The Sweet Sounds of a Flathead Ford V8
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- Опубліковано 16 кві 2014
- This motor came in as a block with original crank with the machine work completed in preparation for a rebuild. The parts came from Honest Charley Speed Shop, spec'd by hot rodding ace Mike Goodman including custom polished Sharp heads and dual carb intake. Hal Everett spent some quality time assembling the motor and getting the carbs tuned as well as figuring out some distributor and water pump fitment issues. The result is one of the best sounding flathead motors that we have ever heard (and believe us we've heard a whole bunch of them). We threw this video together just to share the sweet sounds of this engine in a short UA-cam clip, but couldn't bring ourselves to cut it any shorter. So forgive us, it is a little long, but such an awesome sounding engine, we just had to share.
Technical Specifications for this engine build:
Wayne Pugh's Honest Charley prepared Street performance Flathead. Intended use: 1940 Ford Coupe
Engine: 1946 59AB
Bore : 3 3/8"
Stroke: 4" Merc crank
CID: 286 CID
Heads: Sharp-fully polished
Cam: Isky 400 JR., '49-'53 8BA type
Springs: Isky single 185-G
Valves/Guides: 1.5" diameter, 8BA type. 45 degree seats
Rods: Scat H-beam
Pistons: Ross forged
Rings: Moly-metric
Intake: Sharp 2 x 2. Fully polished
Carbs: Stromberg 97. New. .043 jets
Air cleaners: OTB dome top 4140
Carb linkage : Stromberg premium
Rear breather: OTB 6825
Distributor: Mallory Unilite, '49-'53 8BA type.
Water pumps: modern '49-'53 8BA type. Bypass plugged
Crank pulley: Removed and relocated forward for alignment & to mount stock '40 Ford fan.
Gaskets: Best brand. Graftite head gaskets.
Starter: Powermaster Vintage
Alternator: Powermaster early look
Headers: Reds, open exhaust
All parts, final assembly and startup by Honest Charley Speed Shop.
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My Dad, who passed away at 91, 9 months ago, said nothing sounded better than a flathead. I wish I could have sent him this video. 👍
My first car was the 1937 Ford V-8 two-door fastback I bought from my father in 1950 when I turned 17. He had replaced it two years before with a new 48 Chevy. The Ford sat, basically undriven except for test drives of our work, as he took me, step by step, through all of that car's issues. I learned things like putting a washer under the cap of the mechanical fuel pump to compensate for wear of the pushrod off the camshaft, tuning the carb that constantly drifted out of adjustment, hand tightening the brake cables (the brakes were mechanical, not hydraulic and cable always stretched), polishing the headlight reflectors (Ford did not have sealed beam headlights) and so on.
We took off the heads, adjusted valves, cleaned valves and cylinders, replaced spark plugs, rebuilt the condenser, replaced wiring, installed a hot water heater (it was bought without one), ditto installed a radio, replaced the windshield because it had been scratched up with use, replaced front wheel bearings and replaced the failing generator with a good rebuilt from Pep Boys.
As a result, when I finally had the keys and full possession, it was not just a car. It was MY car.
Also, as a result, when I was drafted in the Korean War at 19yo, I aced the tests for auto mechanic, graduated top of the auto mechanic school, aced the truck mechanic school, was sent to The Armor School at Fort Knox, graduated top of Tank Mechanic class, graduated top of the training sessions for tank and other track vehicle Instructor - and was appointed, still only 19, as instructor at The Armor School.
All the result of that beautiful 1937 Ford V-8. I wish now I had not sold her the day before I went into the Army.
Sounds similar to the start of my career. Learnt all things mechanical from my step father. By the time I left school I was ready for a career as an aircraft maintenance engineer (1978). Duxed the intake (132 of us) in theory and practical because dad made it a breeze. 131 of the others couldn't grasp the fact that I never studied and never made notes. If I didn't understand what was being taught I'd ask the instructor to explain in another way, if it made sense it stick and therefore I wouldn't need repeating the lesson through books.
Love you dad, you'll kick the big C to the curb in four weeks time I'm sure, I'm with you...
Great story. Loved it.
My ex girlfriend used to tell a similar story about changing the tire on her prius
Scott Leighton what’s a Prius? Is it one of those rental scooters 🛴 always strewn about in the college areas?
@@stopglobalswarming She was from California I'm not sure she could tell the difference
Fuel and air goes in, Liberty and Bald Eagles comes out. What a beauty!
