Hot Rods Flathead Question??

I've seen many variations of the Ford flathead V8, but I don't think I've ever seen this. Can someone please tell me what I'm looking at??


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An early supercharged flat head

 

mcculloch supercharged flathead

 

That weird chrome round thing on top of the motor is bad for gas mileage, so take it off and send it to me please!

 

offered around 1937 or so....a supercharger....for flatheads....

 

What's the round pipe around the carb do? Other than ruin gas mileage??


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@wbrw32 that radiator hose is plumbed all the way around the carb?


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Better picture of one out the car

 

I hate to sound stupid, but I've never seen one of these! Is that round part hollow? Does the compressed air from the pump flow through it to the intake? My buddy took the pic that I posted so I didn't actually see it in person.


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Its a centrifugal supercharger. Very similar to the Graham Supercharger that was stock on Graham cars pre war. The impeller, much like the compressor on a modern turbocharger, spins inside the round part. Air and gas enters from the carburetor, and is spun out and pressurized the same as in a turbo. It then flows into the intake manifold that it is mounted on and into the engine. Another picture.

 

Thanks for the explanation! I'm guessing that these are pretty rare. I've been around cars most of my life and can't remember ever seeing one.


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Expensive also.

 

Hi. That is one of the things that many of us dream about finding at a garage sale. Even better if it turns free by spinning the pulley.
It is one of the things that would be hard to hide my excitement when I asked how much.
I do not even own a flathead but I would scarf it up quicker than free ice cream as I know I would have some great trading for something to fit my Chevy Coupe with that. Or it would convince me I needed a flathead.
Jimmie.

 

One of the "supposed" drawbacks of the McCullough super charger is that the spiral bevel gear that is vertical within the case does NOT like violent acceleration; heard it was on the "spindly" side. Don't know if it is a true statement,just "heard" that over the years.

 

Droooooolllll

 

For more info do a search for McCulloch superchargers. There is a site called VS57 that covers them all the way back to the 1930s models like the one in the picture.

 

FWIW
A few years back, 2008, there was a Mc Culloch intake manifold only for a flathead on our local trademe site ( same as ebay ).
Sold for about $10 - became a wall hanger in a small flathead museum.
But then, it's not much use without the super charger on top...

 

Wanna double your money?

 

I didn't buy it, as I missed the end of the auction.
At the time I didn't even know what it was , just thought that it looked neat.