1932 - The Invention of the Ford V8 Engine

[@alexsf4248]

What a wonderful film! I used Ford E350 cargo vans for work in the early eighties and bought a 89 used one to start my own distribution business without realizing it came with a bumper to bumper warranty up to 60 K miles. It hauled extra load of magazines in San Francisco’s 46 hills and eventually the transmission broke, I took it to my neighborhood mechanic and he sent it to a transmission shop for it to be refurbished for $3 K not a small sum back then. Then he found out that it was still under warranty but it could only be honored if sent to a dealership. I was beside myself! Then I received a check for the full amount from Ford because there was an exception, if the vehicle broke down during a long weekend due to a holiday since you couldn’t get it fixed right away. I couldn’t believe my luck and Ford’s ethics. Then and there I vowed to be a Ford customer for life. Interesting enough previously I had a bad experience buying a used 79 Ford Fairmont, probably one of the worst era for Ford quality control. When my daughter was born I bought my first brand new car, a Ford Escort Station Wagon that not only was the most affordable Station Wagon at the time but it lasted 24 years (with only a new engine as a major repair). I eventually bought two brand new E350 and another used one. After 35 years in the publishing business I closed shop in 2018, and decided to drive as a Rideshare driver biding my time for retirement, so I bought a brand new Ford Fusion Hybrid (the second time Ford offered me a 0% interest loan), I recently did my 100 K maintenance and it passed with flying colors regardless of all the SF hills! Henry Ford changed the world, and I’m grateful for that in the twentieth first century!

[@Jaybearno]

I'm not sure how I ended up here but I'm glad I did. Can't believe how much effort and engineering we all take for granted.

[@jamesjohnson1710]

True brother a shame suck craftsmanship rarely exist now

[@RickHansbury]

​​@@jamesjohnson1710Actually, quality and craftsmanship are still available but you gotta search carefully. Sift much sand to find the gold nugget. Web searches all pop up the same conglomerate crap but local mechanics and craftsmen still make it right. It doesn't come cheap or overnight but it is always worth it. They don't have big advertising budgets but spend the profits on tools and stuff. Word of mouth brings us in.

[@TaterRogers]

Agreed!

[@sevenravens]

The quality control of the time was amazing.

[@MarkMorris-y6n]

No it wasn't. Not compared to today's engines. Not even close. It was good for the time that's it. Cars are built 10x better nowadays

[@stevenrussell5340]

My Dad worked for Ford in Dearborn as a design engineer. That was in the early sixties and late seventies, and into the eighties. We lived in West Dearborn on Newton Place Street, a suburb built by Ford for his employees. We lived in a colonial two level with a full basement, and the housing was all unique and not cookie cutter housing like you sees now a days. We were well off, had a nice education and lifestyle since Ford took great care of their employees.

[@trevking3772]

Not Henry 1 he didn't !

[@stevenrussell5340]

@@trevking3772 I heard Henry the 1st, was a bit of a donkeys you know what, but that smoothed out and the Ford enterprise got better with better management that went the right way to take care of the employees. Took some time, but all ended well.

[@mariekatherine5238]

No more, huh? If one can even find a factory to work in, in the US, you won’t be buying a house and living a middle class lifestyle.

[@iphuqdyrmum]

​@@mariekatherine5238 that's not true. They pay good the ones I know. All the guys I went to school with work at a car plant and or the coal mines and we all made about the same money. Ws all had nice 3 bedroom homes with big yard and basements some have garages. A couple of em have drag cars one races round track. They're wives have part time jobs but make decent. I'd say were all middle class. None of us went to college so we did good for ourselves I think but we've had.to work our asses off which is how it.should be. We manage our money well. Most have a savings. Its usually spoiled brat millenials that's super entitled that think everything should be given to them or they waste every penny they get cause they think they gtta start out on top buy buying a 50 thousand dollar truck to drive to work then wonder why they dont have anything saved up or they cant build a race car or have a nice hobby. Hunting or fishing maybe. Anyone can do Those things but these folks think they cant go fishing without a fancy bass boat and 300 fishing rods and what not. It's all in how u manage what.u have. I know guys that worked at McDonald's forever that's paying for a nice house.

[@hookergetlucky3216]

Tell him Ford engines are junk, Ford started the assembly line he also ripped his employees off!

[@sunnyjim1355]

I'm no petrol head, but I watched this beginning to end. Excellent video with really great vintage footage. Great work, mate.

[@allysonhanks7367]

Hello Sunny, how are you doing. I hope you are safe and in good health. Looking for a new friend and i saw your pic here. I hope you don't mind thank you.

[@theswanster1]

@@allysonhanks7367 lmao

[@patrikwright2658]

What an enjoyable 1hr 3mins of a piece off car history.well told and filmed.

[@fido139]

And today Ford is knocking out the competition, without a bailout. When I was a kid we had 2 Model A's, a 29 coach, a 32 coupe, and one 1937 V8. That V8 was SO smooth. My dad and uncles used to cuss shiverlays up one side and down the other.

[@shineyboots]

This is without doubt the best automobile documentary i have seen of this era. As has been said by another commentator this vid is a national treasure. It is especially pleasing as back in the late 60s when i was 20 i managed to buy a well used Ford Pilot with the Flat Head V8 engine which was the totally coolest machine in town , especially as i lived in the small town of Crowborough, in Sussex , England. I bought it from a local businessman that sold it to me for a price i can't recall, but it was cheap. Being a mechanic i sorted it best i could but the brakes were mechanical and were nothing short of dangerous. My pals and girlfriends would all put some money together to buy petrol and we'd head off to London or to the coast so as to go bowling or dancing or whatever. It wouldn't have been the same though if it hadn't had that fabulous V8 Flathead motor. Thank to all those real and proper engineers and designers that put together something that is still recognised as great engineering even in todays world.

