Thread: One Way To Build A 12 Cylinder Ardun or not

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I have decided to go ahead with the 12 cylinder Ardun project.
So far I have got an engine out of Michigan, a repair manual from a friend of mine and a blue print of the original drawings. (thanks to Mike in Tucson)
I was poking around on the Internet one day and I ran across a guy who makes manifolds for 12 cylinder Lincolns. I gave him a call to see if he could build a one off manifold for this project. He said no problem, he currently makes all the Ardun manifolds for the guy reproducing the latest heads. After talking to him for a while he asked what I was doing, I explained what I was thinking, then after a long silence he says, why don't you give him a call, I think he can help you.
This guy is about ten miles from my shop. I called him and explained that I had spoken to his manifold guy and he referred you to me. I went threw the whole explanation again on what I was trying to do, after a long silence, he said we should meet. So, next week we are going up to his shop. After talking to him for a while he knows of a guy in Brazil who made some Ardun style heads for a V8 60, which is what the 12 cylinder is. I may be able to buy rocker arms and stands from him and anything else that would work. It would sure save some time if I can get those kind of parts that are already working.
So that's where this project is at the moment. After our meeting next week we will start the drawings. Realistically I think this will take a year to do, I can't work on it full time, we'll see.
Ken

do you have anyone to cast and machine the heads? if not i know some guys

Ken,

Also of interest is the guy in S.A. that built the V8-60 heads. IF he cast heads, he made the casting patterns.. out of wood I guess. If he has those patterns, part of your task is done.....theoretically you could take two of those heads, cut, and reweld like you originally thought of doing.

You could make a fixture to hold the head halves while welding.

Would you call it a "Ken-dun" instead of Ardun?

mike in tucson

Pat-We were going to machine them out of billet.
Mike- Do you have that guys phone number?
Ken

How many hours a day do you guys in California have???????? You are like the Energizer Bunny Ken, always juggling one exotic project or another. God Bless you for taking on something of this magnitude........I have trouble trying to match up stock parts, and here you go reinventing the wheel.


That engine is cool as is, when you are done onlookers are going to have this puzzled look on their faces every time you pop the hood. (assuming of course that you RUN A HOOD.

This project is going to be fun to watch come together.
Don

I agree with Don, I love the look of that motor. What car are you going use that motor.
BradC

[QUOTE=Itoldyouso]How many hours a day do you guys in California have???????? You are like the Energizer Bunny Ken, always juggling one exotic project or another. God Bless you for taking on something of this magnitude........I have trouble trying to match up stock parts, and here you go reinventing the wheel.

Forget how many hours in a day! My question is what do you do for a living Ken, to be able to even think about such a project?

P.S. I think it's a great idea. It's very different, and is sure to turn a lot of heads. Good luck with it!

Ken, you've already got me hooked on watching the progress of your highboy, now you go shifting gears in another direction before it's finished. That's OK though, this one is going to be very interesting to say the least. What is the latest progress report on the highboy? It's a shame I'm on the other side of the country, I'd love to hang out at your place!!

Mike

Ken, a friend of mine in Phoenix has been building a V12 Lincoln for his 32 roadster. He might have some miscellanous parts needed for the rebuild. I will ask him what he has that's extra because I think his engine is already done.

Isn't the Brazilian V8 60 stuff from a Simca? Seems I recall they got the tooling many moons ago from Ford.

Don- Actually I'm going to have some spare time pretty soon. The painter will have all the sheet metal and the upholstery will be underway. My roadster is really getting close. REMEMBER IDLENESS IS THE DEVILS WORK SHOP
BradC-I'm going to build another '32 truck.
Sinister- I work real hard, Thanks.
Mike- wish you lived near also I need the help. The roadster is really close, finishing up the wiring and buttoning up the endless little things. I hope to show some good photo's by Sunday.
John- Thank you, that would be great. I need a distributor and the generator mount that goes to the manifold.
Thank you all.
Ken

Originally Posted by Bob Parmenter

Isn't the Brazilian V8 60 stuff from a Simca? Seems I recall they got the tooling many moons ago from Ford.

Bob,
I don't know, I have his E mail address, I'm going to try and reach him. If you remember anything else about them please let me know.
Ken

Here's a forum discussion on the EMI-SUL engine as it was known, apparently only produced 1966-69; http://www.thehemi.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1520
There's a video of the engine being driven on a test stand in Portland Or. Looks like this was 2005, so you might be able to contact the guy through that posting.

I think I remember him posting on here for a short while now that I've looked at the video. I'll see if I can find the old post.

Okay, here's the thread he posted; http://clubhotrod.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15426
If you click on his user name it'll give you contact options. Better yet, just watched the other video he's got linked in his third post on that thread and it's got his phone number and email at the end.

Kool Ken. We need to get you your own home hot rodder magazine! Just think free adds for the trailers!
It'll will be very cool to see the 32 truck model morph into a reality!