1932 Ford Hiboy Project - The Dyno Test

by Dick Zakrzewski

Dyno testing on Bill Nicholson's Ardun 284 cu. in. flathead motor is complete. The results were excellent...270 hp and 272 ft.-lbs. of torque at 5,700 rpm on pump gasoline! Actually horsepower was still increasing and the torque curve was flat when Roger stopped testing at 5,700 rpm to avoid blowing the stock connecting rods. Click the picture for a video of the dyno test.

The dyno testing brought out some problems that were eventually resolved. The initial attempts to run the engine on three Ford Holley carburetors produced a rich mixture that could not be corrected. Success came with a change to three Stomberg 97s.

After getting the fuel problem resolved , ignition became a limiting factor. The ignition was a Mallory dual point system using one set of points to trigger an MSD. It ran, but wasn't right. Roger installed a Pertronix electronic ignition conversion designed for a 49-53 flathead Mallory distributor. It required a little modification to fit our ' 39 flathead three bolt front mount. He also discovered the Mallory distributor as supplied had way too much mechanical advance. After adding the electronic ignition and reducing the advance, the engine performed perfectly.

Additional coverage of the project will come with the installation Ardun flathead in Bill Nicholson's "32 hi-boy roadster.

Flathead Motor Bill of Material

Cam

Crower w/.410 intake - .410 exhaust lift; .228 deg intake & exhaust @.050 lift; 260 deg. advertised duration; 112 deg. CL

Pistons

Ross 9.5:1 CR w/ 1/16-1/16-3/16 ring package

Rods

New original stock- STR Ford

Crankshaft

Mercury 4" crank stroke offset ground to 4.125" stroke

Block

'39 Ford truck bored to 3.312 (3-5/16)

Main bearings

Clevite

Rod bearings

New original stock Ford - full floaters

Heads

Ardun from Ardun Enterprises

Intake manifold

Built by Ken Austin (Ken produces several styles of Ardun intakes)

Ignition

Mallory with Pertronix Electronic conversion

Carburetion

Stomberg 97s from Vintage Carburetion

NOTE: All the performance products used in this project can be obtained by contacting Roger Decker at CAMS416@netzero.net.

Dick Z