[@JoshuaSmith-bv3nq]

M

[@helioselexandros]

Were Ford's and Chevy common in England at that time

[@foobarmaximus3506]

The audio is terrible! How can you call this good?

[@billjones9266]

@@JoshuaSmith-bv3nq q

[@rickreese5794]

Thx for your post 😊

[@1956Subramanian]

Excellent coverage of Ford Car Industry. Mechanical engineering is at its height. The conception, the execution, the assembly line - everything shows the man is capable of realizing anything under the sun. Ford was indeed a visionary. Thanks for the preservation of such footage and uploading it the KZbin.

[@foobarmaximus3506]

American Men, perhaps.

[@dasboot5903]

"Amen.*

[@ramonmoreno8014]

@@foobarmaximus3506 #triggered

[@pirpirpir-os7ms]

quite astounding for the day. Isn't this the Bonnie and Clyde car? Pretty amazing car for the day. Wow did the dark side put the hammer on this progress. Wow what a great video. Thank you ❤

[@dexterlovejoy2855]

I watched this video in it's entirety and loved every minute of it!! Even tho this is only about the new V8 Ford in 1932 and the variety of models that were available that year, I really appreciate the information and all the footage!! This video is without a doubt a national treasure!! I certainly hope a copy of this is preserved for scores of future generations to watch and appreciate it as much as I do!! You can tell that the music and narration is 1932 in some parts! Surprisingly still of good quality for its age!! Thank You for sharing!!!!

[@brandonhebert5485]

You gotta remember, TELEVISION was invented in 1927, only 5 years before this video was made!

[@patrickwayne3701]

@@brandonhebert5485 I'm sure you know this video wasn't made in 1932,,, the FILM FOOTAGE may have been shot then, but this video, clearly, was not.

[@randycoursey7230]

The movie Lawless starring Tom Hardy showcased the V8 32 Ford Roadster. I don't know who owns this car but wow, it's breathtaking to look at.

[@michaelmartin6912]

@ dexterlovejoy2855....what you said ....:)

[@cringram1003]

Aaa

[@dennislavoie5869]

One of the best automotive documentaries I’ve ever seen

[@BlackstoneMalone]

I wish I could go back in time and tell my great grandfather to stock up on these 32's and store them with no miles! Could you imagine what a barn find with 10 or 20 brand new 32s with no miles would be worth today?

[@RickHansbury]

Add a mint condition Red Barchetta for me...

[@BullittGT40]

You might be surprised. These cars depending on options were about $500 brand new, which is about $50,000 in todays money and while a mint condition one would be worth more than most I bet you be hard pressed to get much more than more than $100k for one. There would have been many far easier ways to double your money between then and now.

[@lightningdemolition1964]

You would have been better to invest in coca cola or apple a little later. A lot less storage and maintenance costs too.

[@NWinnVR]

@@BullittGT40 Where did you do that conversion? It's WILDLY off... (By nearly $40,000) According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and a few others just for good measure, $500 in 1932 would be between *$11,398.00* to *$11,482.00*

[@BullittGT40]

@@NWinnVR Believe government inflation number and all that if you want. I based it on the price of gold given at that time we were on the gold standard at $20 an oz, when I made this comment gold was at $2000 an oz now it's somewhere between $2300.and $2400 last I looked so that investment is looking worse by the day.

[@whsprague]

There is a picture of my grandfather at 51:59. I was shocked to see him. He had the third Ford dealership in Washington State!

[@jackrohde4709]

Was that Mallon motors ??

[@farinellibroschi1432]

You are making a mistake ,he is my grandfather ans we are not related

[@FloridaMugwump]

Most people know who both their grandfathers are. Well, not all. But the two grandfathers often have different last names. You did not say Paternal grandfather, so why would he expect your grandfather to have the same last name as you?

[@jamesavery6671]

No he's my grand father. He took me out for ice cream just the other day !

[@jmfs2k273]

Bill Sprague very cool.!!

[@badbiker666]

The power, speed, and durability of the Ford with the flathead V-8 was so good that on April 13, 1934, Clyde Barrow, of Bonnie and Clyde fame, wrote a letter to Henry Ford himself thanking him for building a car that allowed him to outrun the police almost everywhere. Probably not the kind of publicity Ford wanted, but I'm sure it didn't hurt.

[@melvinroyal1373]

sorry to be so offtopic but does anybody know a method to log back into an instagram account? I somehow lost the login password. I appreciate any help you can give me.

[@melvinroyal1373]

@Leonard Cody It worked and I actually got access to my account again. Im so happy! Thank you so much you saved my ass !

[@Hercules718]

Henry Ford was a Nazi, an anti semite, and Hitler admired him very much.

[@kitrichardson2165]

@@Hercules718 Just like Franklin Roosevelt. Who was also an anti-Semite and whose Democrat party was studied by the Nazis for how they were able to repress minorities. A lot of people were antisemites in those days not just the wealthy or political leaders.

[@TomasUjhelyi]

@@Hercules718 … and?

[@stephenjohnbetts1058]

Wonderful video, I had it on vhs years ago when I owned a Ford V8 Pilot God I loved that car and it’s fabulous flathead V8. Thanks for sharing.

[@someoneelse.2252]

Those cars were designed by the best automotive engineers of their era. I wonder what our grandchildren will think when they watch how our present day cars are made. Very good clip. Appreciation for uploading.

[@Ford_Raptor_R_720hp_V8]

*Henry Ford didn't want to replace the Model T. The people around him and his son had to drag and push him kicking and screaming to get him to replace the T with the A.*

[@777jones]

They will probably think "wow our grandparents were giant douches"

[@timsharpe3498]

Henry was completely bonkers by then. Any other old coot would have been in a rubber room.

