Just sent a new 302 CI Flathead Home . . .

[Bored&Stroked]

Here is an engine we just finished for my friend Andy Huck. He has an original 32 roadster that came from his family (best body I've ever seen).

Will be a really fun car and we've created a heck of a great friendship by working together through this 2 year experience. Always quite a journey . . . this one started with a NOS 59AB block - than ended up being a bad casting.

Andy was new to everything flathead - but he worked side-by-side with me over that period, learning by doing along the way. It is important for all of us to share our knowledge . . . you meet great people and create solid life experiences as a result.

EngineInTrailer.jpg

[Will D]

Nice looking flathead! Were you able to fix the issues with the NOS block or did you have to source a different one?

[tubman]

Very nice looking unit. I wonder about that transmission. I had a built 276 engine ahead of one of those in a '36 3-window about 20 years ago, and it was the weak link. It wasn't the stock '36 box either, but a '39 with later gears and new bearings and synchronizers. After I shelled it out once, I learned to take it easy, but that took all of the fun out of it.

It is the classic combination, though.

[mercman from oz]

Looking very good. Lovely workmanship.

[Pete]

While the 39 transmission is certainly a weak link in a vintage power combination, they can be used effectively IF you learn their shortcomings. This can take time and maybe a few broken parts along the way, but it can be done.
You will need a set of 25 tooth gears for any success at all.
Rest assured you can break these but not nearly as easy as the 28 or 29 tooth.

[Ol' Ron]

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I think the F150 3spd with OD would be the best choice.. Wonder what the cam is??
Gramps

[glennpm]

Hi Pete,


Can you explain this please? Lower gear ratio for first perhaps?



"You will need a set of 25 tooth gears for any success at all. Rest assured you can break these but not nearly as easy as the 28 or 29 tooth."

[flathead48]

B & S Some kind of nice, congrats,

[KiWinUS]

Looks fantastic Dale. Great stuff sharing your wealth of knowledge.

[21stud]

Looks very nice!
what cam?

[Bored&Stroked]

The cam is a Potvin 3/8 . . . from none other than my good friend 'Pete' who is on the thread. This is a good cam for a street engine of this size - not too big and not too small . . . a "tweener" in my mind.

Thanks for the cam Pete!

[Bored&Stroked]

Originally Posted by Will D

Nice looking flathead! Were you able to fix the issues with the NOS block or did you have to source a different one?

There was a casting flaw deep down in the intake port -- a hole into the water jacket. It was a really hard spot to get too - though I managed to "pin it" with 3 pins, still "bubbled" under pressure on my test setup.

While I might have run it with some "water glass" in it, I was uncomfortable building it for Andy . . . as getting water into a cylinder at some later point would not be a good thing.

He plans to take a trip across the United States - the last thing he needs is a block issue about 500 miles from BFE - with no real way to fix it! LOL

[Blownflatheaddeuce]

Looks great Dale, good to see you're still at it amigo !

[Bored&Stroked]

Originally Posted by Blownflatheaddeuce

Looks great Dale, good to see you're still at it amigo !

Thank you my good friend from OZ!

[Desoto291Hemi]

Now that is how you crate an engine ,,,,that dude could go across country on a wagon train,,,,and still be there in one piece .

Look at it,,,isn’t it beautiful,,,,,that is real workmanship.
Super great looking mill and tranny ,,,,it should really haul !

Tommy

[19Fordy]

Congratulations on building such a fine looking engine.
Please keep us posted as to how it performs in the 32.
Well done. Enjoy every RPM.

[hotrodcbx]

Originally Posted by Bored&Stroked

The cam is a Potvin 3/8 . . . from none other than my good friend 'Pete' who is on the thread. This is a good cam for a street engine of this size - not too big and not too small . . . a "tweener" in my mind.

Thanks for the cam Pete!

Good choice! I have a super 3/8 in my 296" 8BA. Idles a little high but it has no shortage of low RPM torque and revs quickly to 5500. 4:11 gears and 5 speed Tremec in a '34 3 window, weighs in at 2750 lb....

[Talkwrench]

Nice Dale!

[Pete]

Originally Posted by glennpm

Hi Pete,


Can you explain this please? Lower gear ratio for first perhaps?



"You will need a set of 25 tooth gears for any success at all. Rest assured you can break these but not nearly as easy as the 28 or 29 tooth."

The closer the ratios, the less torque multiplication and thus less strain on all of the parts including the case. With a big cube engine and the taller gears there is no problem getting rolling in first gear. The taller gears are easier to down shift at racing speeds also. With the 25's it is easy to down shift into first at 60 mph.

[glennpm]

Thank you Pete!
Wow, shift into first at 60!!

[Bored&Stroked]

Pete might be able to downshift at 60 into 1st gear with 25T LZ gears . . . me, I'd better follow the car with a wheel barrow to pick up all the parts I just chucked out onto the road! I can double clutch at lower speeds - I don't even try it at higher speeds.

