Offenhauser Speed Equipment - Not All Metal Is Created Equal
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- Опубликовано: 8 сен 2024
- Iron Trap Garage stopped in to get the story on the past, present, and the future of one of the oldest consistently run speed equipment companies in the country. Thanks to Jason Curtis - CEO and Skye King - Director of Marketing for giving us the opportunity to tell the story of Offenhauser and an update on where they are headed.
Offenhauser
Website - offenhauser.co/
Facebook - / offenhausersalescorp
Instagram - / offenhauserco
Awesome that a great old American company is still alive and kicking in this era of foreign crap. Long live Offy!
AMAZING, AMAZING, AMAZING. I bought a set of new Offy flathead heads about 5 years ago and I could tell that they were being machined with older technology (high speed steel/carbide instead of CBN) but wow! I had no idea just how traditional their shop still was. Makes me appreciate Offy even more!
Thanks Andy, that was our goal to promote an old US based and still US run business like this! Thanks for watching! -Matt/ITG
Thanks for the tour guys. Amazing to see that they are still here making parts the way they started. Very inspiring.
Called the shop about a year or so ago, and bought a "Port O Sonic" manifold for my Chrysler 340. It felt like I was calling a real business, guy on the phone said: "Yeah I think I've got one of those cores here, can get that final machined and sent out to you within a week." Amazing. I know the history with Fred and Leo Goosen and particularly the Indy racing history, and it's a truly wonderful American story.
these companies are what makes America great thanks for the tour
Seriously cool! I was expecting a modern CNC facility. Kudos to these guy for keeping it as it was,
I love this. It's amazing that they were able to preserve all of the old original casting forms. I loved the quote "We don't make any reproduction parts." because they are just still making the originals with the original bucks and with some of the same guys. It makes me want to figure out how to include some Offy parts in my restoration project.
In 1952 my father took me to a shop in Indianapolis. The chief mechanic lifted me up into an Offy powered Novi.
( I think that was the chassis) That did it! I've been a motor head ever since!
I would hope that "Offy" Has grand children who have the automotive bug & saw the value in keeping Offenhauser speed shop up & running & have the drive to make it world renouned as it once was & still is!! PLEASE KEEP THE DREAM ALIVE PLEASE!!!???
Excellent Video, Matt!
I used to have one of those 'Carb-Setters' years ago, and it was So handy!
It went with thieves back in '88!
☹
Sorry to hear of that loss.
Yeah, I they got 5 of my big block mopars, 2 roll around boxes with most of my Antique tools, etc.
Thanks Matt for sharing the story and tour of this place. Just think about the craftsmanship of those machines which are still in use today some 100 years young. What a testament to American made. This is what makes America so great!!!
Thanks Craig we agree! -Matt/ITG
Cool Video man thanks for sharing,i hope more people see the value in keeping places like this alive and working so much seems to get lost
in the new through away world "some" people live in!!
I had a motor that used a Offenhauser intake here in Australia was a 351 4v ford dual port .
I was 17 when i built it and it ran very well on the street and managed a 11.4 @ 117 on pump fuel .
Oh man, great video! Am so glad to see that Offy is in the hands of people that care about its history.
WOW I have always known the Offy name and it's meaning but I never knew they are still alive and running and that's so amazing, way to go guys keep up the amazing work!!
Wow, man! That's amazing that they can still use the original machinery and make things operate efficiently and turn a good profit. I've seen a lot of their IG posts, and I didn't realize just how much of their process was still intact after all these years. I mean, if you get certain parts from them, they're EXACTLY like what you would have gotten over fifty years ago! You have all these other companies doing vintage versions of their old stuff that isn't the same, but with Offy it is. Unbelievable! I think if I had something to put it on, I'd go buy some Offy stuff right now just to be part of the whole thing.
Thanks for the tour of such a great place and so nice to see that old machinery is still going after 100 years. Made in the USA alive and well..
