V8 engine designed especially for Model T

[Eric Sole]

The link below recounts a really interesting story about a Ford dealer designing and manufacturing a special engine for the Model T. Henry squelched the idea at the time, but 15 years later he was making his own V8.

https://www.macsmotorcitygarage.com/a-m ... S4WU77HM44

[Rich Eagle]

It is an interesting engine and story. Someone mentioned here that Snyder's Antique Auto Parts in Ohio has one on a stand.
Fun to see it again.
Thanks

[Inthegarage]

How’s this?

[Eric Sole]

Hey John, are those pictures taken at Snyder's?
So if the article is correct, that is the only engine of this type left in the world.

[old_charley]

Interesting differences between the engine pictured in the article and John's pictures. The article pics show an aluminum hogshead, different cylinder head with different water outlets and different exhaust manifolds. John's pics show '26-'27 pedals and a starter. Cylinder heads look like stock Model T. Both have a slot cast into the left cylinder head for steering column clearance, but in a different position. The later engine looks to have stock Model T exhaust manifolds. The back of the cylinder blocks are different as are the overall shape of the cylinder heads. Looks to me like two completely different designs. Did Ford perhaps build there own prototype Model T V-8 late in T production?

[jiminbartow]

The Model T spoked wheels, steering linkages, differential, transmission and brakes were not designed to go as fast as a V-8 would take it. Very dangerous if a spoke shattered, or steering failed at 70 to 80 mph and imagine trying stop it during an emergency stop. I’ll pass. Jim Patrick

[Kerry]

Just because it doubled the cylinders, dosen't mean it would double the revs and speed. Horse power yes and the torque on the drive train.

[Luxford]

The V8 at Snyder's from memory is not the one the Ford museum had. It is as Old Charley (hi Brian !!) stated different from the one in the link.
That is the Ford museum motor which was sold at an auction and went to someone in California, to never surface again, so far.
The Museum motor was featured in two issues of the Vintage Ford written by Kenneth Schwarts who was employed by Ford Museum in the Transport Department.
Here are some other photo's of the motor from the Vintage Ford Vol 14 No 4 Page 41.

[TWrenn]

That is pretty cool, but I still like my "wishful thinking" of dropping the neat little Yanmar 3 cyl. diesel in one of my Ts like what is in my Cub Cadet sub-compact tractor!

[Rich P. Bingham]

Tim !! For shame !! For even thinking that, the League of Purist Brass Snobs have sentenced you to five lashes with a 30"x3" inner tube. (Inflated).

[Rich Eagle]

Some may forgive it if the cotter pins are installed facing the right way.

[TXGOAT2]

I'd like to have a T with a Ford 60 HP V8 adapted to the T transmission. The V8 60 had only a little more torque than a stock T engine, but it would be very smooth and would have a broad speed range. I think you could squeeze in the V8 and an adapter and have room for a 4-row radiator with a stock hood and radiator shell .... 5 to 60 MPH in high gear...

[RajoRacer]

There's a V8 60 in a '26 Coupe up here near Tacoma, WA - pretty slick !

[Rich P. Bingham]

I'd like to have . . . 5 to 60 MPH in high gear...

And 25mph brakes.

[Rich Eagle]

I'm a bit skeptical about the performance of that engine. I would be interested in hearing reports of it's being in a car and driven. Much research and design work went into the Northway Cadillac, Cole, Chevrolet, Oldsmobile and other teens V-8 engines. None of the first attempts were very successful. There were a bunch of Ford prototype engines and blocks experimented with before the Ford V-8 came out in 1932 and even the first ones had their problems. Months of trial and error went into it before it preformed well.
Putting one together as Mr. Gentry did may have been a great publicity stunt and the engines may even have run but it likely wasn't as efficient and powerful as we might want to believe.
If you have invented something you may agree.
Rich

[Eric Sole]

The fact that it used the original Ford crankshaft would seem to indicate that the power output was not all that high.

[TWrenn]

Tim !! For shame !! For even thinking that, the League of Purist Brass Snobs have sentenced you to five lashes with a 30"x3" inner tube. (Inflated).

[Joe Bell]

Tim, a guy down the road has done that!