That engine is the sound of the USA, I'm Australian and flatheads are rare here, but they are unmistakable, Ford USA.
@Herman Lipshitz Always plenty of cold beer ready.
Liberal tears are the sludge on the bottom of the oil pan that gets drained out and thrown away.
@@indridcold8433 So only conservatives can like the sound of a flathead? Now that's a stupid comment. Do you understand what the word conservative means? Ya it describes someone who bangs the bible and doesn't like his kids listening to that Devil music called Rock and Roll. Conservative whiny tears crying about liberals are hysterical. And I'm a damn Independent for Christ's sakes.
Ciro Singleterry hell yeah brother.
The best sound I've heard since my wife told me she was leaving me !
Both Sounds are glorious.. freedom + put putt puttt broaaaaa fart lol ;)
Was she a flathead?
@@Rob-jh3eo flat chest
44wetwater 44wetwater best comment
😁😁😁
Who needs a radio when you can listen to a great motor while you're cruising down the road!?
Dentists like small electric motors
Both true
That may qualify as music, Chevy guy but love those flatheads!!!
I'm a Chevy guy inside & out but the sound of a flathead Ford v8 is just magical.
I built automatic transmissions 35 yrs (also chevy guy).2 guys doing chev vs ford thing chevy guy said..."tell him best automatic transmission ever made.....OK Ford C-6....how about TH 400 yep great transmission but I personally think C-6s are nearly bulletproof...Chevy guy mad@ me...lol
@@packingten Most Chevy guys like Ford stuff. 300 six cylinders, 351 Clevelands, 5.0s , 9 inch rear ends to name a few. It's usually cheaper to make Chevy HP, but each their own.
Chevy guy too but the purr and roar of that flathead was beautiful :-)
There has never been a better sounding V8 than the Ford flathead...bar none. It is to gasoline engines what the 2 stroke Detroit's were to diesel engines. That's a fact...not an opinion !!!
Had a 1949 Ford with a flat head just like this one. Ran it with twin 36" glass packs. The sound was so sweet when cruising.
I remember those glass packs and drag plugs
Flatheads should be in the engine hall of fame.
I'm a Chevy guy that also loves the Ford flat head V8.
With you Eric, Chevy dude here too, but our gang started out with flatheads, so I cannot ignore them. Rode around town many miles just cruisin' in several of them.
From an engineering stand point it's not that great, and that's important to be in the engine hall of fame.
But in pretty much every other way, it's a cool engine.
IMNOTA From an engineering standpoint it was the best performing bang for the buck from the 1930’s until a GM introduced the OHV V-8.
@@Boss429.. Yeah I guess price of manufacturing was something I didn't really take into consideration. You could also say that the ease of maintenance and fixing is great engineering. But I was talking about efficiency, those engines having very low power outputs despite the quite large displacement and high compsumption and that's something quite important. Anyways it still has it's place in the engine hall of fame because I'm sure it had it's role in making engines and cars in general evolve.
That really does sound nice. There is no hesitation when you open the throttle, just instant response.
I am going to put these engine sound on a continuous loop and let the sound lull me to sleep.
They say Clyde Barrow liked the Flathead Ford V-8s because they could easily outrun the cops. I think he liked them because their sound kept Bonnie horny.
She even wrote a poem about it:"When Clyde winds out that flathead V8, panty pudding it does create".
Bruce Walters i
Bruce Walters You do know that they were cop killing criminals.
Bruce Walters - Congratulations! You have just retroactively won the Internet with that comment, despite it having been made over a year ago!
Bruce Walters clyde would only steal a ford...flathead v8!
Despite Fords flaws the Sound of their engines keep me coming back
that's the best sounding flathead I ever heard
wonderful ring tone
Don't worry about the video being long, I could listen to that idle all day! It has the same lope at idle as a Curtis Wright 3350 radial aircraft engine. I love it!
Nice job sir, thanks for keeping em alive.
One of my friends was curious why I loved the Flathead so much. I showed him this video, and he fell in love a little bit himself. I gotta say though, I wish the engine had been revved up gradually, I'd love to use this in a sound pack for a truck in a game. It's just so... Meaty. Doesn't get much better than a Flathead!
that things runs so well it's incredible. excellent rebuild!
