Flatheads Forever!
With all the hyper-steroidal crate motors available today,
one might wonder why anyone would want a flathead anymore. Well, they may
not be as fast, or have as many refinements as today's crate motors, but
there are a couple of things they have going for them that only they can
provide. The first, of course, is the look. Nothing says "Traditional
Hot Rod" like a flathead with a set of polished Offie heads. And more
importantly, nothing sings that "old school" fight song like the
eight cylinder rap of a "flatty" being fed by a couple of Stromberg
97's. That's a sound you just can get anywhere else, and one you'll never
forget once you've heard it.
This 59A flathead V8 came form the fine folks at H&H Flatheads
in La Crescenta, CA. They specialize in rebuilding all kinds of old Ford
and Mercury motors. This one has polished Offenhauser heads, Thickston intake
manifold, and Sanderson headers. The Stomberg 97's are controlled by Lokar
throttle cable and fed by an A-Tech electric fuel pump. A new Walker radiator
and Vintique overflow tank help keep the cruisin temperature "cool".
Steering is done with 30-inch tilt coulumn and steel and cast
steel Vega box connected with the help of a few u-joints and support bearings--all
from Flaming River.
The custom exhaust work was done here at Hot Rods.
Lots of people talk about "Old School" few know
what it really is. Roadsters like this define the term.
Transmitting all that flathead horsepower to the wheels is
a '91 Chevy S-10, 5-speed transmission. A transmission kit and clutch from
Cornhusker Rod & Custom made them fit.
Hot Rods & Custom Stuff, 2324 Auto Park Way, Escondido, CA.,
1-800-HOT-ROD-5.
(Note: "Vineyard Ave." has been changed to "Auto Park
Way." Our address has changed, but not our physical location.)
Hot Rods & Custom Stuff - builds, restores, paints, services
and sells parts for classic autos, cars, trucks and street rods.