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Lee's Speed Shop in Oakland, CA was owned by Lee Chapel in the 1940's. Chapel created the Tornado OHV Conversion during this time. This conversion increased the horsepower of a stock Ford Flathead from 175 horsepower to over 275 horsepower. The heads could be purchased in various compression ratios ranging from 7 to 1 up to 16 to 1. This engine also features a Lee Chapel custom made intake manifold.
This engine ran at the August 1950 Bonneville Speed meet in a streamliner sponsored by Lee's Speed shop. It reached 175 mph and set a record for OHV V-8 engines, but was not the fastest on the flats. The Tornado ran at Bonneville with a 180-degree crankshaft also. There are no further records of this engine in any publication. This engine is featured in:
Block Manufacturer : Ford Block Material : iron Cylinders : V-8 Cubic Inches : 239 Bore : 3.1875 Stroke : 3.75 Block Year : 1932 Head Manufacturer : Tornado Head Material : iron Cam : In block Cam Drive : Gear Driven Carbs : Stromberg 97 Head Year : Era : PostWar |