Nice job sir, thanks for keeping em alive. - Back in the sixties in Norway, my father had a Simca Vedette(Ariane) Wth a V8 flathead. I still remember the sound.
My memory goes back to the Hixson Drag Strip and my '53 Ford I use to run there in 1958/9. WOW, I want one !!
This has to be one of the sweeeeeetest sounding engines i have ever heard!!!!!!! WELL DONE SIR!!!!!!
Always loved the look and sound of this engine!!!!
Spent many hours of my misspent youth working on V8 flatties. My best friend had A '35Ford three window coupe, A '49 Ford 1.5 ton flatbed, A ' 51Ford coupe and A '52 Murc coupe. Wish I could have bought all of them from him but I was too young and poor. I did buy A 60 T-Bird from him but that one had A 352 in it.
Lost track of the guy about 20 year's ago. He taught me every depraved thing I know!
AHH, our teachers. they were the best.
He was your best friend and you lost track of him? Man..? In your entire life, you'll never have more "TRUE" friend's than you can count on (1) hand...should look him up ..
My dad and I rebuilt one of these in the winter of 1960. I learned a lot from him that winter. When we finished the engine, it went in a 1933 B Model Ford Pickup. Drove it just enough the next year or so, then went into the Air Force. Dad passed it on to someone else. Good days.
That sound brings back memories. Just awesome.
Very nice. I love the sound of controlled power.
I love that "loping cam," ha, ha, ha. Had a couple of these old flatheads, back in the day. 1955-56
I pulled lumber on a green chain as a 15 year old kid...Lumber carriers hauled the finished load over to the kilns and they were all powered by flathead V-8's with a flex pipe exhaust....Never got tired of hearing those cool little motors cackle!
That is flat out BADASS!! Never ever heard one run that good.
Most likely the 83 haters never heard of a flat head
They all have 4 cylinders with Borla mufflers.
They probably thought it was a fish.
No, it is more likely that they are aware of how unreliable these engines were and the poor output due to the design.
No, they thought it meant their date had a flat head, as In a place to set Ur beer while she was workin. LOL
@@davidkeller2832 I hear they're very reliable. And you have to keep in mind when they were made
There is no other sound on the planet that sounds better than a V8 Engine.... Flatheads sound Phenomenal.... This new crap v6 engines will never give you the vibration, sound or the thrills... If it ain't got a V8 it's got nothin.....
totally true
the new v6 not sound cool
anyway i dont get a hard one from it
but this beauty makes everything awake hahahaha
Dentists like small electric motors
my father raced in the fifties flathead era up here in the northeast. that motor sound brought back a flood of memories. one night in 1958 at Chemung Speedrome. he came up in the stands and told us (me 8 years old) they were turning stock cars away because they had 105 stock cars already in the pits. that was the golden age for the flathead.
I’m 64 years old now. And I can still remember the pure unadultered sound of Dad’s ‘54 pickup truck fitted with a Flathead.
I am residing in South Africa, where they were as popular as in the ‘States.
most beautyful v8 sound i ever hear
and i love the way that engine looks
just simple
no electronic computer shizzle just simple clean nice
i would love to have such engine in my mitsubishi colt😊🤠
Sounds so nice keep up the good work.
The sound of the sixties to me, Our car club built a Mercury flat head, put three deuces on her, a high lift cam and offenhauser heads! It sounded similar to yours. It was bad in the 32 deuce we put it in.Thanks for bringing back some old memories!
Great video great details GREAT sounding old Ford V8. Cheers for sharing it.
The revving sounds beastly.... but the low rpm idle shakes you on the inside. My goodness.... can't wait to lock two of these together inline with each other and fit them into my extreme custom 63' Fairlane hot rod.
Wow! Sounds like something Ed "Big Daddy" Roth might have put together as a show car.
i have a 63 fairlane
I put a 289 in my 62 Fairlane and love it.
Love that sound!!!
It was always nice to run into one of the old guys who were building these back when the engines were new. Not that many of them left now so if you meet one, then enjoy what he has to tell you. It was their knowledge being passed down is why shops like this exist now.
That sounds awesome! Nothing beats the sound of a 8 cylinder motor.
Sounds like a ww2 fighter plane interceptor at idle. Damn sounds great
learned to drive in with a flathead. sounded as good as that one. dual glasspacks. best
Very soothing music to my ears. I use to have a 302 cleveland standing alone, I'd start it up just to listen to the music.
