Exhaust cross-over pipe mystery insert

[RuralTowner]

Replacing the exhaust cross-over pipe on my 8BA due to a thumb-sized rot hole in the lower passenger corner. Saw what appears to be a possible factor insert that's not present in the very-good-used replacement off ebay. Looks like it would obstruct >1/2 the exhaust pipe opening unless it was meant to serve some purpose since the driver's side dumps right next to the front passenger.

[tubman]

I believe that's called a "Duck Bill" heat riser valve.

If I'm wrong, I'll blame it on the fuzzy picture.

[38bill]

Looks like Tubman has it correct. This article has some good photos.

https://www.motortrend.com/features/...-982-380-48-1/

[RuralTowner]

Cheap phone didn't like the light level. Had to shade it or else all you would get is background glare.

Informative article. Matches what's in the pipe. Given I live in the SW corner of AZ where we see hell as a place to go cool off in...no need for helping with motor warm up. Vehicle sat for 40+ years before finally getting near a road worthy state & had been getting some intermittent backfires out the rust hole. Maybe that too will go away or improve after unobstructed replacement pipe is in. Gaskets...though will only be using a pair from the set...will be in this next week so will find out.

Thanks.

Reading up that article fits some of the issues I was having (before block cleanse with vinegar...which showed me all the crusted holes my rad had) once my gauges (1 for each side) would start registering 180 but the left would edge closer to 190. Then push higher by the time I was parked from a short test drive & could take the hose to the rad. Was getting what certainly did behave like vapor lock. Be interesting to see how much more of a temp reduction I'll see with freer exhaust. Was running ~140 (outside air temp 100+) with the new rad on the road (not long sustained speed yet)...so maybe that will drop a few more deg. I'd rather this thing run cool than hot since I expect to be occasionally be in 110+ ambient heat with this thing.

[38 coupe]

If you are running good thermostats I suspect you will see no difference in temperatures. JWL was performing dyno tests of an 8BA and found one of these stuck closed in the crossover pipe after initial testing. Removing it made zero difference in power or coolant temperature for the engine being dyno tested. After learning of that result I no longer worry about restrictive factory exhausts on our flathead Fords.

[Kurt in NJ]

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When I put a 49 Mercury engine in the 46 big truck that we used for flea markets ( probably 2 ton load) the power made a big difference,I had split the front pipe into duals,passenger side into original truck muffler and drivers side into a new Mustang V8 muffler I had—-on hard pulls the driver side would trip the overheating switch on the temp sensor, the gauge would suddenly peg full hot. I would have to back off the throttle to bring the temperature down. Replacing the Mustang muffler with another stock truck muffler eliminated the problem!

[Tim Ayers]

Originally Posted by 38 coupe

If you are running good thermostats I suspect you will see no difference in temperatures. JWL was performing dyno tests of an 8BA and found one of these stuck closed in the crossover pipe after initial testing. Removing it made zero difference in power or coolant temperature for the engine being dyno tested. After learning of that result I no longer worry about restrictive factory exhausts on our flathead Fords.

Agreed about the flow test with stock exhaust, but something about the sound improvement when headers and duals are installed makes it worth it in my opinion.

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by 38bill

Looks like Tubman has it correct. This article has some good photos.

https://www.motortrend.com/features/...-982-380-48-1/

[Ol' Ron]

If you have a copy of JWL's book. he goes into detail on the stock exhaust and the crossofer parts. Also, installing headers and duaul exhaust didn't improve powere any.

Interesting
Gramps

[JayChicago]

Originally Posted by 38 coupe

JWL was performing dyno tests of an 8BA and found one of these stuck closed in the crossover pipe after initial testing. Removing it made zero difference in power or coolant temperature for the engine being dyno tested. After learning of that result I no longer worry about restrictive factory exhausts on our flathead Fords.

And Ol' Ron: "Also, installing headers and duaul exhaust didn't improve powere any."

Who would have thunk it? Not me. Since I was a teenager I thought improving on a stock exhaust was a sure-fire way to better performance on any car. Still a lot to learn in my old age.

[Tim Ayers]

May not improve HP much, but certainly invokes smiles.

[38 coupe]

Originally Posted by JayChicago

And Ol' Ron: "Also, installing headers and duaul exhaust didn't improve powere any."

Who would have thunk it? Not me. Since I was a teenager I thought improving on a stock exhaust was a sure-fire way to better performance on any car. Still a lot to learn in my old age.

The older I get the more I realize the original Ford engineers knew a thing or two about making flathead V8 powered cars. An original flathead era Ford in top shape is a wonderful driving machine.

[Bill OH]

I installed on my 53 V8 Ford a W manifold and exhaust pipe for the left side from the local Ford garage - designed and mfd by Ford without the duck bill. An improvement. Ford engineers at work.