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Posts Tagged: Ford Motors

Trivia # 05 rechargeable lead/acid storage battery

by Ross Mills

Gaston Plante, our French physicist hero, sparked the rechargeable revolution with his lead/acid battery in 1859, giving life to countless car batteries and making roadside jump starts a thing. Fast forward to 1895, and Henry Austin is vrooming around Britain in his gasoline chariot. By 1921, Ford is the king of the American car jungle, while GM plays catch-up. Meanwhile, in 2014, Toyota and Hyundai are busy brewing up hydrogen cars. Talk about an electrifying journey through automotive history!

Ford Motors V8 supplement FE & FT 4 of 4

by Ross Mills

In a twist of automotive irony, Ford’s first 427 block was as temperamental as a cat in water—one slip of the casting core and voilà, a paperweight! Enter the FE 428, a budget-friendly marvel with a manageable bore and a cast iron crankshaft. In ’68, the 428 CJ roared onto the scene, leaving insurance agents shaking in their boots while pretending it only had 335 hp. The NHRA saw through the charade, rating it at 360 hp, as it blazed through the Winternationals. Meanwhile, the SCJ variant was ready to race, sporting longer-life capscrews for rods and a cheekily looser piston fit—because who needs air conditioning when you’re this cool?

Ford Motors Flathead V8 engine 1932 to 1953 Part one

by Ross Mills

The Ford Flathead V8, the engine that made hot rodders’ hearts race faster than their cars, rolled out between 1932 and 1953. It became the go-to powerplant for speed enthusiasts, despite its quirks. Known for its simplicity and affordability, this iron beast could be tuned to reach 300 mph. While overheating and narrow exhausts were its Achilles’ heels, backyard mechanics loved it. With clever tinkering, even a crankshaft from the Mercury Division could turn these engines into speed demons!

Ford Motors V8 Engine Series-MEL-FE-FT Families part 1 of 3 1958-’76

by Ross Mills

In 1958, Ford Motors revved up with three all-new V8 engine families: MEL, FE, and FT, leaving the old “Y” block behind like a forgotten lunchbox. The MEL, aka “Mercury-Edsel-Lincoln,” sported a unique valve arrangement, resembling a Chevy big block but with a twist. Meanwhile, Mercury’s exclusive 383 cu in Marauder flexed its muscles, boasting horsepower that seemed to fluctuate like a temperamental teenager. And let’s not forget the FT, built to power trucks like a caffeinated bison.

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