I had a sluggish V8 engine in a ute as well, when it was idling the exhaust pipe would be hitting the panel which sounded very musical (until it warmed up).
V8's will never go away because of the music they make.
Goosebumps all over, damn what a nice running engine....
My top 3 hot rod engines
1) Chrysler early Hemis
2) Flathead Ford V8
3) Buick Fireball (Nailhead)
A built 300 six
Rode many miles in cars&trucks with flathead V8..Dad had a small trucking/moving service we had a 50 ford 11/2 ton truck...it would haul ANYTHING loved that low gear whine...Then. We had a 53 Ford wagon....w "Ford O Matic"...ugly car but a good one..Sure miss those days with my Daddy...RIP Dad...You never get over losing you father when your a boy...
WHAT A SWEET GLORIOUS SOUND FROM FORD AND CHARLY'S SPEED SHOP - That is what a proper 1930s hot rod should sound like!
The flatheads I build in my garage when I started racing in the 60's sounded like that and pulled damn near as good as a small block Chevy engine.
I personally built the hopped '47 Merc that's in my A-V8 highboy. 1/8th x 3/8ths, 1939 McCulloch top hat blower (no boost, but it looks fabulous!) with dual 97's, L100 cam, aluminum f/wheel, etc.. It pulls like a locomotive up to 5500, and has every bit as much grunt as a stock 4bbl 283 Chevy! So much torque I can start out in 3rd. LOVE that old side-valve V8!
Ok don't get carried away. I love these engines too but to say they compare to a small block chevy ?
the deceleration almost sounds like it has jake brakes haha
Lol
Love the chop! So many times I'm less than impressed with people's choice with camshafts in flatheads. This one sounds legit.
very cool set up! thx 4 posting
you're right, that thing sounds great.
Now just crate it up & send it to my guy in Longbeach so we can get it to Australia. Thanks a lot!
I know nothing about flatheads, but that thing sounds freaking awesome, if I had a little old 32 coupe with that in it that would be too cool. Excellent job.
Great looking project. The heartbeat of early hotroding.
Used to be an outfit called the ,"N.A.A.F.H." The National Association for the Advancement of Flatheads." They had some drag race get togethers back in the '60s. My '51 Ford 2-door and I belonged. I still have an unused decal. It's cool. It shows a '34 Ford coupe with a full-race flathead chasing a '55 Chevy and chewing the butt off it. Anybody else remember?
FLATHEADS FOREVER!
Gotta love a flattie. (Not in girlfriends ) I didn't know Honest Charley was still around. That was my "go to" catalog back in the 60s.
I made the same comment in a different video. I didn't know they were still in business either. It's good to see they. The grandfather of the speed shops.
Sounds So Beautiful 😍
Small tits rule
"flat is justice"
Yeah, too bad it's owned by a guy who sell's FLAT SPOT TIRES!! SNICKER, SNICKER!!
I Love That Sound . Great Video !
Love the sound of a big cam!
Music to my ears!!
Imagine Bonnie and Clyde hearing that seconds before their deaths.
I love the sound of that lopey idle!
The flathead V8 is good looking engine.
I agree, the simplicity and clean lines, why they looked so dang good in open bonnet hot rods.
Awesome sounding and looking
That is one fine sounding flathead Nice work guys sounds mean I love it.
Man that sounds Kool! It's definately counting the licks. Nothing like a flathead.
Why does it... I don't know how to describe it... "sigh" after you let off the throttle? It almost sounds like a horse. It's a great sound though, I love it
it does that cause once the throttle closes back to idle the engine is spinning way too fast for it to burn the small amount of fuel and air it gets till it slows back down to idle and it comes back when it slows down, thats why you get that VRRAAA. . . OOooom
The sound of 150hp from a V8 lol.... can't beat it.
Would be closer to 200hp in reality :)
@@RusteeUte In the 70's and 80's that was more power than your average factory "muscle" car
@@RusteeUte that's what is was thinking. I had a 336 lincoln flattie and it was about 160hp and it run smoother (tamer) than that one.
I wish I could get one! Great job guys!
is that the original soundtrack from "Bonny and Clyde" ?
Stefan Richter I
I know it's a V8, however; I only see 3 exhaust ports on each side.
I love the lope.
Ports were in the head casting. Ford was trying to keep cost down. Keep it looking modern.
