The Ford Barn

MidState-Flathead · 01-05-2025, 11:59 AM

Did the ford and or mercury flatheads have a road draft tube the has the big goose neck at the top and just go straight down? I am aware of the style that curves and runs beside the oil pan , If anyone has a picture of the straight down style that would be great. Thanks in advance guys, I log in just about every day to this site to enjoy all the information available, thanks again

tubman · 01-05-2025, 08:15 PM

No answers yet, so I'll take a whack at it. Every 8BA I have ever seen (and it's been quite a few) had the two piece tube that terminates going back along the oil pan. Have I seen 'em all? Nope. Perhaps the industrial engines or maybe the big trucks (COE?) had something different. Unless the lower tube segment has a definitive factory installed look, I'd bet it was some homemade replacement after someone lost the original bottom segment and replaced it with something they had on hand.

I base this on the experience I have had with altering the stock 8BA road draft system. A few years ago, I replaced the tall original oil filler tube with a neat shorter chrome plated one. It looked great, but all of a sudden, I was getting oil all over the top of the engine. Replacing it with a stock height (but chrome plated) filler tube and all was well. I think that if you seriously alter the system, it will not work as well as it should. I believe a straight down tube would change the flow significantly.

You should be using a PCV system anyway.

1952henry · 01-05-2025, 08:50 PM

I’ll have a look at my 8RT tube tomorrow. I also have an 8RT tube that was modified by Marmon Herrington. It would have been too close to the differential, so a lick with a blue flame fixed that. Same blue flame made a relief in the splash pan to make room for said differential.

MidState-Flathead · 01-06-2025, 11:43 AM

Thanks to all for your replys. Greatly appreciated. As I looked at the Van Pelt engines diagram it appears to look as if it only runs vertical. again thanks

kirkf · 01-07-2025, 12:23 PM

On the 50 F1 pickup with 8BA the draft tube drops straight down at the front of the motor.

Unfortunately I'm out of town so I cant send a picture right now, but you can sort of see it here on this engine picture.

Kirk

petehoovie · 01-07-2025, 12:38 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by kirkf

On the 50 F1 pickup with 8BA the draft tube drops straight down at the front of the motor.

Unfortunately I'm out of town so I cant send a picture right now, but you can sort of see it here on this engine picture.

Kirk

rotorwrench · 01-07-2025, 03:36 PM

Mercury was different than Ford due to the cross member placement and rear sump set up. Ford was a center sump set up and the truck was the deep rear sump set up so there were differences.

1952henry · 01-07-2025, 03:38 PM

1952 8RT road draft tube

petehoovie · 01-08-2025, 01:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1952henry

1952 8RT road draft tube

RalphG · 01-08-2025, 02:49 PM

My 52 Merc has the two piece draft tube but the lower piece of it has been riding in the trunk for the past ten years. It was separated when the engine was out back about 1980 and never got put back in place. I have good intentions of re-installing it one of these days.

MidState-Flathead · 01-09-2025, 12:09 PM

That is interesting information. Very glad to see that they were available, I hope to be able to purchase a straight down draft tube from some seller. If any member would have one that they would sell please feel free to PM me.
Again thanks to great information that is available on this site, You all have a great day and a better tomorrow.

Dan in MI · 01-09-2025, 12:26 PM

Saw this on sleaze bay this morning. i have no connection to it.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/35644952498...Bk9SR4zqxcGJZQ

V8 Bob · 01-09-2025, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MidState-Flathead

That is interesting information. Very glad to see that they were available, I hope to be able to purchase a straight down draft tube from some seller. If any member would have one that they would sell please feel free to PM me.
Again thanks to great information that is available on this site, You all have a great day and a better tomorrow.

Curious why you would want to stay with the road draft ventilation instead of installing a much improved PCV?

V8 Bob · 01-09-2025, 01:57 PM

Delete

MidState-Flathead · 01-10-2025, 11:34 AM

Dan in MI, thanks for the ebay find I will keep an eye on that item greatly appreciated

MidState-Flathead · 01-10-2025, 11:41 AM

V8 Bob, I would agree with you on the delete, I have a unique project coming up in the near future that I want to have the look with the draft tube , But it will be non functional, I have made accommodations on the 8ba intake for the better PVC system, but I appreciate all the input that the ford Barn has to offer, I will continue to read all the great responses on the site everyday

tubman · 01-10-2025, 12:39 PM

I guess this shows what I know about trucks!

V8 Bob · 01-10-2025, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MidState-Flathead

V8 Bob, I would agree with you on the delete, I have a unique project coming up in the near future that I want to have the look with the draft tube , But it will be non functional, I have made accommodations on the 8ba intake for the better PVC system, but I appreciate all the input that the ford Barn has to offer, I will continue to read all the great responses on the site everyday

I mistakenly double entered my last post and tried to delete it.

Glad you're just using the road draft for looks.

V8 Bob · 01-10-2025, 03:38 PM

error

Joe B. · 01-11-2025, 08:48 AM

[QUOTE I have a unique project coming up in the near future that I want to have the look with the draft tube , But it will be non functional, I have made accommodations on the 8ba intake for the better PVC system, /QUOTE]

I would like to know how you are doing this.

