Price of FH parts

[Krylon32]

Got the latest Speedway catalogue today and I always go to the Flathead parts. A couple things that caught my eye was the price of Offenhauser intakes and heads. The real winner was the SCAT complete rotating assembly priced at 3800.00. Wasn't that long ago it was 1999.00. Take good care of those Merc cranks and rods. Times are changing

[Tim Ayers]

Originally Posted by Krylon32

Got the latest Speedway catalogue today and I always go to the Flathead parts. A couple things that caught my eye was the price of Offenhauser intakes and heads. The real winner was the SCAT complete rotating assembly priced at 3800.00. Wasn't that long ago it was 1999.00. Take good care of those Merc cranks and rods. Times are changing

Gary,

Funny, I did the exact same thing. As soon as I saw the price, I regretted not buying a kit when it was $1,999.

I'm also not sure what is going on with Offy. As much as I appreciate them doing things "the old fashion way" [their words on Instagram] and would like to support them, I wonder if they will eventually price themselves out of the market.

Both of their offset gen. brackets were $45 for years. Latest price, $95 each.

[Ken/Alabama]

Originally Posted by Krylon32

Got the latest Speedway catalogue today and I always go to the Flathead parts. A couple things that caught my eye was the price of Offenhauser intakes and heads. The real winner was the SCAT complete rotating assembly priced at 3800.00. Wasn't that long ago it was 1999.00. Take good care of those Merc cranks and rods. Times are changing

Summit has them listed for $2149.99.

[Tim Ayers]

Originally Posted by Ken/Alabama

Summit has them listed for $2149.99.

Dang, that's crazy. I wonder what's up with that? That is a huge price difference.

[tubman]

The "Third Generation" at Speedway. It's a family business rule :

The first generation builds the company and makes it successful.

The second generation keeps it going, making a good living.

The third generation sucks all of the money out of it and essentially ruins it.

[deuce_roadster]

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The businesses are there to make money and will charge the max that they can. Not just flathead parts, sadly everything has gone up. I sometimes wonder if it is like they want to price some things out of the market like what happened with paints. When I was restoring license plates a few years ago, I asked for a quart of a white enamel, (it used to be the cheapest). After I got it mixed and was surprised by the price, the guy told me I could have bought urethane for less. Said PPG wants to quit making plain enamel so when people stop buying it, they will.
I wonder how many sets of flathead heads they sell compared to 10 or 15 years ago?

[Krylon32]

Offy is no longer owned by the family. Higher foundry prices plus their antiquated machining techniques and high profit margins may price them out of business. Their 5272 Flathead bellhousing which I bought countless 100's used to retail at around 295.00 is now listed at 654.00

[rockfla]

Originally Posted by tubman

The "Third Generation" at Speedway. It's a family business rule :

The first generation builds the company and makes it successful.

The second generation keeps it going, making a good living.

The third generation sucks all of the money out of it and essentially ruins it.

Tubman
You sound like my best friend.....Verbatim!!!!

[sidevalve8ba]

Who owns Offy now?

[deuce lover]

Originally Posted by sidevalve8ba

Who owns Offy now?

Here is what came up when I Googled it.May not be current.



Offenhauser Sales Corporation is an American manufacturer of racing, custom car and performance automotive parts founded around 1946 by Fred C. Offehhauser, nephew of Fred H. Offehhauser, co-designer of the Offy racing engine.[2] As of 2016, the third generation President of the company is Fred C. "Tay" Offenhauser, grand nephew of founder Fred C. Offenhauser.[1][3][2] After working with his uncle Fred H. Offenhauser in the 1930s and 1940s, Fred C. served the US Navy during World War II, and returned home to found his speed parts business. The company is unrelated to the Offy or Offenhauser racing engine, and after a suit over the use of the name, Offenhauser Sales Corporation was allowed to use the family name, but not the racing engine nickname "Offy".[2]

[slowforty]

Evidently Speedway has to pay for the new Museum Addition.

[Farley's34]

It's EVERYWHERE! Last year I bought a TANKS 32 fuel tank part number TNK-32Z-S FOR $350.99 from Summit Racing, last week I bought another $434.99.

[busmania]

Being new to these cars (bought my first Flathead in October) I just kind of assumed this is how it is. I think I’ll be into my engine build about 5k and that’s me putting it together using original merc crank I got for almost free, new pistons, new cam, machine work, edelbrock heads (bought today from speedway), strombergs etc. it’s getting pricey but I just kind of accepted it for what it was when I started this project.

[Tim Ayers]

Originally Posted by busmania

Being new to these cars (bought my first Flathead in October) I just kind of assumed this is how it is. I think I’ll be into my engine build about 5k and that’s me putting it together using original merc crank I got for almost free, new pistons, new cam, machine work, edelbrock heads (bought today from speedway), strombergs etc. it’s getting pricey but I just kind of accepted it for what it was when I started this project.

