting and rather than repeating information that someone already posted and wasting space I deleted the comment. Now, I do know a few things about flatheads. I have been building, buying, and selling them for 15 years now. I am currently building another 296 incher now, 99 block, Potvin 3/8, original Edlebrock square letter heads, Edlebrock "SLINGSHOT", twin Stromberg 81's. .... The list goes on and on. But if I was to continue you would think I was exagerating or lying so I will stop now that you have put your foot in your mouth and leave it at that.
Man, your sure "touchy." I mixed you up with one of the others. 15 years ... humm, how about 45? Oh ... it is possible to delete a post so NOTHING shows.
Yep, I declare Bruce the winner. And for his prize I'll send him one of my Merc CAST IRON intake manifolds. Now here is where I have to admit to a serious error. The Merc intakes I have ARE cast iron, but they are ONLY 2 barrel! BUT they do have FOUR bolts though. (to hold the carb) The four barrel manifold that's hanging right above the cast ones is an Eldelbrock. (aluminum) I ran the four barrel on my '41 and with the small primaries and big secondaries - used a Holley - it was both smooth and reasonably economical.
Looks su****iously like an OFFY intake. One characteristic of the OFFY is (at least on mine and all the others Iv'e seen) that looking at the front of the engine, the generator mount is offset 7/8" to the left.
Quick update... I have had trouble trying to get this motor to turn so I decided to pull the heads and soak the pistons/rings with GM heat valve lube (usually unsticks anything). I am still soaking the motor, but discovered that it does appear to have the 4" crank. Luckily, one of the pistons was at the bottom of the bore so I stuck a ruler down there and it definitely came up closer to 4" than 3 3/4". Without pulling the pan to check the stamp and counterweight I am fairly convinced that it is the 4" (or there is no rod on that piston). That's the good news, the bad news is the small crack I found in the block running through one of the top head bolt 'bosses'. The bolt is at the top (closest to the intake) and is the second one back. I don't know enough about these motors to determine if the block is savable, but hope it is since it appears that the block is right around 3.18" bore. I checked it with calipers but will get a bore gauge in there once I get it rotating. Hopefully, this also means that the crank has not been turned.
No more bad news. That crack I thought I saw turned out to be the head gasket. One side stayed with the head when it came off, the other side stayed on the block and I didn't notice. Stupid, but I am much happier.
From the research I have done the EAB's were Ford and the EAC's were Merc. Other than this they are the same, but I am sure some of the falthead guru's can expound on this.
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