[@Kimoto504]

The business model then was to design durable, long lasting, easily maintained vehicles you could keep for many years. -Vehicle as a useful necessity... Primarily logic/reason based sales/consumption. The business model now is to design reasonably reliable but not necessarily long lasting vehicles that are harder to maintained (for dealer maintenance income), that you keep for a modest amount of time to change out for the next model. -Vehicle as a consumer item... Primarily emotion based sales/consumption.

[@someoneelse.2252]

Pete Kiryluk Hmmm..interesting comment.

[@jebbroham1776]

All this progress without computers, astounding how smart these engineers were.

[@philipgates988]

Jeb Broham all with a slide rule.

[@bighands69]

Engines could run today with just a little bit of help from computers. So even if the computers were to go they would still run on. The problem is that modern manufacturers have become lazy with their designs.

[@ian_lambert-knight]

These are super simple engines. Like the complex bit are the radiator and the transmission. Which are super simple by modern standards. PS, modern companies provide more of an experience* than just a car. It isn’t just about A-B anymore. It abound the journey, and the experiences that can be had during it.

[@thomaskarlstrom4815]

Remember, computers don´t think, they´r just as smart as the programmer.

[@fernesal]

Today. Mechanics won't do more than plugging a scanner. You trying to explaining that You think something is broken base in common sense they won't listen. I love dirty hands mechanics who say: Start the engine... Then look ,grab something and tell you: This is bad. Swap something and say: -Try again! Broom! Done.

[@jacquemeoff6736]

Educational value here for the next generation. What a great film in good condition. Show this to your grandkids.

[@Pslytely_Psycho_GreybeardGamer]

The videos of the manufacturing floors left the safety trainer in me in a cold sweat..... Great video!

[@stevethomas760]

Different times for sure. I started my Ironworker apprenticeship in '72 and there was a lot of changes for the better, safety, at the end of my career. Trust me there was plenty of complaining along the way.

[@Pslytely_Psycho_GreybeardGamer]

@@stevethomas760 I graduated and joined the Big Green Machine in '77. I think that puts us within a decade age-wise. I worked in production, transportation and plumbing, and the same is true there as well. We've seen a lot of change in just our lifetimes. And a lot of resistance indeed. A few missteps for certain, but most found corrections at some point or other. After all. Safety regulations are written in blood. And we've seen plenty of it spilled in just our time on the floor. A great week to you Stevethomas.😎

[@briannotafan3368]

ive been building cars& engines for 40 years and still learned something im a chevy man but thank you mr.ford RIP

[@tiko5876]

Brian notafan this knowledge is older than you or me bud + there’s always always somethin to be learned in this trade.

[@utraceman]

Great video...........I just loved the sound of my ford flathead V8 with a glass packed muffler. Wonderful memories.

[@russellnovotny2921]

Yeah that motor boat sound.. We called it mellow. Smitty mufflers with metal shavings packing.

[@ceojoel]

I have one as well! Same, w glass packs lol. 51 Deluxe.

[@JohnyTopaz]

To keep this to cars, this is an awesome tribute to Ford and the development of the V8. Well done!

[@mikefitchett6583]

Ford have always built the best V8 engines.

[@timbuktu7753]

This is such an amazing history film.👍 Watching this after a bowl!

[@dennislavoie5869]

A bowl of cereal? Lol

[@timbuktu7753]

@@dennislavoie5869 Fruity pebbles!😎

[@joaquini007]

Reach for the stars

[@raysmith7543]

I really enjoyed every minute of this window in to the past.

[@jhask64]

I did as well. Being a fan of documentaries especially historical ones covering such an interesting story!

[@andyvasvari4874]

Me too, I am from the areas of pininfarinas, topolinos, 74 yrs old.

[@bobmarley5811]

How are you dealing with the corona-19?

[@MrGregHiller]

Yes, truly wonderful to see. The model my Dad had in England, was a great car, and powerful indeed for the times. There was a 3 gear column shift, I remember. I learned to drive in that car, and I used it a lot after that.

[@allysonhanks7367]

@@andyvasvari4874 Hello Andy, how are you doing. I hope you are safe and in good health. Looking for a new friend and i saw your pic here. I hope you don't mind thank you.

[@alvidadost6955]

What a sublime treat this was, every minute of it!

[@fall-of-rome]

it's crazy that this was all done without computers over 70 years ago. these engineers were so smart and talented

[@vincentleatham8291]

Not crazy lol

[@hosgoth]

" then...than"....you summed it all up.

[@fall-of-rome]

@@vincentleatham8291 You try making an entire engine with no CAD or computers or modern materials

[@retireddriver16]

brent grubbs try 90 years ago

[@theronherbert7814]

Q

[@MarkGrudt]

Dad started at Ford as a draftsman in 1957 and became a body engineer by the mid-sevens, he was teaching and drafting on CAD computers. He retired in 1993 as lower management. The wonderful thing he enjoyed going to work every day. After contract work, he spent 42 years there. Dad was blessed.

[@caratcranker5874]

This video is utterly amazing!!!! Just look at all of the machinery back then. WOW...Totally top shelf equipment. Imagine the time involved in making all the machinery in Fords factory's.... This really blew my mind. Of course other car companies were the same, I'm just commenting on this totally AWESOME video. Thankyou so much for posting this. A+ all the way.

[@dingdong2103]

Look at the mill operator stopping the rotating crankshaft with hand... I doubt that would be allowed today. Way too many machinists mangled around rotating objects.

[@rickreese5794]

Merca 🤙🏻😎🇺🇸

[@frankxactum3649]

Excellent video! I always loved the sound of the flathead Ford V8, I worked at an auto wrecking yard in the 1960's in Torrance CA. In the yard, we had a mobile crane that had one without mufflers. The unique rumble of that engine was music to our ears.

[@tyrssen1]

It's always fun to see original films showing how these antique cars were actually made!

