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Old 12-02-2020, 11:03 PM   #21
GB SISSON
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Default Re: In defense of 6 cylinders

[QUOTE=38 coupe;1958810]Yes. Ford started selling OHV six cylinders in 1952 (and OHV V8s too, but in Lincolns and big trucks). Don't judge, the engine is pretty grimy right now.

That may be so 38, but this red H six I picked up with a bunch of V8s a few years ago has always intrigued me. I have a nice 4 speed crash box and yet another tonner pickup to put it into.... Like I need another... Maybe it's just those chrome head bolt covers and the color. It needed a ring gear and I finally found a guy that makes them! I am a fan of Low End Torque, in big one lung motorcycles, tractors and other stuff that isn't particularly fast, but torquey. I like going zero to 40 in a short time, but going over 60 for any period of time in this old stuff isn't my cup of tea.
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Old 12-03-2020, 01:42 AM   #22
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Default Re: In defense of 6 cylinders

When I was 14 (1959), my best friend (17yrs) had a '50, with H6 in it. We street raced, as often as possible. All races with V8's were close but, we won more of them.

Who in there right mind, would race for "Pinks" (CA term) against a bored 262 (271 ci or more), even if they had a 296 V8 with 3x2's and a cam?

That said, a V8, with 3x2's, does look much better and I've never been a "sound" guy, just fast and loud!
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Old 12-03-2020, 02:49 AM   #23
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Default Re: In defense of 6 cylinders

I don't think anyone ever bashed the flat sixes. Not a lot of speed stuff (bore and mill) for flat sixes or ohv 223. I had a 53 with a first yr 215 ohv straight six. Bullet proof motor. Ya you weren't going to the drag strip, but you could drive to all of them.


https://cliffordperformance.net/


this guy ran inline dual ford 6 ohvs on a rail. did fine up on the hemi. I liked the sound of the 6. or the 6s


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjZq5d_hTxA

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Old 12-03-2020, 04:39 AM   #24
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Default Re: In defense of 6 cylinders


It is interesting reading this Thread on Ford Six Cylinder Engine. Did you ever wonder why Ford introduced the OHV version of the 6 Cylinder Engine in 1952, but it was not until 1954 that they introduced the OHV for the V8? That is because Ford Management had decided to cease production of the V8.
Read all about it in this great book:- "The Man who saved the V8" - by Chase Morsey Jr.. It is great reading.
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Old 12-03-2020, 06:40 AM   #25
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Default Re: In defense of 6 cylinders

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Read all about it in this great book:- "The Man who saved the V8" - by Chase Morsey Jr.. It is great reading.
Always looking for some good automotive reading, will try and get one of those in my stocking this year

Another good read is Disaster in Dearborn: the story of the Edsel. My dad had one, actually not a bad car un-like the Pinto's we had in the 70's

The energy crisis of the 70's really gave us some ugly lemon's after being spoiled with 351's C/W and M.

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Old 12-03-2020, 09:18 AM   #26
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Default Re: In defense of 6 cylinders

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My Mom and Dad had a '52 station wagon with a 215 six and 3 speed overdrive when I was a kid. I wish I had the car today. Dad scrapped it when they bought a new Ranch Wagon in '66 with a 390.
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Old 12-03-2020, 01:39 PM   #27
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Angry Re: In defense of 6 cylinders

I've got a couple of flathead sixes in shoeboxes that might take exception to some of this talk. Just cannot figure out how to attach pictures.
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Old 12-03-2020, 01:44 PM   #28
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Smile Re: In defense of 6 cylinders

I have a couple of flathead sixes in shoeboxes that might take exception to some of this six bashing. Sorry about the double post. Tried to delete one of them.
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Old 12-03-2020, 02:01 PM   #29
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Default Re: In defense of 6 cylinders

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I have a couple of flathead sixes in shoeboxes that might take exception to some of this six bashing. Sorry about the double post. Tried to delete one of them.
Now that is some rare speed parts.
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Old 12-03-2020, 02:06 PM   #30
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Default Re: In defense of 6 cylinders

The reason that the G&H 6's did so well against the V8's, is that the intake and exhaust ports were so much better. The V8 ports where designed in '32 for a 221 ci engine and they were never revised, even for the 255. All of them are 1.312" in diameter and they are very hard to make flow any better.

The exhausts, for the 6's, were just way better, period and didn't heat the water.

