volume 50, #2 of "old cars" magazine, just out, contained an interesting article re: an engine put together many years ago and run in a '32 roadster. this was a 239, naturally aspirated with 3 97's and a few after market speed parts. dyno reading was 350 h.p. and rev'd regularly to 10,000 rpms, sometimes all the way to 12k. if you can acquire a copy of this issue, as i say, an interesting story and you can be the judge.
ultimate flathead
- Thread starter arkusvt
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Jim in Wisconsin
Senior Member
I read that article too, 10,000 on a flathead? Maybe that tach was reading wrong.
51 MERC-CT
Well-known member
Suspect the key words are in the first post, "this was a 239" 
tubman
Well-known member
Suspect the key words are in the first post, "this was a 239"
With that kind of numbers, whether it was or wasn't a 239 is irrelevant.
Ross F-1
Well-known member
Here's the article: https://www.oldcarsweekly.com/features/the-long-haul-deuce
"....Now 10,000 rpm might sound like a lot of fun, but it did present some problems."
"....Now 10,000 rpm might sound like a lot of fun, but it did present some problems."
During this time, I once drag raced down Yale Boulevard in Nampa (this was a bout 1963). I tried a full-throttle power shift at 10,000 rpm and the result was a blown clutch, transmission, drive shaft, differential and a broken axle. Witnesses said the front end came off the ground a good 2 feet.
This is part where I stopped reading. I hope this author got an A in their creative writing class. Give me a break...
This is part where I stopped reading. I hope this author got an A in their creative writing class. Give me a break...
Getting that kind of RPM's is easy; just use a tachometer for a 4 cylinder engine.
Tub, I thought the same exact thing. Either wired wrong or it's a 4 cly. tach.
McMimmcs
Well-known member
I totally agree with you??
deuce5wndw
Well-known member
Maybe it's a case of the older I get the faster I was!
Maybe it's a case of the older I get the faster I was!
Anyone catch the part about how fast he went after installing the 4.33 rear? The "facts" of this story are approaching science fiction levels.
Should have taken this beast to Bonneville.
Ross F-1
Well-known member
I liked this part:
The ’55 had an unbuilt 283-cid V-8 so I bought a motor adapter and installed the 283 in my ’32. What a disappointment that was. While I no longer had the heating problem, I had also lost a whole lot of power. It was OK, just not as thrilling as the full-race flathead.
Old Cars is usually a very interesting read, but this is ridiculous.
petehoovie
Well-known member
lol!!!!