Technical Judson flathead supercharger - chances?

I've been up close and personal with Judsons on VWs, but I'd really like one for my flathead build. What are my chances for finding one? What is a fair price? I'm a noob to flathead stuff. I'm not too worried about hp. Is there a better "old looking" option?

 

SCoT


GM 4-71

 

I don't know if it is any "better" but it is different and strictly nostalgia and that is a McCullogh centrifugal. They turn up occasionally on eBay. Properly set up they will put you in the 140 hp area.

 

The McCullogh is actually an option that I'd consider, not that the detroit or scot aren't nice, but not really what I'm going for.

Have you worked on a McCullogh? Know how they tick?

From this webpage it seems they are worth $2k to $3k in operable condition?
http://myflatheadford.com/mcculloch-supercharger-intake/
This is on e-bay and seems to be buildable at least, but maybe not worth the $2K buy it now?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Mcculloch-...044533?hash=item3b4adca4b5:g:Ky4AAOSwyJRfFIoy

 

I installed one about 60 years ago. It was a new kit and went on with no problems. It definitely was able to be felt in the seat of the pants performance. I never had one apart.
If I did one these days, I would put a new 250 Stromberg on top.

 

Okay, what are you going for? That would help.

 

"Okay, what are you going for?"
Well hmm. I like style, I like old stuff, I like many uncommon things but uncommon can cross the line to weird pretty quickly.

Judsons aren't real common and I've had some interaction with so they are a bit special to me.
McCulloch's have a pretty good history back into the 30's and have the style of that period.

Detroits and Scots look similar overall and detroits have been used very extensively for a long long time. Street cars, dragsters anything with a blower has used something that looks like this until paxtons became popular.

Not that blowers are common among cars in general.

Sorry its tough to explain.

 

SCoT is the correct acronym. It stands for Supercharger Company of Torino (Turin).

So this is one of those "I'll like it when I see it" briefs?
A tight brief gets better results, a wishy-washy one and you'll have suggestions of every supercharger ever made.

Please describe your vision for the whole car.

 

Very rare Judson supercharged Ardun Ford

• Old HAMB thread, $2,400
• https://morrisgarages.ch/judson-flathead/

 

• http://deadlycurves.blogspot.com/2014/12/vintage-feature-on-supercharging-with.html
• https://ofdc.forumactif.org/t86-the-judson-supercharger-history-and-technics

 

You might want to post this on the Ford Barn too. Love the idea.

 

Thank you guys so much for the info! I had totally forgotten about some of these options and I'll be keeping my eyes open when swap meets start happening again. The magazine article posting and prices are amazing info I hadn't been able to find elsewhere.

 

Did they make a Judson specifically for a flathead? I installed one on a kid's Beetle in HS, was not real impressed.

 

Here's a pair of ads I found- couldn't find anything specific for flathead, advertisement-wise...

 

Thanks Bill. I know where a NOS one in the box is, been trying to buy it for about 20 years. They do look cool.

 

Note that all of the Judson blowers in the ads above are all for smaller engines. The largest listed is the Corvair which was still only 2.4 L. I think any the Judsons would be too small for any flathead except a V8-60.

 

You may want to explore the McCulloch group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/652306698541395/

 

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/judson-supercharger-for-a-flathead-ford.967730/

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/cool-flathead-ford-speed-equipment-scored-judson.955612/
https://morrisgarages.ch/judson-flathead/

I thought they were made? The ones above don't look too cobbled together. Sounds pretty tough to find though.

 

Looks like somebody got one last year for $500
https://rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/...on-supercharger-model-m178-serial-2056/815818

 

I don't know. That all looks way too "busy" for my taste even if it were cleaned up a bit. JMTC

 

The McCulloch may be much more practical. I know they made a setup for flatheads, but I was thinking a VS57 may be interesting to try. Just trying to figure how it would look with a flathead.

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m79/kiwikevinp/NZ flatheads/IMG_9649.jpg

 

That's a good thought 5window. Any ideas on cleaning it up? I had considered running a remote electric water pump, maybe low-mounting an alternator. What's your opinion on the VS57?

 

I'd never seen these before Latham Supercharger:

 

First they claim 40'% more HP and then this second ad the claim is 50% more HP. Do you have another ad that claims 60% more? LOL. I didn't know automotive induction theory research was as easy as just making up new numbers...

 

I'll bet most "claims" are just words blow'n in the wind......

 

Another engine shot of Ardun powered Merc I posted above.

 

Lucky dog!

 

I just finished a flathead build. Engine runs strong normally aspirated. I came across a few Judson superchargers and thought I’d give ‘em a try. I can’t get the engine running with the Judson hooked up. LOL. Anyone have experience with these? I’m stymied! Posted pix of my motor in another thread.

-L76

 

FYI... got it running. Strong too! Found a vacuum leak in the intake (fixed) and moved to resistor-less wires/old style plugs... all is good! I have a second Judson that I also fired up on the test engine. Both working!

Cheers,
L76