Thread: Installing a blower on a flathead

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Looks like the shifter I had in my 67 Mustang. Is it?

It's one I got off ebay...supposedly for a 63-65 Falcon. But it is similar to many Ford products of that era. Mustang, Galaxie, Falcon, etc.

I was wondering where you went since you haven't posted since last year 12/31/10. Looking forward to more updates.

Putting a cut-out on each exhaust...waiting for the dropped tie-rod ends to get here from Speedway. They were on back-order, but shipped last week. Need the extra 2" to clear the exhaust extensions and to clear the pan. Ready to drive it after that to check out the 4-speed. After a couple of weeks, I'll install the blower and see how it goes. I have a 4-barrel (Holley 390) on first, then a Holley 600, and finally, 3x2's to set up. Should be interesting! I'll send more pix as it gets closer to installation of the blower.

Sorry to be so quiet recently....got a new part-time job with a big box DIY store on weekends. Also working on another project requiring a patent attorney (not automotive related), so my truck project has been put on the back burner. I will try to finish the exhaust system next week and get it back on the road. Thanks for your patience.

Update on the truck. Got the engine fired up and the tranny shifts into gear (still on the jackstands, though). Hooked up the exhaust system and today I'll hook up the cut-out cables and drop the truck on the ground for a drive. I'll be installing the blower in June...want to drive it some since it's been down for months! Pix shows the driver's side exhaust and the oxygen sensor for the A/Fgauge.Oxygen sensor.JPGs side exhaust.jpg

Good to see you back among us.

Originally Posted by Ford Guy

Update on the truck. Got the engine fired up and the tranny shifts into gear (still on the jackstands, though). Hooked up the exhaust system and today I'll hook up the cut-out cables and drop the truck on the ground for a drive. I'll be installing the blower in June...want to drive it some since it's been down for months! Pix shows the driver's side exhaust and the oxygen sensor for the A/Fgauge.Attachment 49636Attachment 49637

I can't believe I missed this thread. Sweet looking set up. I can't wait for the youtube vid of the first burn out.

Thanks for the update! Missed seeing you around here! I'll bet you can't wait for June!

Yea...I've got to go to work now (my three day week - Fri, Sat, Sun) but I get 4 days off to work on the truck. I have the Edelbrock heads with the big chambers, the stud kit, copper gasket set and just need to get the 6-rib belt when I mount the blower. Need to hook up various gas and vacuum lines to finish up. I'm really close now. Just need to drive and see how the T-10 does. Later...

Originally Posted by Ford Guy

Yea...I've got to go to work now (my three day week - Fri, Sat, Sun) but I get 4 days off to work on the truck. I have the Edelbrock heads with the big chambers, the stud kit, copper gasket set and just need to get the 6-rib belt when I mount the blower. Need to hook up various gas and vacuum lines to finish up. I'm really close now. Just need to drive and see how the T-10 does. Later...

OOOOOoooo.. I wish I had that schedule! Now I'm on the road for 2 weeks minimum! Then Home for a week. It kills the car building time!

The truck is on the ground again....put in reverse and 1st gear and it moves. Haven't taken it on the road yet, but that will come tomorrow. Probably need to adjust the clutch a little....grinding when going into reverse. Cutouts sound good and loud....little trouble with the control cables, but hey, it's a truck!

I notice I'm having to adjust the throwout bearing up against the pressure plate fingers in order to get enough stroke to release the clutch. I also had to do that with the previous tranns. This means my bearing is constantly turning. Not a good thing, but i'm not sure what to "fix". Any ideas?

I ran flatheads more years back then I would like to admit and one of the things I recall was that the throwout bearing was almost a 'consumable'. Now, if I were to have sat and thought about it "back then", might have figured out a way to add more "throw" at the cross shaft - that is changed the ratio between pedal throw and the final movement of the push rod. I have read the entire post, but don't recall if you discussed how you are making this operate, but unless it's hydraulic, you will have to make your throw changes with that cross shaft. Also, if you are using a 3 finger clutch rather then a diaphragm style, you will need to make sure each of those 'fingers' is being contacted at the same time. There used to be an adjustment - a bolt in each finger - that could be set for height. If it's a diaphragm type, and Mercury's as well as pick ups used them, those many individual fingers had to be contacted evenly as well. That diaphragm clutch was not the favorite of racers - you couldn't disassemble and add springs or change the existing that were too weak (we used valve springs for that) nor did they have the centrifugal weights to add clamping force

I'm using the stock lever arrangement for this set-up. Yea, I thought about it after I wrote the post and figured out I would have to make a new clutch actuation arm with a different ratio to move the bearing further. I remember looking at the fingers and they seemed to be wearing the same, so I assume they are adjusted fairly close to the same. Since the bearing was brand new less than 50 miles ago, I just re-installed it. The pressure plate is the "long" style. Guess I'll just drive it and see what happens 'cause I really don't want to pull that engine/tranny out again this soon. I'm really going to look into a new clutch shaft though. I have a buddy in Orlando that can weld me up something that will work. Thanks for the reply!