But, again, the V8 with 3x2's, finned aluminum heads and a crab dist, look WAY better.
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Old 12-03-2020, 02:19 PM   #31
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Default Re: In defense of 6 cylinders

I've got a 1950 Mechanix Illustrated Magazine where Tom McCahill compares a '50 Ford six with a V8. In a quarter mile, the six will consistently outrun the V8 up to the last 200 feet and the V8 passes it. Good article.
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Old 12-03-2020, 07:57 PM   #32
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Default Re: In defense of 6 cylinders

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I have a couple of flathead sixes in shoeboxes that might take exception to some of this six bashing. Sorry about the double post. Tried to delete one of them.
Did you fabricate those intakes? Cool stuff!
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Old 12-04-2020, 07:46 AM   #33
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Default Re: In defense of 6 cylinders

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I've got a couple of flathead sixes in shoeboxes that might take exception to some of this talk. Just cannot figure out how to attach pictures.
Wish I knew who you were last October. I saw that car at a cruise night in Crowley. Met up with Al Mosley there.
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Old 12-04-2020, 07:56 AM   #34
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Default Re: In defense of 6 cylinders

The 2x1 intake is a Nicson. I found it at the old Pate Swap Meet in the early 90's. The exhaust on that engine is a stock manifold that I split for duals. That engine is in my street driven '51 that is my avatar.


I built the four barrel intake from square and rectangle tubing. Sort of a tunnel ram. That engine is in my '49 Club Coupe car I run XO/PRO at Bonneville. The exhaust on that one is a modified header originally built for a 170/200 cubic inch Falcon engine. Still working out the bugs on the car. At 2018 Speed Week I was at about 115 mph by the tach when I lost a freeze plug and melted a hole in a Cyclone aluminum head. The official speed was 107 at the 2 mile. In 2019 we waited 4 days to make one shake down run on a wet course. Official speed was 102. The record is 139. Did not run in 2020 but hope to be there in 2021.


Both cars have Knudsen heads, about 8.25 to 1. The street car has a Nielsen 3/4 regrind cam. The race car has an Isky 400Jr regrind.
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Old 12-04-2020, 08:11 AM   #35
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Default Re: In defense of 6 cylinders

amode25, i L O V E your avatar.......i'd take it any day over a V8. I love both, but........
really cool !!!!!
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Old 12-04-2020, 08:42 AM   #36
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Default Re: In defense of 6 cylinders

I got a 300 six in ‘81 F 100. Most dependable vehicle I’ve ever owned. Also have a 292 out of one-ton Chxxx. Great running motor if anybody needs one. Love the sixes!... Mark
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Old 12-04-2020, 10:46 PM   #37
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Default Re: In defense of 6 cylinders


It is hard to tell, but this 1953 Ford Prime Mover with a load of new 1955 Ford Station Wagons appears to be a 6 cylinder model. That emblem on the grille looks to be a three pointed star, the emblem that the 6 cylinder trucks got. It does not look like a V8 emblem? What do you think?
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Old 12-04-2020, 10:50 PM   #38
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Default Re: In defense of 6 cylinders


1953 Ford F600 Prime Mover with the 6 cylinder engine. The truck in the background is a V8 model.
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Old 12-04-2020, 11:38 PM   #39
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Default Re: In defense of 6 cylinders

I guess everybody got over the 'blasphemy' part. Good info and good fun here!
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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)
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Old 12-05-2020, 09:21 PM   #40
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Default Re: In defense of 6 cylinders

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It is hard to tell, but this 1953 Ford Prime Mover with a load of new 1955 Ford Station Wagons appears to be a 6 cylinder model. That emblem on the grille looks to be a three pointed star, the emblem that the 6 cylinder trucks got. It does not look like a V8 emblem? What do you think?
Looks like a six cylinder truck to me.

Interestingly, Ford did not stop production of flathead 6 cylinder engines at the end of 1951. Ford apparently decided that the F-6 (1952) and F-600 (1953) still needed a bigger engine than the 215 six or 239 V-8, and continued production of the 254 "Big Six" flathead engine. Kinda makes you wonder why a truck version of the 255 flathead V-8 was never offered in the USA. Maybe Ford wanted more than three main bearings in an up-rated engine for the two ton trucks?


I'll also sidetrack my own thread and show my ignorance of old trucking: why so many license plates on the front of the truck?

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