Maybe I should have grown up on a farm driving trucks with crash-box 4 speeds? LOL

I think the big issue is that I don't want to practice - not when you can't hardly find a 25T LZ cluster gear anymore (ask me how I know this!) - and if you do, it is $500.

By the way . . . anybody have a good 25T LZ cluster - I could use one to build a spare tranny for my next big adventure.

[glennpm]

I'm with you B&S, "Pete might be able to downshift at 60 into 1st gear with 25T LZ gears . . . me, I'd better follow the car with a wheel barrow to pick up all the parts I just chucked out onto the road!"

I double clutch at low speeds only too.

My 32 with a 39 transmission has the 25T cluster set and I love them!

[Tim Ayers]

Interesting. I'm going with 28 tooth to start and plan to build a 26 tooth LZ trans. that will go in when the quick change is installed.

Two reasons I plan to use the 26 LZ gears: I have them in my garage and they are mint and the entire trans only cost me $50. Haha.

I figure it splits the different between 25 LZ's and 28 Fords.

[Ronnieroadster]

Dale nice build. Your helping keep this crazy modified flathead stuff alive with excellent results. We need to talk about my next adventure for the salt 325 cubes normally aspirated with a stock block configuration that means leaving the ports where Ford designed them to be.
Ronnieroadster

[frnkeore]

What class does a 325 fit into?

[Bored&Stroked]

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Originally Posted by Ronnieroadster

Dale nice build. Your helping keep this crazy modified flathead stuff alive with excellent results. We need to talk about my next adventure for the salt 325 cubes normally aspirated with a stock block configuration that means leaving the ports where Ford designed them to be.
Ronnieroadster

Stroke o' matic! Get the stroke out to about 4.5", special rod journals, 2 ring pistons . . . it can be done!

Be happy to chat - would like to chat about a rocker arm project I'm about to undertake.

[Ronnieroadster]

Originally Posted by frnkeore

What class does a 325 fit into?

Max cubes allowed in the XF and XXF classes there's no minimum in the class just the max.

[Pete]

3.375 bore by 4.5 stroke was a very popular top fuel engine size in the 50's and 60's.
Almost 322 inches.

[flatjack9]

Originally Posted by Bored&Stroked

Stroke o' matic! Get the stroke out to about 4.5", special rod journals, 2 ring pistons . . . it can be done!

Be happy to chat - would like to chat about a rocker arm project I'm about to undertake.

2 compression rings?

[frnkeore]

Originally Posted by Pete

3.375 bore by 4.5 stroke was a very popular top fuel engine size in the 50's and 60's.
Almost 322 inches.

Back in those days, you could still, easily get blocks that would go to 3 7/16, giving a 334 inch engine, with a 4.5 stroke.

They used a lot of those blocks at Ascot but, mostly with 4 1/8 stroke.

[frnkeore]

Wrong thread

[Pete]

Originally Posted by flatjack9

2 compression rings?

Top ring 1mm ported compression.
Second ring 1.3mm oil.
Both low tension.

[flatjack9]

Thanks, Pete. Hate to ask, but what would a set of those pistons and rings go for.

[Pete]

Originally Posted by flatjack9

Thanks, Pete. Hate to ask, but what would a set of those pistons and rings go for.

I haven't bought any for 2 years but last ones were right at $200 each.

[pickup]

Looking for a stock 8RT engine. Anyone know of one?

[mfirth]

Wow ! Really GR8 mill & thread. Thanks for sharing !

[flatjack9]

Originally Posted by Pete

I haven't bought any for 2 years but last ones were right at $200 each.

Who did you get them from?

[Bored&Stroked]

You can get custom pistons made by quite a few folks - but you need to know where you want the rings, the compression height, etc.. I believe even Ross will make you a custom ring package setup. If you're going to a heavily boosted application, then you'll want additional dome thickness (from the normal Ross piston). Also, if boosted and if you're relieved, you may want to move the top ring down just a bit (to keep the extra heat out of it).

And noticed that Pete mentioned low tension rings . . . with these you'll want run a dry sump and depending on the number of stages, may also need a vacuum pump. The oiling system is extremely important when you get to this level of a build.

All good stuff . . . just more "cubic dollars" in the mix!

[Pete]

Originally Posted by flatjack9

Who did you get them from?

Mahle.

[frnkeore]

Originally Posted by Bored&Stroked

Pete might be able to downshift at 60 into 1st gear with 25T LZ gears . . . me, I'd better follow the car with a wheel barrow to pick up all the parts I just chucked out onto the road! I can double clutch at lower speeds - I don't even try it at higher speeds.

Maybe I should have grown up on a farm driving trucks with crash-box 4 speeds? LOL

I think the big issue is that I don't want to practice - not when you can't hardly find a 25T LZ cluster gear anymore (ask me how I know this!) - and if you do, it is $500.

By the way . . . anybody have a good 25T LZ cluster - I could use one to build a spare tranny for my next big adventure.

Here you go, Dale.
It's been on HAMB a couple of days now.

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...-gear.1235374/