Thread: High Power Flathead

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Well you could buy a french flathead block and look for some Ardun heads but I doubt that that could be done for even $14,0000. For unusual nostalgia I think the Ardun setup is the top of the line but that is more expensive, although I would be glad to get 250 HP and add a main bearing girdle and extra large aftermarket main caps and take what I got with 3 5/16" x 4 and an Isky cam. Save some money for a good transmission since I don't think a stock Ford three speed would last long behind that engine.
(http://www.oogabooga.ca/oogaboogapag40.htm) A hemi would be in range but this goal is apparently for a powerful but unusual engine. I would look for an early Cadillac engine ('53 or later) and end up with what would be an expensive version of what could be done for far less with a 383 SBC crate engine but the Caddy would be unusual. In my memories of the mid '50s no one I new ever saw an Ardun setup outside of pictures in Hot Rod Magazine but on the street a '53 Caddy engine with chrome valve covers was the creme de le creme even after SBC 327s were available just because of the Cadillac name and if you added Caddy hubcaps what more could you want?

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder