New Arduns for SBC

R

RPM

Senior Member
Anymore news about the hemi ARDUN heads for Chebbies? Thought some were shown at a swap meet in LA 2 yrs ago.
 
Back in the early 90's you could buy a kit for your chevy to make it look like an Ardun. Not many of them were made.
 
Don Fergusen Jr. is producing the Ardun Heads and is developing a Chevy block that will accept Ardun heads. If you are able to attend the Rod Rider banquet on March 16th, he will have a block on display.
 

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deucemac said:
Don Fergusen Jr. is producing the Ardun Heads and is developing a Chevy block that will accept Ardun heads. If you are able to attend the Rod Rider banquet on March 16th, he will have a block on display.
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Do you have a website??
 
deucemac said:
Don Fergusen Jr. is producing the Ardun Heads and is developing a Chevy block that will accept Ardun heads. If you are able to attend the Rod Rider banquet on March 16th, he will have a block on display.
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As an owner of a set of original heads and overall Ardun nut, this disappoints me. I'd have hoped Don of all people would have more respect for the Ardun than to do that to its name and legacy.
 
Why would anyone want a set? I hate seeing a Chevy engine in a Ford. When I'm at a car show, I walk right past the Fords that have Chevy engines in them.
 
I do too tdlmomowers, it seems to me if you want a chevy engine car then buy one, don't mess up a nice old flathead ford.
 
deucemac said:
Don Fergusen Jr. is producing the Ardun Heads and is developing a Chevy block that will accept Ardun heads.
Click to expand...

Ugh. Why? Those heads are different than the repros he does for flatheads. Don't understand the reason for a SBC architecture head, other than street rodders who aren't tough enough to run a flathead.
 
Don't forget Guys and Gals, that the original purpose of the design was to cure the overheating tendencies of flathead designs under heavy load in truck use (due to the long exhaust travel through the block)...Zora and his brother didn't produce these things for hot rods. Hey, I love these original Arduns, too. Something "magical" about 'em, just like Zora himself. Not un-like Kinmont brakes, most folks don't even know what an ARDUN head is, much less, how the "Ardun" name was derived. I say...the more, the merrier! These later Ardun pieces really have no detrimental effect on the value, or the appeal of originals. Anyone that knows anything about "the real deals" would never mistake any of the current stuff for originals. Folks fortunate enough to own the "real deals" can still take a huge amount of pride in belonging to a very exclusive "club". DD
 
You can contact Don's son Don II by visiting the SCTA/BNI.org web site. Don III is an officer and his contact information is listed. Sorry to hear the disturbing comments of use or "purity of Ardun heads. Neither the blocks or heads were ever intended to be for restorations. A 1000 point B400 sporting an Ardun conversion would be wrong in my eyes. Remember that Arduns were not very well accepted until C-T automotive found out how to modify them into real racing heads. Ferguson took that and refined them even more to make them reliable in the long run. Besides, this stuff is for hot rods and the true essence of hot rodding and I I am right , the core of it is to innovate and create. I can appreciate both and do so as often as possible.
 
RPM I thought I would post these pictures I took at the Rod Riders banquet this past Saturday. I got some time to talk to Don about the heads and block he is casting. he just received the custom pistons from Nick Arias and will start assembly. He has flowed the heads and the intakes flow 325 cfm! He bought the patterns from someone that originally started the Ardun/chevy idea in the '70's and gave up. I forget the gentleman's name. As you can see in the pic, it has a 4bbl intake and Don is looking toward the street rodders. But, those huge ports and the ultra heavy duty valve gear, I would not be surprised to see at least one motor end up at B'ville before too long. Hope this info helps answer your questions.
 

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How is the "paired" cylinder arrangement of the flat head block (and original Ardun heads) get translated to the "equally spaced" cylinder arrangement of the SBC? I'd like to see a picture of the underside of the heads in Deucemac's pictures above.

Man, that makes one W I D E engine! The head/valve cover is darn near as big as the SBC block.
 
Excellent improvement for the garbage truck engine, should be able to haule as much as a Mack now. Snooze
 
296 V8 said:
You cant see post #3?
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Ooops... I was only looking at post #11. I had seen post #3 earlier, but I didn't realize that that was the SBC version. Now, I see that the plugs are offset to the sides of the combustion chambers. Are they more centered on the Ardun-Ford heads?

Also see that the block has to be special to accommodate a different head bolt arrangement. (SBC has five bolts surrounding each cylinder. There are two below each cylinder, two slightly above the bore centerline and one directly above the bore. The last one would go directly through the inlet port.)
 
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Questions:
I'm not an engine guy at all, barely a change a tire guy.
I understand that our Flatheads suffer from lack of breathability and that the Ardun setup changed that ( possibly by relocating the breathing portion of the engine to the new heads...). Please correct me if I'm wrong or add to this description.
What is the point of an Ardun setup for SBC. Aren't those blocks very capable blocks already? Is this just another way to make those blocks deliver or are they reaching for even more out of a SBC?
 
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With all the money spent on this kind of "Stuff" Somebody could repoduce the stock block with just a few improvemrnts, like a stornger deck and main baring webs. maybe an internal full flow oil system. BUT leave the engine stock cast iron replacement for the future roders. You might find some old cores over in France you could use. Probly give the Chinese someplace to put their crankshafts and rods.
 
The chevrolet already comes from 100 horsepower up to 1000 , so i guess i would just have to ask "why" bother.


Lot of money for the "look"..........
 
I stared at that post #3 for a long time trying to figure it out... Duh, the head is just sitting on the block upside down!

I agree, what's the point for a chebbie? Makes a hell of a big engine that won't fit in our Fords anyway, the only payback being the hemi chamber?
 
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