[@brandonhebert5485]

And how WELL they were made. Back then manufacturers went over the top to produce quality cars that would last for decades. Now, they produce plastic junk that lasts for 3 months longer the warranty and they charge you out of the ass for this junk too.

[@tyrssen1]

@@brandonhebert5485 Quite right!

[@ianmangham4570]

Beautiful old footage processing the manufacturing of the internals/cam and crank 🙏🤠 old school slide rule genius folk 😅

[@philguilford]

It is no wonder that the 32 Fords remain incredibly popular to this day. An amazing number of these cars survived.

[@hendo337]

The Fox body is the modern equivalent of the 32-42 Ford back then.

[@southernfriedhippie]

Awsome video. Love all the mechanical detail that was shown. these days dealers will barely tell you the engine size, can't even see it under the engine cover.

[@dufus2273]

today the emphasis is on the sound system and video screen

[@johnj.baranski6553]

Dealer sales people know nothing about the mechanics of a car only the electronics.

[@jonhohensee3258]

Awesome

[@michaelmcilrath3420]

Fantastic old period footage. Most educational...gave me great insight into my grandfather's era and thinking. ....although he was a Chevy man hinself.

[@ericjohnson8482]

All of those experimental V8's are sitting on display at The Museum of American Speed now.

[@charleshirst6220]

I love the way that the Ford publicity machine did not dumb-down the explanation of how the car and its V8 engine was made. You just would not get that level of detail in the modern era - such a great shame. Like some others, I watched the whole thing with great enjoyment.

[@eddieafterburner]

Agreed. The days when companies and manufacturers produced their own educational content are long over unfortunately. I think the dumbing down started in the 1980s. Now what little science and engineering you can find is focused on “fun”, with way-too-excited super-extroverted hosts catering to the zero attention span set.

[@DrBill-zv5dx]

This is incredible technology and precision machinery for 1932. These men I consider true geniuses.

[@TRX450RVlogger]

Here this will speak for it's self. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nIGpZZl4fLN-Zrc

[@pilotavery]

This was the equivalent of microprocessors and cell phones now.

[@dave_riots]

@Fred Peterson Modern cars can either be flimsy or well built. While I can't say anything about Tesla since they haven't been mass producing cars as long - GM, Chrysler and Ford haven't really been making solid-built cars since the late 60's, the Germans fell through in the early 1990's, while the Japanese and Koreans have been beating them all out in quality since the late 90's and early 2000's.

[@TRX450RVlogger]

@Fred Peterson Look up the crash test's vs old Chevy Bel-Air vs a 2018 Chevy Malibu. Trust me the old cars are dangerous for accidents. The can on older care just crash and twist and you will pretty fucked up or dead after an accident of a older car.

[@audvidgeek]

What's amazing about these old cars is how amazingly tough they are! I'm seeing these cars driven FAST over unimproved roads, bouncing over rocks and ruts, going airborne, sliding around. Drive a modern vehicle, even something sold as off-road worthy, like a Jeep Wrangler, or a Toyota 4-runner, and it would be trashed in minutes, but people did this everyday to these cars, and they came back asking for more

[@13thSystem]

It's because they didn't worry about efficiency back then, steel was also cheaper, everything was made of thick solid steel and everything drove like a tank but at the end of the day, they were driving 4-6L V8s that couldn't even produce the same horsepower to weight ratio of a modern 1.2L inline 4 cyl car.

[@stephenmason2151]

You would not see these cars survive for 250k miles though. Don't get me wrong they were "built Ford tough" but ......

[@rockyj2008]

You’re wrong about the Toyota

[@divvy1400yam600]

The true heroes are the engineers and technicians involved the hard line creation of the engines ! Management can conceive : the real skill is in creating !

[@steveanacorteswa3979]

Not just creating, actually making it work in the real world, anyone can make something cool in a lab, then turn it loose on low info people, like the ones I hear racing their frozen car motors trying to warm them up when it's 12 deg outside, I mean the stupidity is deep with them.

[@mertonmarine878]

The whole thing is one mind blowing spectacle of innovation. The machines that make the machines that make the machines. Incredible!

[@kevintucker3354]

The chickens making noise in the courtroom was priceless!

[@EastBayBlue]

This amazing documentary is the best historical automotive video I’ve ever seen.

[@allysonhanks7367]

Hello Michael, how are you doing. I hope you are safe and in good health. Looking for a new friend and i saw your pic here. I hope you don't mind thank you.

[@C-M-E]

It's quite easy in our computer-driven world for thinking these were primitive vehicles, but I'm incredibly impressed with how much precision was attained back then as these early cars were mass produced largely by hand. These days about the only cars that get that kind of attention are race oriented and low-volume supercars. They ought to show this as mandatory training for current employees.

[@Iconhulk]

One chip goes out now you're f'd..

[@orangejjay]

@@Iconhulk How often do those chips go out though? You and Mr. C-M-E clearly aren't engineers and clearly aren't versed in what goes in to engineering vehicles these days. Cars are far more reliable, last longer, and more efficient than they have ever been, in part thanks to things like electronic fuel injection, direct injection, and ECU mapping. But go on ... tell us more about your engineering expertise. lol

[@mikestevens5512]

You are so right. They were more advanced then we are today in so many ways.

[@mikestevens5512]

​@@Iconhulk absolutely!

[@mikestevens5512]

​@@orangejjay The question is put one Of these old vehicles to a test versus A vehicle today. See which one last longer and holds up longer. Over tough terrain with the least maintenance.

[@Insane247714]

im not a ford driver. but i can appreciate the amount of mechanical and technical engineering that went into the 1932 v8. its just a amazing. thumbs up

[@lobsterbark]

The engineering that went into early cars is just fascinating. Now ever bodies basically got it all figured out, OHV is compact but inefficient, DOHC is the way to go, the only really viable engine configurations for normal cars are V6, V8 and I4. Everything redlines at around the same point, everything is either old or using direct injection, even the different types of Variable Valve Timing and Lift systems are kinda all the same. Transverse FWD is the cheapest, struts are the way to go for pretty much everything thats not a truck or a sports car, its all kinda bland to be honest. The only place left where companies are doing all sorts of weird stuff is with transmissions. VW/Audi tries to use a dsg in everything, Mazda, Ford, and GM are all using a different really advanced type of torque converted automatic, Suburu, Honda, and Nissan are all experimenting with very different types of CVT. There is a big split coming soon of who sticks to NA and who surrenders to the bandwagon of using undersized turbos that fall flat on their face around 3500 rpm, but thats a choice between shit and not shit, not an interesting decision. Back then they had all sorts of crazy stuff. Multi piece blocks, sleeve valves, all sorts of crazy over and undersquare engines, eight or so different types of carburetors, all sorts of crazy suspension stuff. I was reading a book recently that had a picture of some touring car from the 20s, and it had this really weird semi independent rear suspension setup where a transverse leaf spring doubled as an antiroll bar. Even cooling systems varied in different cars.

[@StephenBrewer89]

I love documentaries like these.

[@briannotafan3368]

as a kid we had a 16mm sound projector our downtown libary had indrustral documentaries my dad would get them me& my friends were glued to our seats

[@Thunder_Dream_Designs]

I wish history and discovery channel didn’t abandon documentaries.

[@kevintucker3354]

I’m impressed with the tent designs they had in 1932! The Big Top they called it. There are a few fairly big temporary tents in the world today but back then they had some huge ones that were temporary and were moved around for big events!

[@Orange-Jumpsuit-Time]

Sure, as long as someone didn't drop a lighted match, cigar, or cigarette, see Hartford circus fire of 1944. Back then, they used to waterproof those tents with gasoline. LOL

[@jimhen459]

they had many fires, Egyptian cotton cured in diesel.

[@gregguiltner8764]

SpaceX was building the world's largest rocket in enormous tents until recently.

[@Propsman416]

$500 for the Deluxe Roadster in 1932 is less than $10,000 in today's money. It makes you think about American manufacturing jobs and wages and how corporate profits (shareholder profits) have affected the life of working people and the price of durable goods. Of course, on the flip side, the massive layoffs that Ford was able to implement almost at whim were part of the equation too.

[@herbspivey965]

Ford flathead was one of the best engines ever built I think. When I was growing up my dad gave me one he found in the junk yard and that’s what I learned about mechanics. I can still remember the firing order and other facts.thankyou ford.

[@LaPabst]

I LOVE the editing on this vid. Nice job moving from the old footage to the new perspective. Not as easy as you think.

[@BillKinsman]

Most ingenious use of gears, bearings and springs. Gotta love it.

[@adrianniemiec8669]

These methods of engine production and assembly were still used in some countries as late as the mid 1960s. No wonder these engines required oil as thick as 20W-50. By the 1960s , 10W-40 was the oil of choice for most V 8s , and V6 engines , bad choice when its less than 20 degrees F outside ! This is also the time when engine oil warmers were introduced , an idea brought from Scandinavia and the far European east. Yet they lasted , why ? In those days , there was no VVT , V-Tec , Mivec and so on . Engines had many many less parts and were simple to maintain. Today , a totally different ball game. Great video by the way !!!!!!!!!

[@blaneycrabbe3390]

I now have a 'new found respect' for 'these' early automobiles.

[@xlgeezer]

This video is great! The section on the Rosamond testing is particularly interesting. My grandfather (Rayford Dees) owned the garage shown in the video and my grandmother (Janie Dees) ran the hotel also shown in that clip. Rayford's garage burned down on July 8th and I wonder whether the testing was terminated early due to that event.

[@DarrenWalley]

Great stuff.

[@leecox1513]

THANKS for such a wonderful piece of history.

[@robertkroberjr.157]

This was the day after my mom was born! RIP Mom! 😇🙏♥️

[@matthewchin6454]

Hah, designers have been struggling to get that front license plate mount to look good for 100 years. Some things never change.

[@panther105]

Never knew about that X engine. Seems futuristic especially for the time. Also, all the testing equipment during assembly is amazing.

[@Dave5843-d9m]

X engines tend to be rough running with four cylinders, though they run extremely smoothly with 2 strokes. The type with wet sump and a light duty blower are actually clean and efficient.

[@richardbirtch9766]

What about the Roterrey Engine ?🤔

[@kylekenan2321]

It'd be kinda like a radial engine

[@joekenorer]

Bmw nailed it with their boxer engine design, but it truly it was an engineering problem for decades until certain types of testing were developed.

[@darinclark1853]

I love to see the amount of intricate engineering that was accomplished with out electronics and computers...

[@ian_lambert-knight]

Dude it one chunk of metal pushing another. It is actually pretty simple. The only complex part is the cooling system. That is it.

[@Clickbaiters]

@@ian_lambert-knight Everything is easy once it's been invented/developed for you. If you think the cooling system is the most "complex" part of an engine then I doubt you truly understand an engine beyond "piston goes up, piston goes down." In fact, the cooling system is the simplest part of an engine and hasn't changed much since the inception of it.

[@wopmf4345FxFDxdGaa20]

@@Clickbaiters 99% of the engineering in this video were not invented for this car, but much before. The problems were solved over a long period of time. Engineers job is to solve technical problems mostly with known solutions as efficiently as possible. That is what makes engineering different from art; the process to design something is not chaotic but systematic, the aim is to develop efficient solution processes to common engineering problems. For example, a car can be divided into smaller sub problems; engine, gearbox, frame, body, braking system, etc. And those to even smaller problems. For each small problem, there usually is a known solution process already, like electrical spark plugs for ignition, etc. Then something new on some field may be developed, like the new type of V8 engine in this video, but even in that case, 90% of it is existing technology. Complexity is actually a very bad thing in engineering, the idea is not to make a complicate design, the idea is usually to keep it simple, because complicate design is more prone to failure, more difficult/expensive to manufacture, etc. Smart design is that design, that manages to do a complicate thing as simply as possible. But indeed even simple things can be quite difficult to get working exactly right. The devil is in the details.

[@ian_lambert-knight]

Ok, the biggest problem early combustion engines face was reliable cooling. This single part is very complex in comparison to piston technology. Witch had already existed for hundreds of years. It requires you to be able to move coolant through out the engine and cool it. Adding to that you don’t want to over cool the engine and need to more or less evenly cool it.

[@ian_lambert-knight]

Well I’ve never cast anything.

[@ackinito]

I wish documentaries today were this quality. Thank you.

[@misisipimike8020]

Strange but true fact: the music featured in this documentary of Fiord and his engineers’ incredible ingenuity wasn’t developed or played till a full decade after the V8 was invented. Bluegrass music came about in the 40s thanks to Bill Monroe.

[@MarkBlackburnWPG]

Thanks for the informed note, Misisipi Mike.

[@augustodavid7372]

@@MarkBlackburnWPG na

[@zelphx]

As she sailed through the windshield, she could be heard exclaiming: "EXCELLENT BRAKES"! In few decades, seatbelts would come in handy.

[@howardking3046]

I remember the old flathead V8’s very well. I had one that ran for years without an ounce of oil pressure-the oil pump drive gear pressed on the end of the cam shaft had come loose. Mine was the popular 85 horse power but they also had a little baby brother V8 that put out 60 hp. The only reason I eventually ditched my old Ford was that the girls weren’t interested!

[@chrish5791]

That explains why! A mechanic that I worked for in high school used to sell Wynn’s products. He told me about a V8 that the Wynn’s regional distributor used take to fairs for demonstration of their oil treatment. He said that they would drop the oil pan and let it run for a half hour with no oil pressure. He also said it was a flathead Ford. It sounds like they don’t load the main and rod bearings very heavily judging by your experience and this.

[@charlesbracken367]

Y bfi xbl tut

[@charlesbracken367]

WHY DON,T THEY MAKE THEM. AGAIN, THEY WERE EASY TO KEEP UP

[@gordocarbo]

@@charlesbracken367 Who would buy them? Not todays youth thats for sure .

[@Beemer917]

I used to setup program and run CNC machine tools, but , some of the most amazing tools I worked with were the automatics from the period just before NC or CNC machines. The old time Machinists and engineers who built these machines had some real native ingenuity. I would say, much more than the CNC machines designers. Something that always surprises modern Machinists who use a lot of CNC machines is how fast and automatic machine could be. Once they were set up they could really haul ass.

[@Orange-Jumpsuit-Time]

I worked for a 100 year old gun manufacturer in the mid 80's that were still using Brown & Sharpe screw machines they had purchased from around 1905. Except for making up new cams, probably every 10 years, these machines could still spit out thousands of good quality screws per day.

[@ianmangham4570]

​@@Orange-Jumpsuit-TimeThe machines were made in England 🇬🇧

[@Orange-Jumpsuit-Time]

@@ianmangham4570 Made in England 🇬🇧, improved upon in America.💪

[@dscott501]

I drive a flathead Ford V8 to this day. Not a powerhouse by today’s standards, but it gets me down the road!

[@spacexvanityprojectslimite3315]

that's handy, its ability to "get you down the road"...what else does it do?

[@01rma]

Absolutly love this! the ford v8 engine was the guiding way for the whole path of usa v8 engines.

[@jomama9751]

I learn something new everyday, I did not know they had a locking steering wheel in the 30's.

[@spacexvanityprojectslimite3315]

my good the ancient invention of a lock....combined with something else....omg earth shattering! lol

[@almodequindre8601]

They had electric cars in the 20s and 30s even

[@floydrhodesiv5733]

Ford was way ahead of his time ! Is there any cars today that can do 33 ,000 miles in 33 days on dirt roads ?? Not one

[@almodequindre8601]

@@floydrhodesiv5733 Agreed,

[@nemolevola]

@@almodequindre8601 Electric cars were invented around 1830's.

[@rickmassey1272]

Those cars are absolutely beautiful. I bet if Ford reproduced these cars exactly as they were with modern drivetrains and safety features they would sell....I know I would buy one.

[@josephb404]

Or even without modern drive trains. Just the originals with the bare minimum of safety equipment necessary to be allowed and just sell them as an extremely cheap durable alternative for a new car

[@josephb404]

They could even use it under the facade of being a licensed continuation car. And then sell a new model A for like $6000 and do that with all their cars, like the more classic mustangs and stuff, all their old cars. Sell them for like $8-$16,000

[@InvestmentJoy]

Impossible to make safe

[@javamann1000]

Bonnie and Clyde recommend the Ford V8!

[@patsie10]

Frenchman Leon Levavasseur was a 39-year-old inventor in 1902 when he took out a patent for the first V-8 engine he called the Antoinette. The V8 since then has become the most reliable and efficient internal combustion engine to power automobiles and to see extensive use in power boats and early aircraft.

[@jasonsprouse2803]

Nobody said Ford built the First V8. He built the first MONOBLOCK V8. Ford had been building V8's for years already, but not monoblock.

[@jonhohensee3258]

Leon was a HACK.

[@alexanderpherigo6806]

Google copy-paste I see

[@MGB18]

Did the Frog Frenchman sell over 13 Million V8 engines? I didn't think so. lol.

[@patsie10]

@@MGB18 exactly the kind of moronic reply I would expect from someone who thinks like yourself

[@samking4179]

Aaron, you are THE man! Thanks for posting this! One of the greatest videos I have ever seen!

[@Telcom100]

This is a great film which shows one of Henry Ford's most important contributions to mass production - interchangeable parts. The parts were manufactured and tested to be within very tight tolerances so that no adjustments would be required during the assembly process.

[@richardelliott9511]

Sorry, interchangeable parts in manufacture were pioneered by Eli Whitney jr and Sam Colt, one hundred years earlier. It was the moving assembly line that Ford introduced.

[@Telcom100]

Good points! He should still get credit as the first to use it for car manufacturing.

[@bighands69]

@@richardelliott9511 But not in the mass manufacture of cars. Up to that point it was really glorified batch manufacturing.

[@richardelliott9511]

@@bighands69 you're point is not in dispute. My point was to merely correct the mistaken idea that the concept of interchangeable parts did not belong to Ford and that it was a well established concept and widely used at the time he adopted it's use. There is no doubt that he did fully exploit the concept and expanded it into areas where it had seen little use yet was totally necessary to take full advantage of his moving assembly line, which WAS his idea...

[@SlyPearTree]

Nice time capsule of the early 1930's. I do wish that it had focused on the engine exclusively, i.e. what were the technical/engineering problems and how were they solved?

[@ohger1]

Well, I read that on one of the very first days of casting the flathead V8, the foundry had 100% scrap; not one usable core. For the era, the monobloc V8 was difficult to pattern and enormously difficult to mold and cast.

[@guyonearth]

A lot of the technical problems of this engine were never solved. A flathead v-8 is an inherently poor design because there's no easy way to get the exhaust out. You'll notice the huge spacing on the cylinders. That's because the exhaust had to run BETWEEN the cylinders to exit to the manifold. This made these engines prone to overheating, and overheat they did, even with two water pumps. The blocks and heads were prone to cracking, and valves wore out very quickly. These engines were very low-powered by modern standards, and not very long-lived, either.

[@packardexelence]

I will grant you that the early Ford V-8's had many problems; HOWEVER, Cadillac came out with a mono-bloc V-8 that LOOKED like it's TWIN by 1934 even though Cadillac had been building 3-piece bloc V-8's since 1915!! And NO American manufacturer built 3-piece blocs since then!!!!!!!!!!

[@guyonearth]

packardexelence Cadillac's engine was quite different, They exited the exhaust on the VALVE SIDE, in the valley, which eliminated most of the problems Ford had with running exhaust between the cylinders. Given that making an engine block as one casting was a much cheaper approach, it's only natural that other manufacturers would follow suit with what Ford did.

[@johnkellow9480]

packardexelence

[@RRaucina]

That garage with the center post lift and the double jointed arm for oil collection makes us all look like dopes today!

[@RScott413]

The thought of finding the perfect timing/motion and the ability to generate electricity to sustain it took some serious engineering and it didn't happen overnight. Now these things run so efficiently that they are cleaner and more powerful with reliability than ever.

[@Redmenace96]

At 12 minutes, done with describing the development of the engine. The car, Model A development continues. I am familiar with antique cars, and this is a great collection of period footage. The amazing thing to consider is that this car/engine was like a space ship to American people. The features, design and engineering were from the future.

[@PolitcsUnleased]

You can really see the Beautiful paint selection: black, dark grey, lighter grey, grey, and white.

[@MrHantz101]

You forgot Slightly Darker Black

[@buckhorncortez]

@Mungo_T Actually toward the end of Model T production (1926) the car was available in: Black, Highland Green, Royal Maroon, Fawn Gray, Gunmetal Blue, Phoenix Brown, Commercial Green, Moleskin, and Drake Green.

[@nigratruo]

Come on, don't be unfair: You know this was before colors were invented and there were so many traffic accidents because nobody could distinguish a red light (grey) from a green light (grey), from a yellow light (grey) ;-)

[@craigdawson1749]

nigratruo hahahahahaha

[@rogerhoward7104]

This is thee most interesting picture of how an automobile came out the end of an auto assembly plant. I worked at General Motors Assembly plants at South Gate and Van Nuys for 14 years and never grew disinterested in the automobile production. If you can visit and see how a car is built do it! It's a marvel of engineering.

[@6h471]

agreed. I think the machines used to build the car, and the manufacturing processes are even more interesting than the cars they produced.

[@stevenkaeser8583]

During the 60s, I took the Ford Moter Car Plant tour in Detroit. Good memories of a bygone time.

[@allysonhanks7367]

Hello Steven, how are you doing. I hope you are safe and in good health. Looking for a new friend and i saw your pic here. I hope you don't mind thank you.

[@danclayberger770]

Great documentary on Ford's V8. The best one hat I have seen.

[@loremipsum7471]

Let it hereby be known that I watched the whole thing.

[@bvcxzgt5451]

You need to get a "1:03" sticker for the back of your car.

[@tiko5876]

lorem ipsum I fuckin didn’t.

[@gordbaker896]

So did I. Missed the Assembly line where they made spoked wooden wheels for the Model T.

[@WJKPhD]

I liked the girl at the end. Wonder what ever became of her?

[@netspirit79]

@@WJKPhD She is long dead

[@alexyo3927]

Wow what a show I thoroughly enjoyed that

[@errolrasmussen4375]

Hi there great history of the Ford v8 I have a few of these great v8s.

[@akbarshoed]

excellent high quality footage for the time period. Incredible window into history. THANKS so much for sharing!

[@sevenravens]

Wow, locking steering wheel! The seats fold forward just like my 2014 Prius. Sun visors! Amazeballs.

[@Quacks0]

The Ford V8 was Clyde Barrow's car of choice because it was not only faster than most cop cars, but it was very rugged and thus could traverse rough roads and off-road terrain, and it was quite bulletproof for ordinary weaponry.

