Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Early V8 (1932-53)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 08-15-2021, 08:26 PM   #1
Ronnieroadster
Senior Member
 
Ronnieroadster's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: East Coast in CT
Posts: 1,508
Default Ford flathead roadster at Speedweek fastest run ever

In my previous post I told about our Speedweek adventures. Here's the in car video of our car when it ran 219.878 MPH with a supercharged Ford flathead V8 burning gasoline. This my freinds is the all out fastest run ever to date by a Ford flathead powered roadster at Speedweek. My son Ron Jr had the pleasure of taking dads car for this fast run. Were working on next years plan this run was the first step in the plan
Ronnieroadster




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ukv8BPi9cM
__________________
I use the F word a lot no not that word these words Flathead , Focus and Finish.
"Life Member of the Bonneville 200 MPH Club using a Ford Flathead block"
Owner , Builder, Driver of the First Ford Flathead bodied roadster to run 200 MPH Record July 13, 2018 LTA timing association 200.921 in one and a half miles burning gasoline.
First ever gas burning Ford flathead powered roadster to run 200 MPH at Bonneville Salt Flats setting the record August 7th 2021 at 205.744 MPH
Ronnieroadster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-15-2021, 09:00 PM   #2
Fairlane500
Senior Member
 
Fairlane500's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Christchurch, New Zealand
Posts: 250
Default Re: Ford flathead roadster at Speedweek fastest run ever

Outstanding achievement Ron, you must be delighted with the outcome of your work, it is a lot of fun for those of us watching from the sideline to see the ol Flathead breaking yet another record, good stuff.
__________________
Life is not a dress rehearsal...
Fairlane500 is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 08-15-2021, 09:39 PM   #3
GB SISSON
Senior Member
 
GB SISSON's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Orcas Island Washington
Posts: 4,844
Default Re: Ford flathead roadster at Speedweek fastest run ever

Ronnie, just watched it. That is the sheeyot!!!!
__________________
Owner/Operator of 'Jailbar Ranch' on the side of Mt. Pickett. Current stable consists of 1946 1/2 ton pickup turned woodie wagon with FH V8, 1947 Tonner Pickup (red) mostly stock with exception of a cummins 6at turbo diesel, 1946 Tonner Pickup (green) with 226 cu in 6 cyl flathead, 1979 Toyota landcruiser wagon, completely encased in 1947 Ford Jailbar sheet metal. Ok, cornbinder rear fenders..... 'Rusty ol' floorboards, hot on their feet' (Alan Jackson)
GB SISSON is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-15-2021, 10:45 PM   #4
Randy in ca
Senior Member
 
Randy in ca's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,628
Default Re: Ford flathead roadster at Speedweek fastest run ever

Made it look easy!! Congrats.
Randy in ca is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-16-2021, 09:31 AM   #5
Tim Ayers
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: NJ
Posts: 6,142
Default Re: Ford flathead roadster at Speedweek fastest run ever

Car ran so smoothly, made it look easy. Congrats again!
Tim Ayers is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-16-2021, 11:18 AM   #6
Shoovel
Member
 
Shoovel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2021
Location: Milton Ontario Canada
Posts: 83
Default Re: Ford flathead roadster at Speedweek fastest run ever

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Congrats. WOW watching that video was awesome. 6000 RPM. I never thought a Flatty would hold together at that RPM. What does a regular Flatty rev to safely?
Shoovel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-16-2021, 11:40 AM   #7
tubman
Senior Member
 
tubman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys
Posts: 10,259
Default Re: Ford flathead roadster at Speedweek fastest run ever

Quote:
Originally Posted by Shoovel View Post
Congrats. WOW watching that video was awesome. 6000 RPM. I never thought a Flatty would hold together at that RPM. What does a regular Flatty rev to safely?
I hate to step on Ronnie's thread like this, but since you asked, I have a fresh built 258" with a MAX-1 cam with Isky 185G springs, Mallory dual point, and Edmunds heads. You might call it "regular", but it ain't stock. It got away from me once and the tachometer "tell-tale" was pushed to 5500. The '51 Merc with similar mods in my '51 coupe is all done at 4500.

Last edited by tubman; 08-16-2021 at 11:45 AM.
tubman is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 08-16-2021, 01:32 PM   #8
Ronnieroadster
Senior Member
 
Ronnieroadster's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: East Coast in CT
Posts: 1,508
Default Re: Ford flathead roadster at Speedweek fastest run ever

Quote:
Originally Posted by Shoovel View Post
Congrats. WOW watching that video was awesome. 6000 RPM. I never thought a Flatty would hold together at that RPM. What does a regular Flatty rev to safely?



Shoovel the answer to the question can vary a bit. For overall reliability the Merc and Ford cranks will hold together at 6000 RPM anything over that can be a time bomb. The Ford 8BA style connecting rods are actually pretty strong they will handle the 6000 RPM easily as well.
Most stock ford flatheads will run easily to 4500 and above that down hill the limiting factor is how well the engine can breath. A modified flathead with higher compression more carburation and a cam can pull 5500 to 6 grand depending on the gear ratio of the rear axle.
Ronnieroadster
__________________
I use the F word a lot no not that word these words Flathead , Focus and Finish.
"Life Member of the Bonneville 200 MPH Club using a Ford Flathead block"
Owner , Builder, Driver of the First Ford Flathead bodied roadster to run 200 MPH Record July 13, 2018 LTA timing association 200.921 in one and a half miles burning gasoline.
First ever gas burning Ford flathead powered roadster to run 200 MPH at Bonneville Salt Flats setting the record August 7th 2021 at 205.744 MPH
Ronnieroadster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-16-2021, 01:56 PM   #9
vilanar
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 162
Default Re: Ford flathead roadster at Speedweek fastest run ever

Awesome ! Nice to hear the Flathead rev up so easily and quickly . San Giovanni Team Rocks !
vilanar is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-16-2021, 06:39 PM   #10
flatford8
Senior Member
 
flatford8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Lyman,ME.
Posts: 2,612
Default Re: Ford flathead roadster at Speedweek fastest run ever

Great job by the whole family!!!.......Ron Jr. made a heck of a run!!!.......that apple didn’t fall far from the tree.........Mark
__________________
I'm thinkin' about crankin'
My ragged ol' truck up
and haulin' myself into town.
Billy Joe Shaver
flatford8 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-17-2021, 11:59 AM   #11
frnkeore
Senior Member
 
frnkeore's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Southern Oregon
Posts: 782
Default Re: Ford flathead roadster at Speedweek fastest run ever

Ronnie, are you running 8BA rods in your record engine or after market rods?
__________________
Frank
'35 Ford Model 51
'48 Ford F3
'54 Ford Tudor Mainline
frnkeore is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-17-2021, 05:14 PM   #12
Ronnieroadster
Senior Member
 
Ronnieroadster's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: East Coast in CT
Posts: 1,508
Default Re: Ford flathead roadster at Speedweek fastest run ever

Quote:
Originally Posted by frnkeore View Post
Ronnie, are you running 8BA rods in your record engine or after market rods?



The connecting rods are made by Carrillo the length is 7 inches the bearings are insert type and the diameter is 2 inch.
__________________
I use the F word a lot no not that word these words Flathead , Focus and Finish.
"Life Member of the Bonneville 200 MPH Club using a Ford Flathead block"
Owner , Builder, Driver of the First Ford Flathead bodied roadster to run 200 MPH Record July 13, 2018 LTA timing association 200.921 in one and a half miles burning gasoline.
First ever gas burning Ford flathead powered roadster to run 200 MPH at Bonneville Salt Flats setting the record August 7th 2021 at 205.744 MPH
Ronnieroadster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-18-2021, 07:38 PM   #13
Holeshot
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Aliaga,Turkey
Posts: 77
Default Re: Ford flathead roadster at Speedweek fastest run ever

Nice job!
__________________
"Sometimes he would accuse chestnuts of being lazy, the sort of general malaise that only the genius possess and the insane lament."
Holeshot is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-19-2021, 09:23 AM   #14
RKS.PA
Senior Member
 
RKS.PA's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Marana, AZ
Posts: 1,192
Default Re: Ford flathead roadster at Speedweek fastest run ever

Ronnie, that's an outstanding result and an amazing video!! Here's a question that shows my ignorance....when the orange light in the instrument cluster comes on, what does that signify??


Congratulations to you and your team, and thanks very much for posting the video!!
RKS.PA is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-19-2021, 02:57 PM   #15
Ronnieroadster
Senior Member
 
Ronnieroadster's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: East Coast in CT
Posts: 1,508
Default Re: Ford flathead roadster at Speedweek fastest run ever

Quote:
Originally Posted by RKS.PA View Post
Ronnie, that's an outstanding result and an amazing video!! Here's a question that shows my ignorance....when the orange light in the instrument cluster comes on, what does that signify??


Congratulations to you and your team, and thanks very much for posting the video!!


The orange light is used to tell us we are now in high gear. There's so much going on during the run {keeping the car on the coarse watching side markers and center blue line} loosing track of what gear I'm in during a run could be a problem so the light helps me remember to stop shifting.
Ron
__________________
I use the F word a lot no not that word these words Flathead , Focus and Finish.
"Life Member of the Bonneville 200 MPH Club using a Ford Flathead block"
Owner , Builder, Driver of the First Ford Flathead bodied roadster to run 200 MPH Record July 13, 2018 LTA timing association 200.921 in one and a half miles burning gasoline.
First ever gas burning Ford flathead powered roadster to run 200 MPH at Bonneville Salt Flats setting the record August 7th 2021 at 205.744 MPH
Ronnieroadster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-20-2021, 08:14 AM   #16
RKS.PA
Senior Member
 
RKS.PA's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Marana, AZ
Posts: 1,192
Default Re: Ford flathead roadster at Speedweek fastest run ever

Thank you!! Seems like another ingenious idea on your part!!!
RKS.PA is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-20-2021, 09:12 AM   #17
Ol' Ron
Senior Member
 
Ol' Ron's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Chester Vt
Posts: 8,840
Default Re: Ford flathead roadster at Speedweek fastest run ever

Great Job, Excellent!!!!
Gramps
Ol' Ron is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 08-20-2021, 09:38 AM   #18
Dlistro1950
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2021
Posts: 9
Default Re: Ford flathead roadster at Speedweek fastest run ever

Super job Ronnie!

Congrats to you, Ronnie Jr, and the rest of you crew and of course Laura. Thanks for all your help. All is well.


Dick Listro
Dlistro1950 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-20-2021, 11:28 AM   #19
JSeery
Member Emeritus
 
JSeery's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Wichita KS
Posts: 16,132
Default Re: Ford flathead roadster at Speedweek fastest run ever

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ronnieroadster View Post
The orange light is used to tell us we are now in high gear. There's so much going on during the run {keeping the car on the coarse watching side markers and center blue line} loosing track of what gear I'm in during a run could be a problem so the light helps me remember to stop shifting.
Ron
Interesting idea!
JSeery is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:36 AM.