Thread: High Power Flathead

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Bob, That is interesting that some 21 stud blocks did have insert bearings. When did the 24 studs appear, 1939? My copy of "The V8 Affair" by Ray Miller gives some details on the engine specifications but not all. It seems from what is given that quite a few dimensions on the crank changed in 1939 (59A block) so I am guessing that is the earliest that the Merc crank would fit. Back in the 50s I remember several 59AB engines fitted with the 4" crank and as I recall the '41 Merc had the 3 3/16" bore while the Fords had only the 3 1/16" bore but after WWII both the Fords and Mercs had the same 3 3/16" bore 59AB blocks from '46 to '48. From '49-'52 the Fords again had the smaller 3 3/4" crank while the Mercs had the 4" stroke. A long time ago I had a '38(?) block which I do believe had insert bearings but only 21 studs. I bought it for $10 and planned to put it in a Model A but scrapped it when I realized it was only a 21 stud block and to my youthful mind would not be as good as the 24 stud engines in all the Hot Rod Magazine pictures but that is long ago and the block was later scrapped so that is only a moot point memory. Another useful technical book is "Rebuilding the Famous Ford Flathead" by Ron Bishop which is a paperback that was available from Tab Books, Inc. and it has some better tables of specifications.

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

Originally Posted by Don Shillady

When did the 24 studs appear, 1939?
Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

Correct, 1939.

Has anyone used this guys heads before? He is a local guy that makes them. They seem to be well thought out, 12% more volume of water, head bolt bosses are much stronger. Just wondering if anyone had any experience with them.
Ken

Ken, when I first heard of those the story was they were targeting the lakes racing crowd. Never have seen or heard of a set in use, there must be some out there though. About a year or so ago the tooling for those was up for sale. Seems I remember the original guys were in No. Cal. so apparently the guy near you bought the tooling?

Originally Posted by Bob Parmenter

Ken, when I first heard of those the story was they were targeting the lakes racing crowd. Never have seen or heard of a set in use, there must be some out there though. About a year or so ago the tooling for those was up for sale. Seems I remember the original guys were in No. Cal. so apparently the guy near you bought the tooling?

Bob, I have set #44, they really look nice. Some one, either this guy or some one else spent some time on them.
Ken

Nitrowarrior, Only 300 H.P.? Back in the fiftys 200 H.P. was considered hot and the 8CM fourdy shows above is one sweet flathead! Here are some pages from the Newhouse Special Handbook circa 1952 (the 14th Edition!). Over the years I penciled in the H.P. data for a high reving OHC Pinto 2000 and the tiny 1275 cc MG Midget engine but you can see that anything over 120 H.P. was semi-hot on the street for the time, 300 H.P. on the street would make fourdy king of the hill until about 1953!

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder