The Ford Barn

Alan O'Connell · 04-18-2016, 08:21 PM

In 1953, how much horsepower was the last flatheads producing?

19Fordy · 04-18-2016, 08:30 PM

According to info. below 125 HP was max.
http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/f...0to125late.htm

40 Deluxe · 04-19-2016, 03:44 AM

As I remember, Mercs were 125 and Fords were 110 in '53.

Ol' Ron · 04-19-2016, 06:58 AM

In original equipped 239 engines max power was actually around 80 HP. Advertized Horsepower has nothing to do with the engine.

4t8v8 · 04-19-2016, 09:13 AM

OL' Ron is right. Horsepower is one of the most illusive terms used. I guess it's whatever you want it to be. I know in the '70's during the horsepower race the factories got completely carried away with their advertising. The gov't made them cut their claims nearly in half. My '70 Ford 302 had 200 hp. In '74 it had 120. Same exact engine. 80 is a good number for a stock 239 flathead in good condition.

Ross F-1 · 04-19-2016, 10:11 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

In the trucks the '53 flathead was rated at 106.

51 MERC-CT · 04-19-2016, 10:15 AM

Had an opportunity a number of years ago to use a drive on dyno, so for Ha'Ha's decided to give it a shot. Unfortunately my Merc. is too low and without some added ramps, the test could not be done.
(Probably saved a little embarrassment) but would still like to do it just to put some horsepower guessing to rest.

V8 Bob · 04-19-2016, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4t8v8

OL' Ron is right. Horsepower is one of the most illusive terms used. I guess it's whatever you want it to be. I know in the '70's during the horsepower race the factories got completely carried away with their advertising. The gov't made them cut their claims nearly in half. My '70 Ford 302 had 200 hp. In '74 it had 120. Same exact engine. 80 is a good number for a stock 239 flathead in good condition.

The factory horse power ratings changed from gross to net in '71-'72, resulting in the lower HP numbers, followed with reduced compression ratios to comply with upcoming lead free gas and catalytic converters. That '74 302 wasn't exactly the same as the '70.

Many of the high performance '60s engines were actually underrated for racing and insurance reasons.

Flat32 · 04-19-2016, 11:50 AM

Actually it's the torque numbers within your driving rpm range that matters most, IMHO.

Horsepower numbers tend to be used in sales hype advertising and the advertised number is probably seldom reached, if ever, in normal driving. Again, IMHO.

Flat32

Mike51Merc · 04-19-2016, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4t8v8

OL' Ron is right. Horsepower is one of the most illusive terms used. I guess it's whatever you want it to be. I know in the '70's during the horsepower race the factories got completely carried away with their advertising. The gov't made them cut their claims nearly in half. My '70 Ford 302 had 200 hp. In '74 it had 120. Same exact engine. 80 is a good number for a stock 239 flathead in good condition.

Well no, it was not the same exact engine. The '73-'76 302 engines had higher deck heights for lower compression, dished pistons, and retarded timing gears.

Ol' Ron · 04-19-2016, 12:54 PM

JWL's book takes a stock (.040" over??) and runs it through it's paces. Making every modification you can think of, with bolt on "stuff", except a blower. And never got a 100 HP from the engine, till he changed the cam. This is a very interesting read with all the mods dyno tested. Thanks John.

Tim Ayers · 04-19-2016, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ol' Ron

JWL's book takes a stock (.040" over??) and runs it through it's paces. Making every modification you can think of, with bolt on "stuff", except a blower. And never got a 100 HP from the engine, till he changed the cam. This is a very interesting read with all the mods dyno tested. Thanks John.

Agreed. John's book is great!

04-18-2016, 08:21 PM	#1
Alan O'Connell Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Peabody, MA Posts: 471	53 flathead horsepower In 1953, how much horsepower was the last flatheads producing?

04-18-2016, 08:30 PM	#2
19Fordy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Coral Springs FL Posts: 10,921	Re: 53 flathead horsepower According to info. below 125 HP was max. http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/f...0to125late.htm

04-19-2016, 03:44 AM	#3
40 Deluxe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: now Kuna, Idaho Posts: 3,778	Re: 53 flathead horsepower As I remember, Mercs were 125 and Fords were 110 in '53.

04-19-2016, 06:58 AM	#4
Ol' Ron Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chester Vt Posts: 8,855	Re: 53 flathead horsepower In original equipped 239 engines max power was actually around 80 HP. Advertized Horsepower has nothing to do with the engine.

04-19-2016, 09:13 AM	#5
4t8v8 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: NW Arkansas Posts: 524	Re: 53 flathead horsepower OL' Ron is right. Horsepower is one of the most illusive terms used. I guess it's whatever you want it to be. I know in the '70's during the horsepower race the factories got completely carried away with their advertising. The gov't made them cut their claims nearly in half. My '70 Ford 302 had 200 hp. In '74 it had 120. Same exact engine. 80 is a good number for a stock 239 flathead in good condition.

04-19-2016, 10:11 AM	#6
Ross F-1 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: NM Posts: 2,438	Re: 53 flathead horsepower Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) In the trucks the '53 flathead was rated at 106. __________________ '52 F-1, EAB flathead

04-19-2016, 10:15 AM	#7
51 MERC-CT Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: East Hartford, Ct Posts: 5,898	Re: 53 flathead horsepower Had an opportunity a number of years ago to use a drive on dyno, so for Ha'Ha's decided to give it a shot. Unfortunately my Merc. is too low and without some added ramps, the test could not be done. (Probably saved a little embarrassment) but would still like to do it just to put some horsepower guessing to rest. __________________ DON'T RECALL DOING SOMETHING FOR MYSELF BASED ON SOMEONE ELSE'S LIKES OR DISLIKES

04-19-2016, 11:50 AM	#9
Flat32 Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Federal Way, WA Posts: 95	Re: 53 flathead horsepower Actually it's the torque numbers within your driving rpm range that matters most, IMHO. Horsepower numbers tend to be used in sales hype advertising and the advertised number is probably seldom reached, if ever, in normal driving. Again, IMHO. Flat32

04-19-2016, 12:54 PM	#11
Ol' Ron Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chester Vt Posts: 8,855	Re: 53 flathead horsepower JWL's book takes a stock (.040" over??) and runs it through it's paces. Making every modification you can think of, with bolt on "stuff", except a blower. And never got a 100 HP from the engine, till he changed the cam. This is a very interesting read with all the mods dyno tested. Thanks John.