Author Topic: Flathead V-8  (Read 170772 times)

Offline gbritnell

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 2460
Flathead V-8
« on: July 07, 2014, 04:29:13 PM »
Gentlemen,

 For many years I've had a project in mind to build a Ford flathead V-8 engine. The unique thing about the Ford flathead is that the exhaust runners ran through the water jacket and out the side of the block. Actually this was not a good idea as the extra heat from the exhaust added to the cooling woes of this particular engine. That being said I still wanted to try and build one.
 For you fellows who follow my work know I scratch build all of my models from bar stock so after many hours of layouts and drawings I just couldn't come up with a way of fabricating this type of engine from solid. The next plan was to make patterns and coreboxes. I had heard from someone that the old flatheads used 23 cores in the casting process. Having come from a Ford foundry where we cast all types of engines at first I couldn't fathom why this engine would use that many cores. A 302 V-8 engine uses 10 cores and 2 molds, cope and drag. Here again after many hours of layouts and drawings I can now understand why they used so many cores.
  Now I've put countless hours into engine and model building but to make all of the coreboxes and patterns required for this engine just seemed a little over the top. I had to ask myself if I really went ahead and made them all and took them to a foundry for casting what would be the cost of making all those cores and casting an engine.  Furthermore what would happen if some of the coreboxes go lost or damaged.
 It was time for an entirely new game plan! I still wanted to build a flathead but the Ford type was out of the question so the next best thing is the Cadillac design. The difference in this engine compared to the Ford is that all the ports, intake and exhaust,  come out of the top of the block. There are castings out there for this type. They are for the Challenger V-8 that Cole's sells but here again I like to make my own engines so it was back to the drawing board.
 I have the rough Cad drawings made and have converted them into a solid model. I'm presenting them here for your perusal.
 With winter just around the corner, I know it's only July but with the way time flies it'll be here in no time so I'm getting a head start on the project.
gbritnell
Talent unshared is talent wasted.

Offline sshire

  • Full Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3044
    • LS Editions
Re: Flathead V-8
« Reply #1 on: July 07, 2014, 04:59:57 PM »
George
Only 23 cores?
Can't wait to follow the upcoming build as I have learned so much from seeing how you approach and execute each part. Thanks for letting us look over your shoulder.  It's a privilege.
Best,
Stan

Offline Don1966

  • Full Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 6817
  • Columbia, MS
Re: Flathead V-8
« Reply #2 on: July 07, 2014, 07:55:12 PM »
George I am differently in on this one. I would miss this for anything.


 :popcornsmall:

Don

Offline vcutajar

  • Full Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2555
  • Marsascala, MALTA
Re: Flathead V-8
« Reply #3 on: July 07, 2014, 08:17:32 PM »
Me too. I'm in.  Will be following along quietly trying to absorb the information.

Vince

Offline crankshafter

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 127
  • Molde, Norway
Re: Flathead V-8
« Reply #4 on: July 07, 2014, 08:36:18 PM »
George.
I'm in. Let the show begin :bandrock:
Flatheads have and will be my favorit engines.
CS
"I cut it twice, and it's still to short"!!??">#%

Offline maury

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 515
    • Lone Star Engine Works
Re: Flathead V-8
« Reply #5 on: July 07, 2014, 10:43:58 PM »
George, what an interesting project. If you are interested, I would be willing to help with the design and implementation of the foundry/pattern part of your project. I may have a bit of extra time as summer comes to an end. I also can have your engine cast in iron for a quite reasonable price. Let me know.

Thanks,
maury
"The trouble with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money."... Margaret Thatcher

Offline cfellows

  • Rest In Peace
  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 1700
Re: Flathead V-8
« Reply #6 on: July 07, 2014, 11:35:17 PM »
George, you're a man after my own heart.  I turned 16 in 1959 and even though Ford was no longer making them, the then older Ford Flathead V8's were the most we could afford.  I still have a real affection for them.  I had planned to make a compressed air version of the Ford Flathead but being true to the original design was more than I bargained for, so I settled for my own V-8 design.  I would still like to make a compressed air version of the Ford engine at some point.

Chuck
So many projects, so little time...

Offline jeff l

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 234
Re: Flathead V-8
« Reply #7 on: July 08, 2014, 12:20:24 AM »
 I'm in .Jeff

Online steamer

  • Global Moderator
  • Full Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 12697
  • Central Massachusetts, USA
Re: Flathead V-8
« Reply #8 on: July 08, 2014, 06:33:54 AM »
Oh Man!   Are you kidding?!    Of course I'm in!

 :cheers:

Dave
"Mister M'Andrew, don't you think steam spoils romance at sea?"
Damned ijjit!

Offline Roger B

  • Global Moderator
  • Full Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 6133
  • Switzerland
Re: Flathead V-8
« Reply #9 on: July 08, 2014, 07:45:02 AM »
Looks like another fascinating project  :ThumbsUp:  :ThumbsUp: I will definitely be following along  :popcorn: Have you considered spark eroding/EDM for some of the more complicated holes? The tool room at a company I used to work at used it for complicated passages in extrusion tooling.
Best regards

Roger

Offline Art K

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1761
  • Madison, Wisconsin USA
Re: Flathead V-8
« Reply #10 on: July 08, 2014, 11:22:09 PM »
George,
I wouldn't miss this one!
Art
"The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you" B.B. King

Offline b.lindsey

  • Global Moderator
  • Full Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 13860
  • Dallas, NC, USA
    • Workbench-Miniatures
Re: Flathead V-8
« Reply #11 on: July 09, 2014, 12:24:35 AM »
Another masterful project I will be following George. Looking forward to the ride.

Bill

Offline Dave Otto

  • Full Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4693
  • Boise, Idaho USA
    • Photo Bucket
Re: Flathead V-8
« Reply #12 on: July 09, 2014, 12:50:04 AM »
Looking forward to watching another engine created by one of the greats in the hobby.

Dave

Offline gbritnell

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 2460
Re: Flathead V-8
« Reply #13 on: July 17, 2014, 07:20:58 PM »
I have been working on the head drawings. With no real way to drill holes through the length of the head I had to come up with another way of getting water in and through it. I think I found the solution, make the heads from two pieces, an upper and a lower. Once machined the internal bosses and flange will be coated with high temp epoxy and then clamped together. With no real stress on the heads this should work well. 
gbritnell
Talent unshared is talent wasted.

Offline BronxFigs

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 92
Re: Flathead V-8
« Reply #14 on: July 17, 2014, 09:42:22 PM »
I really admire all you builders who never seem to be daunted by machining and design problems.  You just approach the problems from a different angle and come up with solutions and designs that are unique.  The best part is that you share the results of your concepts, and machining skills, with model engine builders all over the world.  I, for one, and I am sure others feel this same way, are in your debt.

You, Chuck Fellows Steve Huck, and some others can loudly sing a few choruses of... "I Did It My Way"....


Many thanks for your generosity.



Frank
90% of everything is BS!

 

SimplePortal 2.3.5 © 2008-2012, SimplePortal