Ardun powered garbage trucks

1931 flamingo

1931 flamingo

Well-known member
Sitting around at a show last Saturday and an "old" timer mentioned that NYC had installed Ardun heads on their flathead powered garbage trucks for more power "back in the day".

Any truth to this?? :confused::eek::confused:
Paul in CT
 
Yes, I think so. Many years ago I read an interview with Zora Duntov. He said the heads were originally designed for NYC garbage trucks to cure overheating. Something happened to kill the deal so the heads ended up going to hot rodders. As I remember they were sold off cheap to get rid of them. I'm fuzzy on the details. Maybe someone still has this article, but it would probably be a Corvette fan!
 
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What killed the deal was the new 337" truck/Lincoln flathead Ford introduced in late '48, which made modifications and extra cost to the smaller engine unnecessary.
 
316979

Some lucky owner has this fully reconditioned ARDUN conversion Flathead V8 ready to go into his next project.
 
1931 flamingo said:
Sitting around at a show last Saturday and an "old" timer mentioned that NYC had installed Ardun heads on their flathead powered garbage trucks for more power "back in the day".

Any truth to this?? :confused::eek::confused:
Paul in CT
Click to expand...


No truth to that at all. The Ardun Engine Co located in New York City put out a press release printed in the New York Times in 1951 about a revolutionary conversion for a truck application using aircraft techniques. However the Ford truck 337 flathead put an end to any possible sales for that purpose. The old tale it was a garbage truck engine conversion is just a tale the type that will never die.
When the Ardun Engine Co was no longer in business all of the Ardun inventory was purchased by CT automotive in California and the Grancor Company that happened by 1953. Both companys offered kits for sale until everything was gone.
In my Ardun collection I have a letter dated June 18,1952 sent to Mr David Engman East Acton, Massachuesetts from the Ardun Engine Company Empire State Building 350 5TH Ave New York1, NY In this letter the list price of this Unit is $490.00 the letter goes on to offer a dealer discount in view of the absence of a distributer in your vicinity the discounts were 25% and 15% the price was then quoted at $378.00.
The last two lines in the letter are as follows. Ardun units have been installed in 1934 Fords in California without any particular difficulty to the best of our knowledge. Shipment of a unit can take place within approximatley two to three weeks after receipt of your order. Signed R Klien with a copy to YAD.
YAD is Zoras brother.
Ronnieroadster
 
Spoke with a gentleman at the Dearborn deuce meet some years ago claiming to have a fire truck from I believe the Kentucky coal mine area that was Ardun powered.
 
I've heard so many versions of the garbage truck story over the years that it must be an urban legend. I've never seen a bit of documentation of it.
Here's a copy of the NYT news article.
317029


Here's a link to a larger version.
https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4267/34060158783_809931a1b3_k.jpg

Most recent confabulation I heard was that the heads were built in England for a London garbage truck contract, and Ford supplied them as OEM equipment on those trucks, and the valve covers said FORD on them, not Ardun.
 

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Never thought of that, I bought a used one for 300 and it was a running engine, but that was in the early 60's. Now Ronnie Roadster Knows more about these conversions than any one I know.
 
Yoyodyne said:
I've heard so many versions of the garbage truck story over the years that it must be an urban legend. I've never seen a bit of documentation of it.
Here's a copy of the NYT news article.
317029
Click to expand...

This, just one more example to support the current-day claims of "fake news". DD
 
About 30 years ago veteran English Rodder Ken Cooper told me the Ardun units were used on (some) refuse vehicles. He had some. If just one city or council fleet had just one vehicle fitted with them, then the story is true. I believe Ken, and this version pre dates any internet spread myth.

In my mind it is true cos Ken don't lie. Not all would have had them, and even if as few as one or two, that's enough. Ken is a great character and can be seen at various events in the UK. He recently built as a joint venture with his son, Bradley, a flathead powered dragster, and they campaign it regularly.
 
For what it is worth, the pair that I had came off an engine in a truck (in Argentina). I don't know what sort of truck it was, however. They had both the Ardun New York and Made in England lettering cast into the covers.
 
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