flathead speed
- Thread starter Straightpipes
- Start date
BUBBAS IGNITION
Well-known member
Guys just remember " the older we get the faster we was!!!"............My first car was a free 50 Plymouth ran out of steam at 130 plus....... Ok maybe that was 1300 rpm with my new JC Whittney tachometer..............
Ron,
Kloths engine was all about airflow, and this, as you know makes horse power. The higher rpm the torque peak can moved up, the greater the horse power. This requires good air flow.
Some details of Kens Merc. For those that don't know.
full body, interior, bumpers etc. 143.3 mph on the salt. Shifts gear at 6000 rpm, goes through the back door at 5600 rpm.
Obviously lots of trick parts, roller cam with big journals, home made roller lifters, 600 cfm Holley, much modified offy heads and intake, 180 degree headers. 4" stroke 3.257 bore, 267 ci. That's just 0.070" over stock.
He didn't need a massive bore an stroke. It's all about the ability to breath.
Martin.
Kloths engine was all about airflow, and this, as you know makes horse power. The higher rpm the torque peak can moved up, the greater the horse power. This requires good air flow.
Some details of Kens Merc. For those that don't know.
full body, interior, bumpers etc. 143.3 mph on the salt. Shifts gear at 6000 rpm, goes through the back door at 5600 rpm.
Obviously lots of trick parts, roller cam with big journals, home made roller lifters, 600 cfm Holley, much modified offy heads and intake, 180 degree headers. 4" stroke 3.257 bore, 267 ci. That's just 0.070" over stock.
He didn't need a massive bore an stroke. It's all about the ability to breath.
Martin.
quickchange34
Well-known member
My Blown 276 flatie in my 34 three window did a easy 100 miles a hour down the straight at Charlotte Motor Speedway . It had more left but the coupe was getting a little light in the front end. I gave up before the engine. What a thrill !!
Alaska Jim
Well-known member
Ralph, it was on the flats between the kink river bridge and where the parks/ glenn hwy interchange is now. long, straight and flat for about 2 miles. I was already at 65 when I came out of the curve across the last bridge onto the flats heading north.
awelker
Member
Well I don't have any good stories of speed in a stock bodied car. Maybe I'm not that brave.
But I do like to see what the flathead will do in my bellytank. Video was from the Ohio Mile last fall. They will breathe and rev ok naturally aspirated, just takes a lot of time, custom parts and $$$, to still not make a lot of horsepower. But it's loads of fun. Wish I had video from a few weeks earlier at Loring Maine when we were pushing just a little harder. Decided to back off a little when the tach peak memory was pushing 6800.
This engine has proven to like to pull to 5200 in high gear at Bonneville, Ohio, and Maine.
Andy
https://youtu.be/h5ta6dBwObA
But I do like to see what the flathead will do in my bellytank. Video was from the Ohio Mile last fall. They will breathe and rev ok naturally aspirated, just takes a lot of time, custom parts and $$$, to still not make a lot of horsepower. But it's loads of fun. Wish I had video from a few weeks earlier at Loring Maine when we were pushing just a little harder. Decided to back off a little when the tach peak memory was pushing 6800.
This engine has proven to like to pull to 5200 in high gear at Bonneville, Ohio, and Maine.
Andy
https://youtu.be/h5ta6dBwObA
Lawson Cox
Well-known member
Only way to drive a flathead is WIDE OPEN. LOL
Lanny
Well-known member
===============================================
Andy, thanks for sharing your video, that was a fun ride-along.
.
GB SISSON
Well-known member
From an old dog eared Floyd Clymer publication , written by Roger Huntington in '51 called How to hop up Ford and MercuryV8 engines. This is the last paragraph on the last page...
A man is a man who will fight with a sword,
Or tackle Mt. Everest in snow.
But the bravest of all owns a '34 ford,
Who will try for six thousand in Low.
A man is a man who will fight with a sword,
Or tackle Mt. Everest in snow.
But the bravest of all owns a '34 ford,
Who will try for six thousand in Low.
Alaska Jim
Well-known member
Bluebell, my brother used to do a lot of drag racing, and he always commented on how we have such "good" air up here. I am sure that the cool evening air did not hurt, but can't say that it helped either lol.
Jim, You're correct about the "good air", but unfortunately the coolness up here doesn't always leave enough heat in the pavement for the best traction.
Bill
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danliveshere
Well-known member
Got to 100 on a long long slightly downhill stretch with a 59 a with offy heads twins carbs and dual exhaust and 3.78 rear. Stable ride at 60 very scary at 100 so I never did it again (in the roadster) and besides that nowadays here in Australia get caught doing that speed and they want to take your car off you
Alaska Jim
Well-known member
Dan, not sure I would do it in my 30 coupe. it is Y- block powered, and I am sure the car is capable of matching and surpassing My '51 Merc., but I run bias tires on it and the roads up here are not to friendly to bias ply tires, they seem to grab every rut. it is manageable at reasonable speeds, but I have only had the coupe up to 85 for a short distance . the car is still new with only about 600 miles on it, and still sorting things out. I may get braver later on, but I am 65 now and am not to anxious to meet my maker just yet. lol.
TomT/Williamsburg
Well-known member
Hit 85+ in the roadster while on my way to the Roadster show. There was more there but would probably have taken a few more miles to achieve its max!