Flathead V8 in a T Speedster

[Professor Fate]

Click on link
https://youtu.be/ruXGH9G1DnU

[Professor Fate]

Does anyone know this car?

[Henry K. Lee]

Do not know the car but with those bent angled front wishbones with no bracing or caster back...., better have good life insurance. The weight distribution is a little too far back so the steering would be like steering a loaded truck. Building cars that look cool but handle well is a science with disciplines in automotive technology. Just sayin'

Hank

[Art M]

The wishbones could possibly control body roll rate.
This is controlled by stabilizer bars (roll bars) in modern cars.

Henry is right, an experienced chassis engineer is needed. I was a chassis engineer for many years and was a stabilizer bar engineer for several years.

Art Mirtes

[John Codman]

The front end of that car is scary!

[Erik Johnson]

Terrible driver's compartment geometry - dangerous lack of leg room and steering wheel too close to the driver.

Should move the seat back and lower the steering column.

[John kuehn]

This little speedster is made to look at in somebody’s old car collection.

I don’t think I would run down the road in it over 50 mph even though that flathead Ford could probably get close to a 100 with the light body. And doing 50 would be running straight and no tight curves.

[Kevin Pharis]

Look again fellas… that’s a V8-60! Not exactly a performance improvement, even for a T

[Rich Eagle]

That is what I should do with my '35. I can't seem to get any work on it and that might be simpler.
It is nice execution of design and very well done.
Rich

[John Codman]

Look again fellas… that’s a V8-60! Not exactly a performance improvement, even for a T

I was wondering about that. I have never personally seen a V8 60, but the flathead in that speedster looked small.

[TXGOAT2]

A V8 60 would work great in a T. You'd have enough HP and engine speed range to go pretty fast in a stock bodied T using the stock transmission and driveline. 60 HP up around 3600 RPM would move a T along quite nicely. The V8 60 doesn't have much low end torque, so the T driveline would stand up OK. Cooling might be a challenge.

[TXGOAT2]

There's a good deal of info on 60 HP V8s on the internet. Finding a good one would be a challenge. Cute little things...

[AndyClary]

There was a 26/7 coupe at the canyonlands tour years ago. Used model A rear I think, like this speedster. As I understand it, crack free V8-60 blocks are getting hard to find.

Andy

[John Codman]

There was a 26/7 coupe at the canyonlands tour years ago. Used model A rear I think, like this speedster. As I understand it, crack free V8-60 blocks are getting hard to find.

Andy

That doesn't surprise me. There weren't all that many of them to begin with.

[ModelTWoods]

Look again fellas… that’s a V8-60! Not exactly a performance improvement, even for a T

I'd say from 20 horse to 60 horse is quite an improvement, however as others have said, the car needs some re-engineering on the steering and front suspension. It appears to me this car could get someone in serious trouble, if its power and speed were not respected. It would be a great little ride if it didn't have safety issues. I won't bother to say anything about it being promoted as a 1917 with a brass radiator and what are probably 28-29 wire wheels, as the rear axle looked Model A or early V8 (certainly not T).

[Duey_C]

Fate, that dumb song is stuck in my head now...

[John iaccino]

A friend of mine in New Jersey has a V8 60 in his 27 roadster. Goes like a raped ape.

[ThreePedalTapDancer]

Good lord. To be young and stupid again. I really miss those days…..

[Professor Fate]

Glad others have seen what I saw, and more!
Please be safe out there!
Car is a nice one for display

[Susanne]

To sit in someone's front lobby as a lookey loo - perfect.
Do drive down the road with all the weird geometry going on - sorry, for me life is too precious to throw away.
My 2¢,,,

[Professor Fate]

Run those rear tires at low psi, and I bet you could spin those valve stems right off!

[AndyClary]

While this speedster can be picked apart for a number of reasons, the same could be said for almost any speedster. Speedsters are very personalized, you build what you want.


Andy

[Jerry VanOoteghem]

While this speedster can be picked apart for a number of reasons, the same could be said for almost any speedster. Speedsters are very personalized, you build what you want.


Andy

Personalized is one thing, but dangerous is whole different thing. That thing is dangerous.

[Jerry VanOoteghem]

Look at the sharp angles on the steering linkage. The last u-joint just sticking up there with no support whatsoever. Yikes!

[Scott_Conger]

what you get when a high school art class student has a father with more money than sense and a shop that will build anything for a buck.

I can only imagine what it must be like having to operate the pedals with ballet slippers and pointed toes, and then lean forward to honk the horn to warn the guy who is about to cut you off. The whole thing is really too ridiculous for adequate words. This isn't just something that is an acquired taste, it is ridiculously proportioned for a cartoon character and is specifically designed to be a deathtrap.

Should bring big money.

[Professor Fate]

Can't agree more with Mr. C
Maybe we can get the creepy video guy to destroy this car next, and maybe save a life or two in the process.

"....The whole thing is really too ridiculous for adequate words. This isn't just something that is an acquired taste, it is ridiculously proportioned for a cartoon character and is specifically designed to be a deathtrap."

Bravo Mr. C!