Racing Flathead

[jimTN]

There is a book about the history of Midgets that has a picture of a reversed port 60 running upside down with some sort of aircraft carb and a dry sump oil system. Could not have been to great because that carb was subject to getting twacked in the slightest altercation.

[Tim Ayers]

If I also recall, in the Tex Smith Flathead book, there is a story about Kong Jackson. There is a picture of his race motor with some trick work done to the ports. I don't have it handy, but I'll try to find it. May not be what we are talking about here, but I'll see.

[Richard]

I can see the gains of a rev flow flathead such as less heat inside the block since the intake ports are about 6".

[Pamlico]

Book: Petersen's Complete Ford Book copyright 1972.
Article: Those Diggers from Dearborn, by Gray Baskerville.
Page: 133 picture 4.
Caption for picture 4: "The famed bass-ackward flathead of Jack Nichols and the Smith Bros.(Don & Floyd) was built to use the exhaust ports as intake and intake ports as exhausts. In order to do this, Jack tried 11 reverse rotation cams before Tucker ground him one that worked. The engine, a 3/8 by 1/8 Ford, ran 25% nitro and turned in excess of 7200 rpm. Terminal trap speed in a much modified '32 five-window was (for then) a honkin' 110mph."

[D_Lazaris]

Originally Posted by Tim Ayers

There have been a few who have tried this mod. I do not know to what success. Didn't one of the mills for the Flatfire series of salt cars try something like this as well?

Some others have done tricks to the exhaust ports like make two new ports at the front and back portions of block. Some turn the heat riser hole into another exhaust port as well.

The one I'm thinking of is in that flathead rail called Slider. I believe it currently holds the record of the fastest flathead in the 1/4 mile.

I believe his name is John Bradley.

You are correct!


Scan 62 by Dimitri Lazaris, on Flickr

[Dawsongrant98]

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Okay fellas. I understand this thread is 2 years old, but I thought you all might enjoy seeing this toy I acquired in January.

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[texas webb]

Now that is a beautiful piece of work!

[KiWinUS]

That is 1 "Beautiful " lil midget !!! It did live 15 mile up the same road I live on . Bob .....owned it .
I believe that part of the theory for the reverse rotation was to load the left rear tire .
Good luck with it & enjoy it . I know this car has a lot of great history !!!
Cheers
Tony

[Ol' Ron]

Beautiful, just Beautiful. Sure like to see and hear it run.

[Dawsongrant98]

www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2AGSvgEuD0

Not sure if I am doing this link correctly.

Here you go Sir! The gentleman I bought it from had it on consignment with RK Motors.

[Dawsongrant98]

Since I have your attention, I would like to ask if anyone can tell me why they made a "Tin" side Flathead in 1937? I have a wood boat from Iowa my wife and I bought 30+years ago which has that motor but marinized. I have never been able to find anyone who knew why they tried that. The welds are beautiful looking! Is it Stainless Steel? It looks like it to me.

[OddRod]

I have seen this one ....... I know it is not a flathead...

[Ronnieroadster]

Some updates are in order for this old post. First the Slider dragster is the fastest and quickest in the 1/4 mile its flathead V-8 has a forth exhaust port coming out the top center of the block dyno horse power is 909. Its owned by Rick Schnell and driven by his son.
The flatfire series of flatheads {there's more than one} built by Dick Landy has all ports coming out the top of the block to date the Flatfire flathead still holds the record at Bonneville I believe its between 301 and 302 MPH. Jimmy Stevens has built a flathead that made the fastest ever pass at Bonneville at over 309 MPH all eight ports also come out the top fo the block. True none of these engines are reverse flow but it shows the potential if one wants to do a ton of work for all out performance.

[bk53]

one word, flatfire

http://www.flatfire.com/flatfire_specs.htm

I saw this a few days ago. It sure sounds fast.

bill

[Ol' Ron]

These specs are for a 258ci engine??? not 301. I met Dick Landy at Bville back in '02, his pit was next to the Bean bandits. He had several engines in his trailer at that time. Very nice guy.

[Tim Ayers]

Originally Posted by Ronnieroadster

Some updates are in order for this old post. First the Slider dragster is the fastest and quickest in the 1/4 mile its flathead V-8 has a forth exhaust port coming out the top center of the block dyno horse power is 909. Its owned by Rick Schnell and driven by his son.
The flatfire series of flatheads {there's more than one} built by Dick Landy has all ports coming out the top of the block to date the Flatfire flathead still holds the record at Bonneville I believe its between 301 and 302 MPH. Jimmy Stevens has built a flathead that made the fastest ever pass at Bonneville at over 309 MPH all eight ports also come out the top fo the block. True none of these engines are reverse flow but it shows the potential if one wants to do a ton of work for all out performance.

Ron:

909 hp out of his injected flathead? I'd love to know his tricks.

[Ronnieroadster]

Originally Posted by Tim Ayers

Ron:

909 hp out of his injected flathead? I'd love to know his tricks.

Ricks flathead has a 471 GMC blower with modified Hilborn fuel injection for fuel Rick runs 40 to 45 percent nitro.

[Ronnieroadster]

Originally Posted by Ol' Ron

These specs are for a 258ci engine??? not 301. I met Dick Landy at Bville back in '02, his pit was next to the Bean bandits. He had several engines in his trailer at that time. Very nice guy.

Ol Ron
Flatfire engine was 301 cubes top speed 302.203 MPH not bad one mile per cube
Ronnieroadster

[Elmo Rodge]

Originally Posted by Ronnieroadster

Some updates are in order for this old post. First the Slider dragster is the fastest and quickest in the 1/4 mile its flathead V-8 has a forth exhaust port coming out the top center of the block dyno horse power is 909. Its owned by Rick Schnell and driven by his son.
The flatfire series of flatheads {there's more than one} built by Dick Landy has all ports coming out the top of the block to date the Flatfire flathead still holds the record at Bonneville I believe its between 301 and 302 MPH. Jimmy Stevens has built a flathead that made the fastest ever pass at Bonneville at over 309 MPH all eight ports also come out the top fo the block. True none of these engines are reverse flow but it shows the potential if one wants to do a ton of work for all out performance.

When we took the Costella-Yacoucci-Stevens Streamliner to the starting line in the morning to back up the 309 pass it wouldn't fire. A motor like that has just so many passes on it. That 309 was sure fun though. Wayno

[Ronnieroadster]

Originally Posted by Elmo Rodge

When we took the Costella-Yacoucci-Stevens Streamliner to the starting line in the morning to back up the 309 pass it wouldn't fire. A motor like that has just so many passes on it. That 309 was sure fun though. Wayno

That 309 run has been inspiration to me. A lot of forward thinking was put into the build that's for sure. Adding to that a great streamliner to put that monster in what a combination.
Two weeks we ran my Lakester the small 295 cube supercharged gas burning flathead turned the fastest to date 181.808 MPH slowly gaining speed. Heres a link to the in car video of the run.
https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=wMDLLWO9nbQ

Ronnieroadster