The Ford Barn

Dennisfly · 11-02-2022, 08:45 AM

I have the 1932-1941 Shop Manual Service Handbook which is a reprint of a Ford Canada publication, the Ford V8 1932 to 1936 Engine & Chassis Repair Manual, and the 1935-36 Ford Book from the Early Ford V8 Club. These are all very good but not as much detailed engine information as I would like.

I'm considering one of the following. Any input on which is the best? The first one is 144 pages and 500 pictures, the second 208 pages and 250 pictures.

rotorwrench · 11-02-2022, 10:00 AM

The early V8 engines with babbitt main bearings were not as popular as the later ones with removable shells known as LB blocks. The coolant pumps in the heads were another thing to avoid in the hot rod era. The late 21 studs with the pumps in the block and the later type heads were finally getting there but they weren't produced very long.

I've never checked out either of those books so I can't say if one is better than the other. Tex Smith's flathead book has an article on the build of a late 21 stud for the Great American Race. It was built as a 255 CID engine using a 4 inch Mercury 8CM crank and sleeving all eight cylinders for uniform wall thickness. The car was a 1935 coupe. They weren't as worried about performance as they were about reliability. There have been discussions about this build here on the barn some years ago. The car finished the GAR with no problems. I haven't seen too many other articles on the 21 stud motors.

38 coupe · 11-03-2022, 06:36 PM

Like rotorwrench stated there isn't much information in the new books about the babbit motors. The best place for information on them is to ask on this forum.

Adam/Mill Valley CA · 11-04-2022, 06:34 PM

Dennis, there's some useful information in this book by Ron Bishop, directed more towards a stock rebuild

Adam

Dennisfly · 11-15-2022, 07:21 PM

Thanks guys. I bought the first pictured book and it is well done with a lot of good pictures. It does lean toward the later engines and performance improvements.

Adam - I think I'll buy the one that you reference too.

GB SISSON · 11-15-2022, 08:06 PM

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I think I have 5 or six different, from the old tattered Floyd Clymer to some of the later ones. Can't have too many. They're all we had before some guy invented the internet.

11-02-2022, 10:00 AM	#2
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,464	Re: Flathead Books 1935 21 Stud The early V8 engines with babbitt main bearings were not as popular as the later ones with removable shells known as LB blocks. The coolant pumps in the heads were another thing to avoid in the hot rod era. The late 21 studs with the pumps in the block and the later type heads were finally getting there but they weren't produced very long. I've never checked out either of those books so I can't say if one is better than the other. Tex Smith's flathead book has an article on the build of a late 21 stud for the Great American Race. It was built as a 255 CID engine using a 4 inch Mercury 8CM crank and sleeving all eight cylinders for uniform wall thickness. The car was a 1935 coupe. They weren't as worried about performance as they were about reliability. There have been discussions about this build here on the barn some years ago. The car finished the GAR with no problems. I haven't seen too many other articles on the 21 stud motors.

11-03-2022, 06:36 PM	#3
38 coupe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Texas Posts: 1,651	Re: Flathead Books 1935 21 Stud Like rotorwrench stated there isn't much information in the new books about the babbit motors. The best place for information on them is to ask on this forum.

11-15-2022, 07:21 PM	#5
Dennisfly Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: Virginia Posts: 140	Re: Flathead Books 1935 21 Stud Thanks guys. I bought the first pictured book and it is well done with a lot of good pictures. It does lean toward the later engines and performance improvements. Adam - I think I'll buy the one that you reference too. __________________ 1929 Town Sedan (Briggs) 155B, Mitchell Overdrive 1935 Model 48 Tudor

11-15-2022, 08:06 PM	#6
GB SISSON Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Orcas Island Washington Posts: 5,002	Re: Flathead Books 1935 21 Stud Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I think I have 5 or six different, from the old tattered Floyd Clymer to some of the later ones. Can't have too many. They're all we had before some guy invented the internet. __________________ 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, 1946 Tonner Pickup with 226 H six, 1979 Toyota landcruiser wagon, now wearing 1947 Ford Jailbar sheet metal. 'Rusty ol' floorboards, hot on their feet' (Alan Jackson)