Article submitted for publication in the Old Cars Weekly November 4, 2009 and is taken from 335 HP Flathead Ford V-8 Performance Handbook, © 2009, Motorhead Mart, Albuquerque, NM. Car and engine details and test data are available in the book. See www.roadrunnerengineering.com for more info.
The Most Powerful Flathead Ford Powered Street Rod Ever?
The Motorhead Mart Special
by
Joe Abbin
Motorhead Mart Special 276 cu.in. Blown Flathead. It produces 335 HP at 5000 rpm.
Introduction
Most people have noted the recent resurgence of flathead Ford powered vehicles at car shows and auto events across the country. Most of this resurgence results from a rediscovery of the timeless good looks and sound of the classic flathead Ford. However, even diehard flathead Ford fans concede that the flathead is obsolete as a performance engine by today’s standards. But is it? What about a street driven 1934 Ford Tudor sedan with a 276 cu.in. flathead that accelerates from 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds? Compare this with 3.8 seconds for a Dodge Viper or 4.1 seconds for a Z06 Corvette. This article will describe the Motorhead Mart Special, a flathead that runs with the big dogs.
The Beginning
In 1991, I acquired a “project” 1934 Ford sedan. This car would not have been a candidate for a stock restoration since it had been crudely chopped and channeled with welded-on, bobbed fenders. The car had sat in a barn for approximately 30 years after being campaigned as a Chevy-powered drag car in the Midwest. Quite a mess, but a perfect candidate for a guilt-free hot rod! Henry and Edsel would be proud!
My friends and I completely rebuilt the car from the ground up and put it on the street in 1994 with a 1949 Mercury flathead utilizing a prototype Roadrunner Engineering flathead supercharger kit. In that configuration the car ran at drag strips in NM, AZ, CO and CA and showed at numerous events, garnering many trophies and awards. During that time, the car now called the Motorhead Mart Special, accumulated 300+ drag strip runs and almost 2000 street miles with no problems. A high point in this period was at the 1998 Goodguys’ March Meet in Bakersfield, CA where the car turned 100 mph in the quarter mile for the first time. The experience gained in building and running the Special was documented in my first book, Blown Flathead. This book provides guidance on building a high performance flathead and describes the engine and the car as it existed in 2000.
In 2003 the engine was removed from the 1934 and placed in my 1950 Mercury where it continues to provide exceptional performance on the street with over 5000 street miles and requiring no maintenance except routine oil changes and tune-ups. The flathead Ford is one tough cookie!
The Special at the 1997 Goodguys March Meet in Bakersfield, CA.
At the 2006 National Hot Rod Association California Hot Rod Reunion, the car ran the quarter mile with a best elapsed time of 12.41 seconds and a best seed of 107.6 mph.
The Second Generation
As good as the Special ran, and as reliable as it was, several areas for improvement were identified. I decided to build a new engine utilizing gradually accumulated knowledge from my own testing and computer modeling, and the operating experience of over two hundred Roadrunner customers.
The new engine was completed and began dynamometer testing in December 2005. After approximately two months of testing and approximately 80 “pulls” on the dyno, the results were in. The new engine, nicknamed “Killer”, demonstrated over 215 hp normally aspirated with three 2-barrel carburetors. Supercharged, it demonstrated over 365 ft-lbs of torque @ 4000 rpm and 335 hp @ 5000 rpm! The test rpm was limited to save wear and tear on the engine, so these numbers may not represent the maximum potential of the engine. Nevertheless, they may represent the highest documented numbers for a street driven flathead on gasoline.
In May 2006 the Killer was installed in the Motorhead Mart Special. In June the Special ran at the High Altitude Flathead and Inline Nationals in Denver (track elevation 5800 feet). There the Special turned a best of 101 mph with a 13.3 second ET in the standing start quarter mile. After winning the class final, the Special was awarded the 2006 “Top Rod” eliminator title.
Following the win at Denver the Special was invited to be an exhibition car at the NHRA Hot Rod Reunion in Bakersfield, CA. During track runs at the Fomoso Dragstrip on October 4 and 5, 2006 the Special did not disappoint with all elapsed times less than 12.5 seconds in the quarter mile. The weekend’s bests included a top speed of 107.6 mph and an elapsed time of 12.41 seconds. Again, these may be the quickest documented times for a flathead-powered street car. In contrast with Denver, Bakersfield’s elevation is less than 400 feet. Even supercharged cars like low altitude! Short movies of the Denver and Bakersfield runs can be seen at www.roadrunnerengineering.com. Skeptics can note the Bakersfield finish line times in the movie (12.49 seconds, 106.7 mph).
The Third Generation and the Future
The Motorhead Mart Special has always been a dual-purpose car, capable of cruising the street as well as competing at the track. To further demonstrate this dual capability, a full set of fenders, running boards, etc. were installed on the Special in February 2007. The car in this configuration made exhibition runs at the Standard 1320 Club meet at Speedworld in Phoenix on April 20, 2007. There the car, about 200 lbs heavier, still blasted the drag strip with a top speed of 103 mph and an elapsed time of 12.8 seconds. The altitude in Phoenix is about 1200 ft. See the Roadrunner website above for a movie of a run at this meet.
Although not a show car, in 2009 the Special won first in class at the Grand National Roadster Show, Best Engine at the Custom Automotive Supernationals, and Best of the Best in the Model 40 Car Corral at the LA Roadster Show.
Who says the flathead should no longer be considered a performance engine? You can’t beat good looks, great sound and performance too. Flatheads Forever!
The Motorhead Mart Special with full street equipment at the
2007 Sandia Rod & Custom Reunion in Albuquerque, NM
About the Author
Joe Abbin is the owner of Roadrunner Engineering, the Motorhead Mart, and Dyno Services in Albuquerque, NM. He has a Masters degree in mechanical engineering and is a registered professional engineer in the state of NM. He has over fifty years of practical, hands-on automotive experience. Joe authored his first flathead book, Blown Flathead in 1998 and a second book, 335 HP Flathead Ford V-8 Performance Handbook in 2009. In 2008 he was inducted into the New Mexico Hot Rod Hall of Fame. Joe is active in several automotive organizations and three time past president of the Tumbleweed RG #79 of the Early Ford V-8 Club of America. His current focus is helping others attain outstanding performance with their street driven flatheads.