Hey, sounds good. I'm not kidding when I say rejoice in a $5K rebuild with that parts list.

[Newc]

Pricing themselves out of business-they are. Newc

[swedishsteel]

Originally Posted by Newc

Pricing themselves out of business-they are. Newc

Yup. Got a new Speedway catalog the other day and paged through, especially the Flathead section, was shocked at the prices and the catalog promptly went in the recycle. Used to go to Speedway first when looking for stuff, but seems their prices increased more so than some other vendors. They do have quick shipping.

[Ol' Ron]

Last year I helped a friend of mine put together a 258 for his 1947 F-1. Local shop bored and fitted Egge pistons installed the rotating assy, Valve job with EAB cam & Heads (owner supplied) Max VP did the transmission Stock intake and dist (8ba). Engine was 3500, trans 1500 While all this was going on, rewired the truck (6V) new brakes. Truck was on the road before the snow hit and it's a real pleasure to drive, power is more than adequate. All the suspension is under the gun this winter. First test the "Weston Andover hill) and MPG. Maybe you don't need a 3800 dollar rotting assy.
Gramps

[47topless]

Originally Posted by busmania

Being new to these cars (bought my first Flathead in October) I just kind of assumed this is how it is. I think I’ll be into my engine build about 5k and that’s me putting it together using original merc crank I got for almost free, new pistons, new cam, machine work, edelbrock heads (bought today from speedway), strombergs etc. it’s getting pricey but I just kind of accepted it for what it was when I started this project.

Interesting, thank you for posting this. Glad I saw this before making an offer on the used heads you have listed in the swap meet section.

[busmania]

Originally Posted by 47topless

Interesting, thank you for posting this. Glad I saw this before making an offer on the used heads you have listed in the swap meet section.

So you’re saying I sabotaged my own sale? lol. I think my edmunds are over priced. What do you think they are worth?

[Ronnieroadster]

I'm amazed how some feel the cost of parts today are out of hand. For us this is certainly a hobby. At times we forget the company's actually offering items for sale we use for this great hobby are doing this so they earn a return on the cost associated with what they offer. Materials, tooling, machinery, labor, a building to do everything in the cost related to every aspect of business has to be considered.

Here we are in 2023 and we can still purchase new parts for our Ford flatheads as well as the parts to restore our Ford cars without much difficulty. Who would have imagined so long ago that in the 21st century this would be possible.

I for one have no problem paying for the parts when needed and I'm glad places like Speedway, Carpenter and others have taken the time to offer and also make items we all can use. We of course each have a choice on what we buy and what we use. If the items offered by many company's were not available this hobby we are enjoying would certainly have died a slow death by now.

Ronnieroadster
Ronnieroadster

[Krylon32]

Ronnie Roadster. Don't get me wrong I was just commenting on how a part could take an 1800 dollar price increase in one catalogue cycle. I was an Offenhauser distributor for many years but when they changed hands I think their business mission also changed?

[Ronnieroadster]

Originally Posted by Krylon32

Ronnie Roadster. Don't get me wrong I was just commenting on how a part could take an 1800 dollar price increase in one catalogue cycle. I was an Offenhauser distributor for many years but when they changed hands I think their business mission also changed?

Its the way a new owner might stay in business' going forward. The owner needs to see a return on investment. Offys new prices are certainly a lot higher however take a look as an example at what H&H has for prices. Its the reality of what its costing for the castings and machine work for limited production items.

[KiWinUS]

Originally Posted by Ronnieroadster

I'm amazed how some feel the cost of parts today are out of hand. For us this is certainly a hobby. At times we forget the company's actually offering items for sale we use for this great hobby are doing this so they earn a return on the cost associated with what they offer. Materials, tooling, machinery, labor, a building to do everything in the cost related to every aspect of business has to be considered.

Here we are in 2023 and we can still purchase new parts for our Ford flatheads as well as the parts to restore our Ford cars without much difficulty. Who would have imagined so long ago that in the 21st century this would be possible.

I for one have no problem paying for the parts when needed and I'm glad places like Speedway, Carpenter and others have taken the time to offer and also make items we all can use. We of course each have a choice on what we buy and what we use. If the items offered by many company's were not available this hobby we are enjoying would certainly have died a slow death by now.

Ronnieroadster
Ronnieroadster

Well said Ronnie. I couldn’t agree more. The low volume of these parts also adds to the cost today. Cheers. Tony

[47topless]

The rise in the cost of parts is especially problematic to those who are in the business of working on these old cars for others. They are the ones who are getting hurt on their bottom line. The hobbyist isn't affected much. If they want something, they probably have plenty of money to buy it.
I am hopeful, that an upside to the escalation in parts prices, will be, all the cranky old parts hoarders will see a nice benefit to reducing some of their parts inventory, that they have stashed away for years, and put back them back into circulation.