01-05-2025, 11:59 AM	#1
MidState-Flathead Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2021 Location: Central MN Posts: 22	8ba road draft tubes Did the ford and or mercury flatheads have a road draft tube the has the big goose neck at the top and just go straight down? I am aware of the style that curves and runs beside the oil pan , If anyone has a picture of the straight down style that would be great. Thanks in advance guys, I log in just about every day to this site to enjoy all the information available, thanks again

01-05-2025, 08:15 PM	#2
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 12,132	Re: 8ba road draft tubes No answers yet, so I'll take a whack at it. Every 8BA I have ever seen (and it's been quite a few) had the two piece tube that terminates going back along the oil pan. Have I seen 'em all? Nope. Perhaps the industrial engines or maybe the big trucks (COE?) had something different. Unless the lower tube segment has a definitive factory installed look, I'd bet it was some homemade replacement after someone lost the original bottom segment and replaced it with something they had on hand. I base this on the experience I have had with altering the stock 8BA road draft system. A few years ago, I replaced the tall original oil filler tube with a neat shorter chrome plated one. It looked great, but all of a sudden, I was getting oil all over the top of the engine. Replacing it with a stock height (but chrome plated) filler tube and all was well. I think that if you seriously alter the system, it will not work as well as it should. I believe a straight down tube would change the flow significantly. You should be using a PCV system anyway.

01-05-2025, 08:50 PM	#3
1952henry Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: North Dakota Posts: 1,840	Re: 8ba road draft tubes I’ll have a look at my 8RT tube tomorrow. I also have an 8RT tube that was modified by Marmon Herrington. It would have been too close to the differential, so a lick with a blue flame fixed that. Same blue flame made a relief in the splash pan to make room for said differential. __________________ I dig coal, which provides motivation for EVs.

01-06-2025, 11:43 AM	#4
MidState-Flathead Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2021 Location: Central MN Posts: 22	Re: 8ba road draft tubes Thanks to all for your replys. Greatly appreciated. As I looked at the Van Pelt engines diagram it appears to look as if it only runs vertical. again thanks

01-07-2025, 03:36 PM	#7
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 18,006	Re: 8ba road draft tubes Mercury was different than Ford due to the cross member placement and rear sump set up. Ford was a center sump set up and the truck was the deep rear sump set up so there were differences.

01-08-2025, 02:49 PM	#10
RalphG Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Sask. Canada Posts: 2,619	Re: 8ba road draft tubes My 52 Merc has the two piece draft tube but the lower piece of it has been riding in the trunk for the past ten years. It was separated when the engine was out back about 1980 and never got put back in place. I have good intentions of re-installing it one of these days. __________________ https://www.youtube.com/user/roosty6/videos

01-09-2025, 12:09 PM	#11
MidState-Flathead Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2021 Location: Central MN Posts: 22	Re: 8ba road draft tubes That is interesting information. Very glad to see that they were available, I hope to be able to purchase a straight down draft tube from some seller. If any member would have one that they would sell please feel free to PM me. Again thanks to great information that is available on this site, You all have a great day and a better tomorrow.

01-09-2025, 12:26 PM	#12
Dan in MI Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Livonia, MI Posts: 94	Re: 8ba road draft tubes Saw this on sleaze bay this morning. i have no connection to it. https://www.ebay.com/itm/35644952498...Bk9SR4zqxcGJZQ

01-09-2025, 01:57 PM	#14
V8 Bob Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Granger (Northern) Indiana Posts: 1,611	Delete Last edited by V8 Bob; 01-09-2025 at 02:03 PM.

01-10-2025, 11:34 AM	#15
MidState-Flathead Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2021 Location: Central MN Posts: 22	Re: 8ba road draft tubes Dan in MI, thanks for the ebay find I will keep an eye on that item greatly appreciated

01-10-2025, 11:41 AM	#16
MidState-Flathead Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2021 Location: Central MN Posts: 22	Re: 8ba road draft tubes V8 Bob, I would agree with you on the delete, I have a unique project coming up in the near future that I want to have the look with the draft tube , But it will be non functional, I have made accommodations on the 8ba intake for the better PVC system, but I appreciate all the input that the ford Barn has to offer, I will continue to read all the great responses on the site everyday

01-10-2025, 12:39 PM	#17
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 12,132	Re: 8ba road draft tubes I guess this shows what I know about trucks!

01-10-2025, 03:38 PM	#19
V8 Bob Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Granger (Northern) Indiana Posts: 1,611	Re: 8ba road draft tubes error Last edited by V8 Bob; 01-10-2025 at 03:41 PM. Reason: error

01-11-2025, 08:48 AM	#20
Joe B. Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2022 Location: Westmont, Il. Posts: 173	Re: 8ba road draft tubes [QUOTE I have a unique project coming up in the near future that I want to have the look with the draft tube , But it will be non functional, I have made accommodations on the 8ba intake for the better PVC system, /QUOTE] I would like to know how you are doing this. __________________ thread killer