I knew Offy equipment is cool but not That cool. Thank you Matt and team for putting this together and sharing.
Some of those manifolds brought back memories. One is the slant 6 4bbl unit.
When I first got my gas station I found a Offie for a 292/312 Ford 3 2bbl under a workbench. Must have been put there and forgotten. Sold it at a swap meet. As I remember I didn't get that much for it.
I like the carb setter poster. $5.95 free shipping. (Ppd. = Postpaid) lol.
WOW! I AM SEVERLY IMPRESSED!!! To have the skill & knowledge & years & years of experience working at Offenhauser would be to me, A DREAM COME TRUE!!! I WISH I HAD EVEN 1/10th of the experience & knowledge, Much less the equipment! HOW CAN I INTERN??? Could you imagine being a fly on the wall there? I was just explaining to the old lady how I need to make my own forge & I stumbled into this video! WOW WHAT A PLACE! A DREAM COME TRUE!!!!!!!! I AM UTTERLY ASTOUNDED, IMPRESSED & AMAZED!!! WHAT A PLACE THEY HAVE THERE!!! I COULD ONLY DREAM OF HAVING ACCESS TO ONE OF THE MACHINE'S THERE, MUCH LESS BEING HIGHLY PROFICIENT IS FORGING ANY PART ONE COULD NEED, & MILLING IT OUT, BALANCING, TAPPING ALL THREADS. I AM AMAZED & TRUELY WANT TO LIVE THERE AT OFFENHAUSER!!! WHO DO I PAY RENT TO & MAYBE I COULD START BY SWEAPING FLOORS & CLEANING UP? WOW, SIMPLY STUNNING!=HEAVEN FOR ALL THINGS SPEED, PERFORMANCE, FORM, & FUNCTION! Have I said how much I love that place? Fred Offenhauser had a dream & of which I share! How awesome! There is a heaven!!! From being able to form a mold, pack in the sand, pour the molten metal, finish/machine the part, tap all threads, turn & mill all radius's, to a completed part! What a fantastic place!!! Where can I sign up to help/work/assist in any way???
Thanks so much for watching! You could try contacting Offenhauser through the links attached and maybe they can accommodate. Thanks for the comment. -Matt/ITG
I have machine shop experience in the .003 tolerance QC and that shop is set up nice.I did not see any lathes or multiple turrets there..
Nothing like the sounds of a Tele on a Fender Hot Rod with the reverb on.Classic stuff,great.
with electric powered cars/trucks set to take over from Petrol engines in the near future new petrol engines will be hard to come by so it is so important to keep places like this going to make spare parts for the old engines that are still about.
That was a cool video, well put together. It’s great to see a company with history still going strong. The place looked busy as well with visitors.
Offy is a favorite of mine as they are only one two US manufacturers of inline 6 manifolds. Over the years I have used a few of their parts. It was cool to see all that machinery. And how ironic the Director of Marketing's name was 50's era remaniscent of the old Sky King TV show. And who wouldn't want that big "O" pallet. Fantastic video Matt.
aussiespeed makes some too
@@frigglebiscuit7484 Yep. They do. Straight sixes and fours are big there. But, since they are not on US they can be pricey to buy. Plus, pretty much speed equipment for later models. Good rep though.
Very Kool ! I also see Matt from Eastwood Company was their... Ran Offy Equipment on my Ponchos, . Great Video, awesome equipment on the shelves .Thanks for Sharing
Matt from Eastwood is also Matt from Iron Trap Garage :p . Thanks for watching! -Matt/ITG
That was great! Thanks for sharing that with us!
Great job!!! Gives a true insight to craftsmanship!
So cool! My first aftermarket intake was a Offy tunnel ram for a 302. I should have kept it.
Thanks for sharing. Love all the old wooden patterns.
Thanks for sharing a friend from canada Rob ✌
The only mill mentioned was a Van Norman. Glad to see it at the 7:03 mark!
