AHQ: Reproduction flathead V8s?

When Ford finally stopped production of the flatty in '53, it had been a popular engine for hot rodders for years, & would continue to be well into the '80s. What were the chances for an aftermarket company to buy up the tooling &/or blueprints of the flatty & keep it in (limited) production for rodders, customizers, & restorers? Could this apply also to the Ardun hemi truck engine?
 
Considering 10 minutes search found me every part of the engine except for the block, including cast parts like intake manifolds and cylinder heads, I'd be very surprised if there isn't a specialty manufacturer making engine blocks.
 
When Ford finally stopped production of the flatty in '53, it had been a popular engine for hot rodders for years, & would continue to be well into the '80s. What were the chances for an aftermarket company to buy up the tooling &/or blueprints of the flatty & keep it in (limited) production for rodders, customizers, & restorers? Could this apply also to the Ardun hemi truck engine?
OTL
Emi-sul1.jpg


Brazil used an OHV Hemi conversion of the smaller Ford flathead

http://www.curbsideclassic.com/auto...d-brazils-first-v8-from-flathead-to-hemihead/

For the full story on how Simcas from France, taken over by Chrysler, ran Ford Flatheads til 1969
 
OTL
Emi-sul1.jpg


Brazil used an OHV Hemi conversion of the smaller Ford flathead

http://www.curbsideclassic.com/auto...d-brazils-first-v8-from-flathead-to-hemihead/

For the full story on how Simcas from France, taken over by Chrysler, ran Ford Flatheads til 1969
I've seen the story before, & I like it.:cool: (If I was building a period rod or custom, I'd try & get one.)

It has drawbacks: never seen in U.S. (which I wanted), only applied to the 136ci (AFAIK) so not on the 239/255 (which I wanted), & hard for U.S. users to get parts for (even assuming anybody's using the 136 anyhow, which I doubt).

Thx for the link anyhow. I didn't know, or recall, the 136 had been punched out to 153ci, or about the Pasteur hemi head.:cool:
Considering 10 minutes search found me every part of the engine except for the block, including cast parts like intake manifolds and cylinder heads, I'd be very surprised if there isn't a specialty manufacturer making engine blocks.
If somebody is, I'd be very surprised. Every article on building a flatty I've seen says the blocks are all NOS. Some reman may get done, but... There's really a lot of junkyard blocks out there... Now, as for the heads, pistons, & such, yeah, that's mostly new. (Somebody, last I heard, even had the Ardun head repopped.)

What I'm after is nearer a "flatty crate engine" from somebody. (If Simca had been listening...;))
 
Last edited:
If you had the cash I'm sure you could get a block CNC milled out of aluminium with cast iron cylinder liners.....

But unless you specifically needed a flathead, you would probably be better off going for a Windsor or Cleveland block?
 
If you had the cash I'm sure you could get a block CNC milled out of aluminium with cast iron cylinder liners.....
:eek::eek: If you're Keith Black, maybe. I'm after something the average customizer/rodder could buy off the shelf.
But unless you specifically needed a flathead, you would probably be better off going for a Windsor or Cleveland block?
Doesn't have the nostalgia look, or feel, or sound. (Not everybody wants a Nailhead.;) Or a Chrysler.;))
 
:eek::eek: If you're Keith Black, maybe. I'm after something the average customizer/rodder could buy off the shelf.

Doesn't have the nostalgia look, or feel, or sound. (Not everybody wants a Nailhead.;) Or a Chrysler.;))

Around 20 years ago, Don Ferguson? had plans to make an AL block for the Ford, don't think it went anywhere.

The other problem, was that the 392 Hemi was Physically a huge motor
1958-chrysler-300d-392-hemi-12.jpg


1954-Chrysler-Hemi-331.jpg

over 29"
and Buick 322 almost as much
Buick-V8-black.jpg


A flathead was far narrower and shorter, easier to squeeze into the Model A and Ts for hotrods, not that it didn't stop some from going nuts
model-t-twin-supercharged-rod-hadfield-6.jpg

here, being a Boss 429 Semi-Hemi with twin blowers
 
Last edited:
Around 20 years ago, Don Ferguson? had plans to make an AL block for the Ford, don't think it went anywhere.

The other problem, was that the 392 Hemi was Physically a huge motor
1958-chrysler-300d-392-hemi-12.jpg


1954-Chrysler-Hemi-331.jpg

over 29"
and Buick 322 almost as much
Buick-V8-black.jpg


A flathead was far narrower and shorter, easier to squeeze into the Model A and Ts for hotrods, not that it didn't stop some from going nuts
model-t-twin-supercharged-rod-hadfield-6.jpg

here, being a Boss 429 Semi-Hemi with twin blowers
Interesting, but getting a bit off-topic...

I will say, tho, the compactness of the flatty does make it attractive for use in (frex) Anglias or mid-'60s to late '70s Vauxhalls (Firenza?) or Cortinas & such. Or the early CJs. (The '40s fat fenders or early '50s are so heavy, I'd want a 392 or Nailhead, if I was building one.)
 
In my opinion, the only application favoring a flathead cylinder design is a (relatively) low output air cooled aircraft radial. Here, the usual low RPM required for direct propeller drive virtually eliminated the flathead's handicap of lower volumetric efficiency, while the substantial reduction of engine's diameter and installed frontal area (as compared with the usual radial using overhead valves and rocker boxes) and ease of cooling (with NACA cowling) significantly reduced drag compared with horizontally opposed engines of comparable displacement (here, flatheads could be applied also, but without the weight savings and cooling drag reduction, displacement for displacement available with a radial).

Ideal low cost engine for wartime trainers.

Dynasoar
 
Last edited:
Very much missing the point, I'm afraid. I intended this, as said, more as a rodder/customizer "crate engine" than as a continuing application.
It's not about efficiency, after all, plenty of modern Inline fours make far more power.

But they don't look good, and certainly don't sound as good.
It's one sweet exhaust note
 
It's not about efficiency, after all, plenty of modern Inline fours make far more power.

But they don't look good, and certainly don't sound as good.
It's one sweet exhaust note
Right on both counts. (Tho I can imagine a T-bucket with a Ford 201, except I'd probably want an OHV conversion & twin-plug head...;) And an MGB or Miata with a Quad 4 wouldn't be wrong.;) {Truth to tell, tho, I'd rather the Range Rpver or Morgan 4.4 V8 in either one.})
 
Top