[Tim Ayers]

I think the spirit of this post was about the dramatic price increases found in the Speedway catalog for flathead parts.

I understand production cost have gone up, so the end product would need to go up as well. Companies have every right to make a profit.

I believe Ronnie mentioned the prices of heads from H&H vs. Offy's.

First looking at Speedway and using the SCAT assembly going up $1,800. Someone pointed out that it is still being sold in the Sumit catalog for the old price of $1,999.

Either:
1) Speedway is buying brand new stock and their wholesale cost went up
2) Sumit still has old stock and has decided to sell them for their original retail price
3) Speedway is testing the waters to see how high they can go before customers baulk.

I'm not sure, but I do find the price difference between Sumit and Speedway particularly odd.

H&H sells heads that sell, I'm assuming, in much lower volumes than a set of Offy's. I say this by what I see out there on motors. Next show, look to see how many new Navarro or Sharp heads you see on an engine.

Right, wrong or indifferent, I can understand why these heads cost $1,500 due to low volume and small production runs.

Hobbyist or not, I don't think anyone likes paying more than they should.

I find it really surprising the something like an Offy generator mount increased in price by 100%.

I truly do appreciate the fact that parts are still readily available for the engines that we all love.

I would really like to know, even though we may never know, what is really behind the dramatic price increases found in Speedway's latest catalog.

God bless the flatheads and keep 'um runnin'.

[flatjack9]

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I bought a set of Ross pistons from Summit for $200 less than other sellers and they are direct ship from Ross.

[Newc]

All right; Now clean off those show WALLS and sell those parts. I've seen those show WALLS.. Newc

[SoCalCoupe]

Originally Posted by busmania

Being new to these cars (bought my first Flathead in October) I just kind of assumed this is how it is. I think I’ll be into my engine build about 5k and that’s me putting it together using original merc crank I got for almost free, new pistons, new cam, machine work, edelbrock heads (bought today from speedway), strombergs etc. it’s getting pricey but I just kind of accepted it for what it was when I started this project.

I've probably spent more time than anything else in the garage after dark just staring at my flathead thinking about how it's 20 years older that I am and totally obsolete. Pre-WWII. That's why I like it.

It's really amazing that it's still running, even running really well on NOS and NORS parts. I even drove it comfortably on the interstate (I-5, "the 5") last Sunday. It was never meant to do that. I have my own tiny cache of NORS ignition parts so I can keep it running as long as I can keep myself running.

Don't know how people did this before the internet. Made a lot of minor repairs and adjustments based on what I've learned from the forums. Car was a real pig to drive when I bought it a year and a half ago. Now it runs really well. My '41 Ford is 82 years old. I was in high school in 1978. An 82 year old car then would have been an 1896 model! Even some Model T's were 20 years newer than that. Ancient history.

Flatheads forever.

[Brian]

I try not to ever use 'used' parts in my car. If I'm rebuilding any component, I want to put the best parts I can into it, irrespective of cost. Because....I don't ever want to/expect to have to do the job again. That's why I prefer to use nos parts, they are quality. But, sometimes one needs to buy aftermarket/repop parts. That's ok, as long as they are good parts. My beef, is when I spend big bucks to purchase a new part/parts that aren't up to the task. Money wasted....compounding that is the fact I live in New Zealand, shipping costs and import duty add immensely to the price I pay.
Seems to me, post Covid 19 hysteria, the cost of everything is increasing at ridiculous levels, and this is even evident in the price of parts for our beloved flatheads.
If I want a quality part, I will pay whatever I have to, within reason, it is no longer 1950, [when flatheads were possibly at their peak, consequently highest turnover/availability of parts, hence cheapest prices], and as others have alluded, we are fortunate to be able to still buy new parts for our obsolete vehicles. Imagine how it would be if we were restoring, say, a Railton [look it up].
But, if we stop paying the prices asked for new heads for example, the manufacturer is not gonna make any more.
Catch 22, what's it gonna be boys?

[Brian]

Like, for example, through reading fordbarn, I learnt that Scat manufacture a 4"stroker crank to suit the 32-38 engines. As I generally specialise in the early mills, I bought one [not cheap,especially with the freight and import duties payable]. And what a piece of shit it was! wouldn't even fit the block. Utter garbage! And even after a fair bit of machining to get it to fit the block, the positioning of one of the throws was not on same centreline as the respective cylinders. Subsequent communication with Scat showed they didn't even care.
At least the Offy heads fit.
I'd like to say you get what you pay for, unfortunately, sometime you don't!

[Ol' Ron]

Of all the intake manifolds ever made for the flathead, one stands out as ONE of the best the Offy 1076, it is now $619, However the standard 2 duce is $400 plus?? I see no reason for this. Is 1700 bucks for a set of heads, actually what it cost to make a reasonable profit, if so, the country is lost!!
Gramps