Hot Rods FLATHEAD GURU: Who's Your Pick?

Don and Bob Baxter, Baxter Ford Parts, Lawrence KS
Had a speed shop for all takers starting in 50's, went strictly flathead in 70's.
I know they're not big name folks but tons of Ford knowledge.

 

Allan Mest in Gardena CA

Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!

 

Henry!!

 

Henry is dead!

 

Ray Helger in Little Compton RI.

 

I don't think that you'd want Henry Ford's vision of what the flathead V8 should have been.

 

Art Chrisman would be a great choice.

 

Earl Floyd

 

I agree with all of the choices so far that I know of and would add John Bradley.
A good friend and one of the fastest in his day. I applied some of his ideas to circle track engines and they worked.

 

He gets my vote!

 

Luke Balogh from LUKE'S CUSTOM MACHINE. This fellow is a master machinist, has built record setting flatheads also extremely knowledgeable about Ardun heads.

 

Isky is looking like the top choice so far.

 

In addition to the already mentioned i would add Walt Dupont from the ford barn.
Walt said to me one time the difference is many have built a few flatheads , i have built them my entire life !!!
Good quote.

Each area of the country has their own list and i dont think any one person really serves everyones area!

Ex: Barney Navarro and Isky Ed are some killer flathead builders but i dont think either one of them have ever built some in Indiana.....

 

Seems to me if the book is any good and the author knows his stuff he does not need someone famous to do a forward. Like Ron Holleran's book Nostalgia. All his own writing and still a very good selling book mostly by word of mouth. Same with JWL's book Flathead facts. JMO Bill

 

Except that publishers require one and it must be written by someone other than the author.

 

Old man Don Broyles Dayton Ohio

 

You may want to get a different publisher. Neither Ron Holleran (Ol'Ron) nor John Lawson (JWL) have one in their books "Nostalgia" and "Flathead Facts". Both books are among the best flathead books written.

 

John Stien, nostalgic hotrods PA.

 

Don Ferguson
Art Chrisman

 

For me personally, I would have to say Bruce Lancaster. Any question I have ever had about building a flathead he has had the answer to and then some. He is also a very good writer. This is a great list with many big names in the flathead world. I just wanted to list someone I have dealt with personally. Thanks for helping me Bruce. Jesse

 

Who,? enlighten us please

 

Joe Abbin has written several Flathead performance books recently from the mild to wild stages of performance. Any new book on the subject should start out a notch above what has already been written or they're wasting their time.

 

Agree absolutely , but as you know anyone afflicted with the flathead disease still reads everything , good or not.
QUOTE=CNC-Dude;9440623]Joe Abbin has written several Flathead performance books recently from the mild to wild stages of performance. Any new book on the subject should start out a notch above what has already been written or they're wasting their time.[/QUOTE]

 

Also, remind the author that he is the boss, not the printer or publisher, and if he wants to stray from the normal book formatting, it his perogative to do so. Things like Foreward's and Preface's don't even have to be part of the book if he does want them to be. I've written 2 books myself, and if you want to make every other page upside down he can if he chooses to. Good luck with it though.