[@foobarmaximus3506]

Duh

[@wazzanose]

John Dillinger wrote to Henry Ford praising the Ford V8 as his first choice when stealing a getaway car,

[@Quacks0]

@@wazzanose Really? I did not know that --- thanks for sharing that interesting nugget of info. I Googled it, and these two letters were received by Ford Motor Company only about a month apart in the spring of 1934 --- Barrow's on April 13, and Dillinger's on May 17. Amazing, huh? Apparently, both letters were not actually from these infamous gangsters, though --- sorry to burst your bubble. Modern handwriting analysts have examined the letters, and the general consensus is that neither letter was written by its supposed author. The fact that both of the letters surfaced so close together seems awfully suspicious to me, as well. I'm guessing that the letters were probably just invented by Ford as a publicity stunt to promote their V8-engine cars as being fast, rugged, and reliable --- kinda like, "hey, we build such great cars that even the top contemporary hard-boiled criminals choose them over other vehicle-makes/models, and have praising words for them!"

[@wazzanose]

@@Quacks0 Sounds like a clever publicity campaign alright. I didn't Google it I just rememberd either reading it somewhere or hearing it in a documentary about Dillinger. I imagine there would be enough genuine examples of both their handwriting and expert judges to be sure these days, but probaly not so much back then.

[@MrCgford1]

​@FooBar Maximus go lay down professor Duh

[@raynic1173]

You gotta love that court scene! Fined two chickens! Next time I'm in traffic court, I'm bringing two chickens and going to talk like W.C. Fields and stream the whole thing on KZbin!

[@calvinfarrow3819]

It's pretty cool how accurate and tight the tolerances where even back then.

[@kylekenan2321]

I honestly think they were probbly more accurate then than they are now.

[@e-curb]

Clearly you've never built an engine. The tolerances quoted in this video are horribly sloppy and huge compared to what you need today.

[@thatoneathiestguy2752]

@@e-curb you also don't really understand motors we're a bit different back then

[@e-curb]

@@thatoneathiestguy2752 I'm well aware of the differences between engines back then and today.

[@fiveninegarage]

@@kylekenan2321 the tolerances in these videos are incredibly sloppy. It might sound tight, but today’s machinery can do much tighter tolerances

[@blumobean]

I had a 1981 VW Scirocco. I truly loved that car. It was the best driving car I have ever owned. I am presently driving a VW Jetta Sportwagen. I like it lots. I have been driving, repairing, and modifying VW's since my family bought a Beetle in 1963. The Scirocco had an AC problem from brand new. The thing you learn about VW is you will have at least one problem from the start. You don't know what the problem will be, but there will be a problem. The Scirocco AC was controlled by a crazy system of levers and wires. Supposedly, the temperature would be controlled by this Mickey Mouse system. After 2 visits to the dealer, I decided I had enough. Went into dash and was shocked at what I saw. This Rube Godberg system would not stay in alignment. I went back to the parts counter at the VW dealer and got a lighted switch that matched the other rocker switches in the car. I bypassed the microswitch that controller the compressor clutch. So I ended up with a "desert only" AC system. Even though I usually had high humidity, I never had a problem.

[@NothMeeh]

A friend of mine had one of those with the same problem. Great car.

[@willymueller3278]

Those were the times, when cars were still beautiful. I would like a two door sedan.

[@highlanderfreelancer4553]

Thanks for glossing over how they did the casting.

[@jamesringler987]

Thats what I want to see

[@ytugtbk]

It was a trade secret?

[@frequencyfluxfandango8504]

Beautiful aesthetics ..but lethal to drive at speed. Crashing in old cars like this produced some truly macabre accident scenes.

[@alexamg6675]

Amazing manufacturing wow also the V8 logo used on the wheel was still in use I remember seeing it Ford expedition V8 version

[@MozarkAdventures]

Awesome documentary, thanks for sharing!

[@guyina4x499]

Ford did not claim to invent the V8, they made it affordable for everyone who earned a good wage. V8's in any other make, including Lincoln's were very expensive and only had by the very wealthy.

[@czr7j9]

same as cars like camaro and mustang.

[@Pimp-Master]

V8 engines were around before Ford began the company. They were mostly for powering boats. There was a boat racing scene around the turn of the century. But natch, this documentary is about a V-8 you could pick up for $500.00 smackeroos.

[@gordbaker896]

Chevy had a V8 in 1927.

[@gordbaker896]

@Mungo_T Yes, 288 Cu in. 4.7litre. Amazing.

[@gordbaker896]

@catmodelt Yes they did!

[@PressedSteel1919]

Dear Ford: The power house 4.6L V8 in my Lincoln is top shelf, Keep up the good work.

[@steveanacorteswa3979]

WOW, that was just amazing, always had a love for the flat head, hopefully I can find one now that I am ready to retire, need a hot rod. Amazing the engineering in 32, you forget how many innovations it takes to make a car.

[@marcbrewster1125]

Love this. Notice at 38:20 you can hear that America did indeed used to say coupe 'correctly' ie "coop-ay" rather than the now accepted "coop"

[@redram5150]

That’s called a “transatlantic accent”. It was taught to upper-crust, private schooled, typically east coast Americans during the early 20th century. It’s a learned, not regionally acquired way to speak, adopting British pronunciations and turns-of-phrase. That’s why they use “coop-ay”

[@cybair9341]

"Coupé" is a french word. That's how we pronounce that word in French (coup-ay)

[@Troy_nov1965]

Coop sounds better . Coupe sounds like your being a posh twat.

[@gsxerwhite]

troynov1965 that’s posh twaté to you pal

[@Troy_nov1965]

@@gsxerwhite LOL Touché

[@farinellibroschi1432]

I love to hear people speaking back in the 30's they have this nice and serious accent

[@STho205]

Farinelli Broschi. It was called "Transatlantic speech" for American radio announcers at the time.

[@MrRandomcommentguy]

the '32 Ford V8 is one of my all time favorite cars....

[@davidhajek2494]

Awesome Video...Henry Ford you never cease to amaze me!