mystery engine
 

Friend of a friend took me into this guys workshop; the owner wasn't there. In it was this engine. Anyone know what it is?

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1159898409.jpg

It's a flathead V-8 with a distributor set up for twin plugs. I didn't see the second set of spark plug holes.

Thanks,
Sherwood

Might just be my eyes or this monitor, but it seems to be missing 1 exhaust port according to those headers...

Maybe someone just bolted alot of parts together for a conversation piece? Inquiring minds want to know...

Looks like an old 239 Ford Flathead. Note the hand crank screw on the crank pully?

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1159900440.jpg

This pic is of a known 239 Ford Flathead. Only real difference that I can see is of the distributor.

Surely a Ford flathead, but the distributor and headers have got to be mock-ups for body/chassis fitment

They had siamesed exhaust ports and, in some cases, intake ports. Pretty common at one time. VW guys extol the virture of "single port" and "dual port" heads for different applications. The single ports shared a common intake port that branched inside the head. I've seen this on an old Landcruiser straight six as well, with shared intake ports between the 2/3 and 4/5 cylinders.

More 239's. Top one is supercharged with Offy heads, bottom one just dual carbs.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1159901379.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1159901484.jpg

Back in the day when guys were running these on fuel they would machine an extra center exhaust port out of the top of the block to aid flow.

The distributor a mystery to me...but look UNDER the flat "head"...shape looks a lot like the ARDUN heads of old...
Sidney Allard commissioned Zora Duntov (yes, the 'Vette guy) and a guy named Arlen Ness (if memory serves) to make them for his Allards...the ARDUN head converted the flathead to a OHV engine.

not an ARDUN conversion, the Ardun's heads are tall so they can have valves in them.

The "ROADRUNNER & WILEY COYOTE "cartoon once had a bit in it that the coyote drove a dragster with an ARDUN in it

it's a 21 stud flat motor, and he's spent some cash on it.


My dad has a few flatheads, I was brought home from the hospital that I was born in 1966 in a Flathead powered 1940 coupe

Then, what's up with that distributor?

heres an ARDUN flathead

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1159986224.jpg

F L A T H E A D PORN!

Yeah, if you think Porsche heads can get expensive, try to buy a pair of Ardun heads...;)

After all that it might make 230HP.................if the rods and crank hold up. I do dig them but........... just no rpms OR power and fragile

Wish I had a photo of the flathead block to demonstrate,but the valves are up the top on the valley side and the exhaust ports run across [or down] thru the block. The center two ports are siamesed,There are only three exhaust pipe outlets. Big problem with overheating if you thrashed
the car at all! New generation of petrol heads coming thru.
I'm 69 years old!

Also came in 21 stud or 24 stud heads. Joe's pics show one of each.

Does any car here provide a clue? (same garage)

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1160003693.jpg

Sherwood

Yeah, the first one up top is a Ford hot rod ,so the motor would fit that,
or the 39[?] Ford on the floor--the middle one is a Lotus 6,and the other one ,of course is a Porsche 356.[Do I win a prize?]

"Do I win a prize?"

Yeah. You get to tell us what's up with the 16 plug-wire distributor. :)

Sherwood