The exhaust ports are in the block; ports from two cylinders have to pass between the middle two cylinders into the middle exhaust pipe.
The exhaust ports from the middle two cylinders are joined inside the head, so you can use a single exhaust for them. It's what we call siamese ports in the UK, and was also used on the Mini A-series engine. It does effect the performance of the engine in tuned form.
2 out of 3 commenters stating exhaust ports in the head? Incorrect! It's a flathead! The ports are in the block as are the valves. Center 2 cylinders Siamese into center exhaust port.
@@gregorytimmons4777
Correct, and gives it both tendency to run hot and it's very unique FH Ford sound.
I'm in Australia and never heard one. Does sound really cool. Great looking engine too.
This engine helped build America!
Nice plug wire looms.
Looked like fuel was leaking onto the bell housing from the red pipe.
Oh. My goodness! That little flathead Ford V 8 sounds soooo beautiful! I had a 1950 model
Man that sounds beautiful that is music to my ears
1:14 almost lost his combover lol
YES! nothing finer sounding! Or maybe getting it up to around 2500-3000+ in a cool deuce cpe in second gear. off the gas and listen to it rappp!! off the cam.
That sounds so mesmerizing!
Right out of MadMax, gotta love that sound!!
you are right it does sound pretty hot and looks pretty responsive,, how about a little detail on the build ,,such as bore &stroke cam carbs and jetting mine is just about ready to go to the machine shop have not made up my mind yet on all of the above
Hey Ron I have added all of the specs for this flathead build to the video's description if you're interested in those details!
Honest Charley
Thanks, pretty much along the lines im thinking of going, i did you use a SCAT Stroker kit ?Can i call for component pricing just not sure on the piston Dia. yet Im .030 over right now ,does ross come .040.060/.080/.100 over? Do you have a contact Number?
Thanks
Ron
1-888-795-7077 M-F 8-5p ET Give us a shout!
love the smell of carbon monoxide in the morning
Carbon monoxide is odorless
Hey, a free buzz is a free buzz!
@@bcubed72 But death is eternal!
Love the. Sound brings back memories
damn ain't heard a flathead in years. nice sound. wish my old 50 ford would have sounded like that.
its sound like a rr merlin on runway taxi
the spitfire was way better than the me109, btw while the germans got their ass kicked in the sky over england
The Merlin was an excellent engine! The Spitfire is easily one of the best Allied fighters! The Packard V-1650 is an American production of the same engine, which went into later versions of the P-51.
Rrrupp rrrupp rrrupp rrrupp rrrupp
Best sound ever... I had a 48 coupe with the flathead, loved the car
No wonder why these were so sought after back in their prime, they sound incredible!
1:48 big drip of fuel from the area of the pressure regulator
at 2:11 also
hey this video is 4 years old and we tell him about a drip lol thats funny,, it sure sounds good thoe
Ken Chorney yep i saw that too lol
@@tcply9450 Probably wasn't leaking 4 years ago. Maybe the line has perished a bit? ;-)
Gas leaking near hot exhaust...yikes!!
I love the sound of her flathead V-8, it’s just classic
Jeez that thing sounds MEAN....im an LS guy but man do i love these 53 and older fords
IT SOUND LIKE ROLLS ROYCE MERLIN ON TAXI
You know what it kinda does at idle
V-8 tiller motor
5hp Briggs and Stratton times 8😂
there is another video here on YT about a flathead Merc V8 with A FULL RACE CAM that only made 175 horsepower. Why bother?
but it does SOUND cool!!
Even a stock flat head with glass packs has its own sound. Very cool !
Back in 1960 I had a 1951 Ford Convertible with a Flathead V-8 in it. Bad ass car. I wish I still had it.
Running wayy to rich when it spits black smoke and backfires. The unused fuel goes down the exhaust manifold and gets so hot the gas ignites to make a flame. Race engines should run lean!
It does look a little rich, but in fairness, the black smoke comes right when he jumps the gas, which is where the throttle pump hits, and it will go a little rich then sometimes. That burst of fuel is to make sure it doesn't go too lean right when the plate first opens before the revs come up and stall. Also, the backfire is normal on carbureted engines when you go straight from open to closed because the tiny bit of gas sucking past the throttle plate isn't enough to burn properly until the revs come down.
Considering how quickly the revs DO come up, I think they've got it figured out. :)
Personally, I'm good with the flames.
shut up i want to hear the engine
lol