can anybody tell me what this is about?

[mnwildpunk]

While looking up ford flatheads I found pictures of this and I have no clue what it is. It is a flathead but four of the cylinders do not have spark plugs?

Other side

Edited September 28, 2013 by mnwildpunk

[Joe Handley]

Not sure in that instance, but there have been a number of automotive engines that were converted to power things like water pumps, generators, and emergency sirens. That one happens to have a flat head in it, there have been a number of sirens powered by early Chrysler Hemi's, and friends of my folks who are now retired from farming had an irrigation pump that was powered by a Ford 460 that was opened up to 464ci.

[LokisTyro]

Diesel, I would think.

[zenrat]

Dual fuel you reckon?

Which would make the round things with the bolts sticking up on the cylinders without plugs could be compression adjusters.

Start on petrol and switch to the other fuel once it's running maybe.

I remember once reading somewhere about a russian tractor which had a variable compression engine which would run on anything from creosote to vodka. You just screwed in (or out) the compression adjusters the appropriate number of turns according to the manual.

[1930fordpickup]

I was thinking air compressor , but I think it lakes a bit of plumbing for that .

[Mark]

_{The lower tank (upper one is for fuel) and gauge panel would be for an air compressor. The engine runs on four cylinders, pumps air with the other four. The cylinder heads appear to be items manufactured for such a conversion, but a lot of home/farm built compressors were constructed on the cheap, without aftermarket parts like that.}

[jas1957]

There are all kinds of industrial/stationary/agricultural engines that have been produced over the years. Many based on automotive designs. I've seen some goofy looking stuff, but they all seem to do their jobs.

[southpier]

Siamese-cylinders?

[mnwildpunk]

Interesting answers I'm not positive but I think the folks who said air compressor are the closest. But idk for sure. There was no description about it

[Art Anderson]

While looking up ford flatheads I found pictures of this and I have no clue what it is. It is a flathead but four of the cylinders do not have spark plugs?

Other side

That is a Ford flathead V8 converted to an air compressor--by no less than Ingersol-Rand. These were built back in the late 1930's and through WW-II. What you see is a V8-converted to 4-cylinder running, with 4 cylinders compressing air. I bet they sure ran rough though!

Art

[b_lever1]

That is a Ford flathead V8 converted to an air compressor--by no less than Ingersol-Rand. These were built back in the late 1930's and through WW-II. What you see is a V8-converted to 4-cylinder running, with 4 cylinders compressing air. I bet they sure ran rough though!

Art

BINGO we got one at the farm

[Ace-Garageguy]

Yup, Mark and Art got it right off. Congrats, know-it-alls !!!

[Skip]

Air compressor. My grandfather had one like that, used it in his well drilling business. It wasn't quite as clean though.

[blunc]

Looking at the first photo, I also picked it as an air compressor but I would like to suggest that Art's suggestion that it would run rough may be mistaken (and I know this from first hand knowledge based on the following).

My father converted a Y-block 272 (in an early Ford PU) into a V-4 by removing four pistons/rods, covering the oil journals to ensure proper oil flow and changing the carb so the engine didn't get overfed. I drove it once or twice for many miles...it was very slow to get moving and it sounded a bit like a model-T but it got great gas mileage. and it idled and ran smooth.

They may have increased the weight o the flywheel in the flat-head driven compressors to smooth out the power pulses but I bet it ran smooth.

Edited September 29, 2013 by blunc