Could Edelbrock cast a flathead block

[rockfla]

Not to beat a dead horse or be contrary
And again IF you watch the process that Ferrari uses today to cast new (and old) engines, it would be very easy to do especially if a CAD drawing exist on a computer. NOW ,the cost to have such equipment OR the wide spread usage of such equipment may be a different story. AGAIN, Ferrari went from a CAD design to a 3D printing of the block (in some form of low heat plastic, then poured a harder higher heat tolerant molding wax in the 3D block for a negative of the block, Then melted out the 3D printed block, then did sand cast molds of the negative and cast the blocks. VERY simple and done primarily by computer and 3D printing (OR Negative 3D printing) and a 3D sand casting mold machine. Watch "How Its Made" supercar series. VERY slick operation. AN within this operation one would think that within the CAD program you could MAYBE make improvements to the original block with respect to thicknesses and such.

[flatheadmurre]

Originally Posted by rockfla

Not to beat a dead horse or be contrary
And again IF you watch the process that Ferrari uses today to cast new (and old) engines, it would be very easy to do especially if a CAD drawing exist on a computer. NOW ,the cost to have such equipment OR the wide spread usage of such equipment may be a different story. AGAIN, Ferrari went from a CAD design to a 3D printing of the block (in some form of low heat plastic, then poured a harder higher heat tolerant molding wax in the 3D block for a negative of the block, Then melted out the 3D printed block, then did sand cast molds of the negative and cast the blocks. VERY simple and done primarily by computer and 3D printing (OR Negative 3D printing) and a 3D sand casting mold machine. Watch "How Its Made" supercar series. VERY slick operation. AN within this operation one would think that within the CAD program you could MAYBE make improvements to the original block with respect to thicknesses and such.

To make a lost waxmold the size of a flathead block and get all out of it isn´t easy...
3D printing it in PLA and then heating it up enough to make it burn up is more likely to work.
Cores are made differently and chemicals are added to make it cure and be tuffer then the rest of the mold and you use steel wire to keep it in place.
How do you hang the cores in a lost waxmold ??
Its not as easy as it can look at first sight.

[aonemarine]

Originally Posted by flatheadmurre

To make a lost waxmold the size of a flathead block and get all out of it isn´t easy...
3D printing it in PLA and then heating it up enough to make it burn up is more likely to work.
Cores are made differently and chemicals are added to make it cure and be tuffer then the rest of the mold and you use steel wire to keep it in place.
How do you hang the cores in a lost waxmold ??
Its not as easy as it can look at first sight.

With core wires or remove the sleeves. Ive been staring at this 3d printed block for a couple months thinking about it. Time i GOT OFF MY BUTT AND POURED IT...

[flatheadmurre]

Originally Posted by aonemarine

With core wires or remove the sleeves. Ive been staring at this 3d printed block for a couple months thinking about it. Time i GOT OFF MY BUTT AND POURED IT...

You have a complete block done already with compensation for shrinking and all ?
If so youre on my list of heroes...thats a lot ot work !

[aonemarine]

Originally Posted by flatheadmurre

You have a complete block done already with compensation for shrinking and all ?
If so youre on my list of heroes...thats a lot ot work !

Not mine, its Flat32's. Had to up size alot of my equipment to be able to do it.
New flasks, vacuum chamber for the investment and new vacuum assist chamber for pouring the casting. Got it all together now but have a back log of other casting projects that Im trying to finish up. Still though I expect the casting to be a failure using the current materials. But you never know I may get lucky
Oh yea, its a model not full sized Im experimenting with every new printing filament that has come about. If its not one problem its another. But I enjoy it.

[V8COOPMAN]

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Then again, there's Tod Buttermore over on the "Model A" forum that actually does cast and machine his own Cleveland and Model A blocks, etc.....just sayin' that it can be done! Click the link. DD

http://351cleveland.wikifoundry.com/...ttermore+Block

[JSeery]

[QUOTE=V8COOPMAN;1312676]Then again, there's Tod Buttermore over on the "Model A" forum that actually does cast and machine his own Cleveland and Model A blocks, etc.....just sayin' that it can be done! Click the link. DD

Don't disagree one bit, you can purchase almost any modern block in aluminum, but they are not flathead v8s!

[JWL]

The Kirby aluminum Flathead block was not like our Ford blocks except it was a Flathead. Making a Flathead block would be a VERY difficult (expensive) project for ANY company. It would only be easy on television.

[Henry Floored]

One could simplify the casting a bit to make the job easier. How about eliminating those removable valve guides for one? I am assuming that they were done that way originally for the high volume production machinery to have access to machine the lifter bores. They cured that problem in the Lincoln 337's I believe.

[miller91]

http://www.donovanengines.com/donovan-model-d-block/

http://www.donovanengines.com/wp-con.../05/ModelD.pdf

Donovan makes the "D" block and accessories, an alloy knock-off of the A/B four. Of course a relatively much simpler casting than the tortuous 8 with the exhaust passages, etc. Anything can be done...but it's cost. The Donovan D is upwards of 10,000 dollars. A flathead V-8 would be easily double at this quality. Many damaged blocks may be saved, so even if you spent tons of money stitch welding an 8, it would still beat the French flatheads, never mind a CAD/modern cast project like the D. I think people write off too many salvageable blocks personally. These V-8's breed a level of passion bordering on fanaticism, which I feel myself. So be good to them, and explore block repair...and don't expect a whooped out, blown stroker tuned within an inch of it's life to last forever. I love a full race flatty, but...a grenade comes to mind.