Ford Sidevalve engine

Ford Sidevalve engine
Manufacturer Ford Motor Company
Also called Ford Flathead engine
Production 1932–1962
Predecessor None
Successor Ford Kent engine
Ford Taunus V4 engine
Configuration Side-valve straight 4
Cylinder block alloy Iron
Cylinder head alloy Iron
Valvetrain sidevalve
Fuel system carburettor
Fuel type Unleaded gasoline
Cooling system Thermosiphon (pump was only fitted after 1953)
Power output 36 BHP

The Ford Sidevalve is a side valve (flathead engine) from the British arm of the Ford Motor Company. The engine had its origins in the 1930s Ford Model Y, and were made in two sizes, 933cc or "8 HP", and 1172cc or "10 HP". The early engines were very basic and did not have a waterpump as standard relying on thermo-siphon effect to cool. A water pump was added in 1953 for the 100E models. The Sidevalve engine was used in many smaller Fords as well as farm vehicles, commercial vehicles and a marine version in boats. Production of the engine was stopped in 1962. Windscreen wipers were often driven by the vacuum generated in the inlet manifold.

The Sidevalve Engine was also used in German Fords, starting with the Ford Köln in 1932 and ending with the last rear wheel drive Ford Taunus 12M in 1962.

It was then replaced by the Kent engine in Britain and by the Taunus V4 engine in Germany.

Engine modifications

Many ways were explored to enhance the power output of the standard engine, most notably special exhaust manifolds, twin carburettors, stiffer valve springs, thinner cylinder head gaskets and modified camshafts. The nominal horsepower quoted for each engine size comes from the British method of power calculation for road taxation purposes, and bears no relationship with the actual power output. Displacement volume, which was calculated from the cylinder diameter, stroke and number of cylinders being the dimensions that determined the power for road taxation purposes.

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Gearbox & transmission

A three speed gearbox was fitted as standard; three forward and one reverse. Several ways of improving the performance through modifications to the gearbox and transmission train were applied; replacement close ratio gears fitted to gearbox, overdrive gears fitted behind the original gearbox and higher ratio crown & pinion gears fitted to the differential unit on the back axle.

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Use - Ford cars using side-valve engines;

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Use - Other makers or models using Ford side-valve engines;

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Ancillary equipment, designers & other related information

  • Aquaplane, manufacturer of dedicated exhaust and inlet manifolds for the Ford sidevalve engine, also aluminium alloy cylinder heads etc.
  • Bellamy Leslie Bellamy, designer of split front suspension used on many "Ford Specials"
  • Wilmot, fitted overhead valves to side valve engines. (More info required)
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See also

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External links

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Bibliography

  • Cars and Car Conversions, "Tuning SU Carburetters", Speed and Sports Publications Ltd, (1968).
  • G B Wake, "Ford Special Builders Manual", J H Haynes & Co Ltd.
  • Philip H. Smith, "The Ford Ten Competition Engine", G T Foulis & Co. Ltd. A complete tuning manual.
  • John Haynes, "Building a Fford 10 Special", Auto Publications, London.
  • John Mills, "The Constructions of Ford Specials", B T Batsford, London.
  • Bill Cooper, "Tuning Side-Valve Fords", Speed and Sports Publications Ltd, (1969).
  • Miriam Nyhan, "Are You Still Below", The Collins Press, (2007) - The Ford Marina Plant, Cork, 1917-1984. ISBN 9781905172498
  • Ford Motor Company, "Anglia-Prefect Repair Manual"
  • Dave Turner, "Ford Popular and the Small Sidevalves", Osprey Publishing Ltd, (1984). ISBN 1-90308-804-6
  • Bill Ballard, "English & Australian Small Fords", Ellery Publications, (2002). ISBN 1 876 720 07 7
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Last modified on 16 May 2013, at 01:54