McCullough Super Charger V/8 Ford
- Thread starter sturgis 39
- Start date
1937pickup
Well-known member
This is a great post to follow-I am always amazed by the knowledge on this site.
toddle321
Senior Member
Thanks Jason - it seemed like it was for an early motor given the location of the generator pulley. I've examined the plate very closely, and it's definitely a "7."
I don't think it's a goof up, the model number is mentioned at http://vs57.y-block.info/the_30s_pinups.htm. This is what he has to say about the 78F85 unit:
"These great pictures were sent to me by Glenn and shows well the base of the later McCulloch. The scroll housing is no longer cast in two parts through it’s midpoint which may have produced an improvement in the airflow (less turbulance). The serial number reads Model 78F85 Serial Number 1260 on a plate titled McCulloch Engineering Co. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This serial number does not seem to fit in with the standard 37F type notation – any ideas anyone? I really am desperate for a bit of information on these!"
The serial number on his follows mine by just 6 units. I emailed the guy at vs57.com, but emails keep bouncing back as undeliverable.
I don't think it's a goof up, the model number is mentioned at http://vs57.y-block.info/the_30s_pinups.htm. This is what he has to say about the 78F85 unit:
"These great pictures were sent to me by Glenn and shows well the base of the later McCulloch. The scroll housing is no longer cast in two parts through it’s midpoint which may have produced an improvement in the airflow (less turbulance). The serial number reads Model 78F85 Serial Number 1260 on a plate titled McCulloch Engineering Co. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This serial number does not seem to fit in with the standard 37F type notation – any ideas anyone? I really am desperate for a bit of information on these!"
The serial number on his follows mine by just 6 units. I emailed the guy at vs57.com, but emails keep bouncing back as undeliverable.
Jason in TX
Well-known member
Unfortunately that site is down now. I don't think it's being updated, but just still out there with info.
The first generation unit is like mine (1937) and has bolts all the way around the top aluminum edge and is meant to fashion to a stock 1936 intake. They did continue the same design into early '38.
Your style McCulloch is a second generation one with the intake included and it also has a built in idler arm. The First generation does not. I wonder if the "7" denotes a month, the 8 denotes the year.
There are 38F85 super chargers (as seen on the first page) that is the first generation. If they did a mid year change, the second generation would also say 38F85 and could get confusing, so perhaps that is 7(July)8(1938)F(Ford)85(HP)
The first generation unit is like mine (1937) and has bolts all the way around the top aluminum edge and is meant to fashion to a stock 1936 intake. They did continue the same design into early '38.
Your style McCulloch is a second generation one with the intake included and it also has a built in idler arm. The First generation does not. I wonder if the "7" denotes a month, the 8 denotes the year.
There are 38F85 super chargers (as seen on the first page) that is the first generation. If they did a mid year change, the second generation would also say 38F85 and could get confusing, so perhaps that is 7(July)8(1938)F(Ford)85(HP)
Jason in TX
Well-known member
This photo is from March of 1937 and shows what is included in the First Generation Kit
Complete supercharger assembly surrounded by major parts of the assembly.
A - Rotor housing
B - Rotor
C - Vertical Shaft
D - Worm and Gear
E - New Air cleaner
F - Horizontal Shaft
G - Intake extension
H - Carburetor gaskets
J - Special bolts and bove them the automatic belt tightener
K - Special Water pumps
Complete supercharger assembly surrounded by major parts of the assembly.
A - Rotor housing
B - Rotor
C - Vertical Shaft
D - Worm and Gear
E - New Air cleaner
F - Horizontal Shaft
G - Intake extension
H - Carburetor gaskets
J - Special bolts and bove them the automatic belt tightener
K - Special Water pumps
toddle321
Senior Member
Thanks Jason, that diagram is really helpful. I'm getting this thing apart now, I sent the unit itself off for rebuilding. I know that some of the Mccullochs had water passages to heat the manifold, I had assumed that mine was not water injected as it doesn't have an inlet/outlet on top of the rotor housing. However, the intake extension looks like it has blocked off water passages and a spring inside that looks like it may be a thermostat. I've attached some pictures, any idea why they would put the spring in there if the passages are blocked off (see silver plug in the last picture)?
Attachments
Toddle, I found this info in my basement today, it explains the manifold heat on your '38 McCulloch supercharger. It's not an original, it was reprinted in "Ford Life " magazine back in the '70's.
Well I've tried to include scans but can't, I keep getting a prompt about a "missing security token" whatever that is. It seems to complete the uploads but then the error shows.
Here's a synopsis- the exhaust manifold heat passages are included in the McCulloch manifold to provide automatic heat control. The new 1938 design is the first in America to control the temperature of the incoming mixture automatically. A thermostatic element is placed directly in the intake passageway and operates a butterfly shut off valve to limit the flow of exhaust gasses through the jacketed rotor housing. The result is amazingly rapid warm up, smooth acceleration, and maximum top speed performance.
Their claim was 124HP on a stock '38 flathead when installed with the dual exhaust system furnished at no extra cost.
Well I've tried to include scans but can't, I keep getting a prompt about a "missing security token" whatever that is. It seems to complete the uploads but then the error shows.
Here's a synopsis- the exhaust manifold heat passages are included in the McCulloch manifold to provide automatic heat control. The new 1938 design is the first in America to control the temperature of the incoming mixture automatically. A thermostatic element is placed directly in the intake passageway and operates a butterfly shut off valve to limit the flow of exhaust gasses through the jacketed rotor housing. The result is amazingly rapid warm up, smooth acceleration, and maximum top speed performance.
Their claim was 124HP on a stock '38 flathead when installed with the dual exhaust system furnished at no extra cost.
Dave/Green Bay
Senior Member
I am in the process of checking into having the gears reproduced for the 37 McCullough Super Charger. Does anyone know of a source for these gears or have an interest in having a set made. As I hear from the gear manufactures in the area the first one is expensive and the other much less costly. Let me know Thank you
Dave/Green Bay
Dave/Green Bay
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