Yesterday’s gearhead challenge was a good one! We showed you a picture of a unique engine block and asked you to identify it and tell us what kind of racer it belonged in. While no one got the answer perfectly correct, many of you were dancing around it and you certainly nailed the genre of motorsports this engine block was designed for. The answer? Well, this is a Gaerte/Rodek four cylinder engine block that is used for midget racing and this particular one is designed to accept a Ford cylinder head. There are other designs to accept a Chevrolet head as well. These engines are immensely powerful and as many of you are well aware the Gaerte name has been huge in sprint car and midget racing for decades. Those guys build some captain insano horsepower for the dirt!
HERE ARE SOME MORE PHOTOS OF THE BLOCK — CONTINUE DOWN TO SEE TODAY’S CHALLENGE –
Here’s a video of a four banger midget engine running on the dyno and it is awesome!
Finally, here is today’s challenge. We’ll give you the answer on Monday but we want to know what this crankshaft fits. Give us the engine type and if you are insanely good the rough year of manufacture. If someone can come up with both of those pieces of information by Monday, we’ll send them a free BS shirt. Sound good? Name this crank, where it came from, what engine it was in and what year that engine was made….you have until Monday. GO!
A 281 ci 4cyl from a gas/LPG Farmall 450. 1956-1958??????
’53-’56 Auston-Healey 100-4? 2660cc
This here bein one o’ them wingdangdigit Ferd Muskulux camshafts what resembles a crankshaft and done fools dang near everybody
Either that or its a HellIfIKnow
Ford Model A
The only thing I can say for sure about this one is that I will be providing my own T shirt.
Massive mains with very short stroke. What ever it is, the crank is not the weak part.
model B ford
Probably a Model B. I think the A used a gear set instead of a chain. I could be wrong, it was considerably before my time.
Half of a small block Chevy
Ford model A inline 4 I’m thinking late 1920s early 30s.
1935 model b, engine type v8-85, model 48
Ford GPW 1/4 ton. 4 cylinder, built sometime around early 1940
This is a Ford flat head V8, notice only 3 main bearings.
notice it’s a 180 degree crank. v8 was 90 degree. I think monty g nailed it.
sorry, misread. it was brian cooper who got it. model b 4 cylinder. at least that’s my guess too.
I’m a dumbass, model b was v8. this is a model t crankshaft.
Looks like a Ford flathead V8 crank, but the phasing is off on two of the rod journals.
Early 3 main bearing, pre-crossflow Ford Kent. Maybe 1340 cc from a ’59 Anglia?