Epic video! I'd love to check that place out one day. The pre-war Offenhauser was same family and rubbed elbows with Miller, Frontenac(Chevrolet bros. building Ford speed stuff!), rich history indeed!;
and the post-war Offenhauser family venture went on to become huge, where it survives today with Isky, Edelbrock et al. Other cool speed companies like Edmunds and Fenton never got quite as large and didn't have the staying power. I love the old timey stuff. So nice to watch this. As always, thanks fer takin' us along...btw, the T is lookin' REAL good..
That is Awesome !!! I would like to go there sometime . I respect what they are doing .
back in the early 90's I had a Hondo Flat Bottom boat with a 427 BBC form a 67 vette and a Cassale V drive. the motor had Offy Valve Covers and an Offy Tunnel Ram on it with twin Carter AVS cabs. it would scare the hell out of you any time you got on it. Offy makes good stuff. I worked part time at a machine shop in high school, so I love seeing old school equipment. CNC is ok, but there is something about the old school machine that is just cooler. especially on old American made machines. love that van norman. we had a Van Norman boring bar in the shop I can not count how many SBC I punched out with that thing.
this video makes me want to go to Cali and visit. I saw all the patterns, but no casting facility..I suspect that would be a separate building. Thanks for sharing this!
Hi Tim, yes they have a separate facility they've been using for MANY years to do the casting (also in SoCal) so your assumption is correct! Thanks for watching! -Matt/ITG
Loved the video. Loved the tour of Offenhauser. Who was the jazzy style music? Loved it.
that was cool thanks
I had a dual port quad offy intake with a 390 Holley on a pinto engine, it hauled ass.
Simply amazing! I need to put a tour on my to do list!
Great video 👍 and thanks for the walk through time.. For me I learned a lot from this.
Super kewl! Although it isn't on the car any longer, I still have the Dual-Port 360 I installed on the 283 in my '57 Chevy around '82. It was probably the first performance part I bought as a teen!
I dig the shop, but the buildup of swarf & other gunk on the wall & electricals at 10:36 makes me cringe.
Wow cool info I love History thanks from Sean in Athens ,Vermont
That was great! RWB
Super cool 😎
Great video Matt it's like a short documentary 👍
That was the idea! We're toying with doing more videos like this in a short documentary style. Including some of the barn find type videos. I think the story and history is just as amazing as the actual images. Thanks for watching as always Luke. -Matt/ITG
Offenhauser is still making intakes for the Studebaker Champion 6
awesome make America great again great history great company
Thanks for sharing!!!!
Matt I apologize for being way behind on videos just started watching. Just watched the episode on free t transmission tunnel holy crap !!!! You might not consider yourself a master and I’m not a metal guy but I am smart enough to know skill level and you are a very skilled craftsmen ! A master might do it in shorter period of time or cheaper or with less tools but the outcome is the same... bravo , bravo you crafty bastard.. looking forward to binge watching the rest of your vids, sleeps just getting in my way.
Hi John, thanks for watching all of the videos! We hope they're entertaining! I also appreciate the kind words. I'm just a regular guy trying to hone my skills and share the journey. -Matt/ITG
I'm actually most of the way through binge-watching. FINALLY got mostly caught up after a few weeks. heh. The video that brought me here was the one about the Packard found in an old factory in Philly.
I plan on building a 239 flat head for my '51 Ford later on this year (racing engine) I might need some advice or tips on parts. The one I have in it now checked out standard so I put everything back standard, it runs strong and smooth, about 15 years ago I bought a book from a guy in new England that wrote a book on how to build flat head racing engines, he won a lot of races but has since passed. Anyway I plan to go by his instructions on the build. I enjoy the videos.
Nice Vid Guys
I wouldn't want anything done on that miller at 4:06. The work piece is a little wobbly.
Unfortunately they can’t seem to fill their orders. I have had heads and intake for my flathead backordered three times from speedway.
Loved this video!
good to see an american company still doing it the old way.
Great video Matt
great company. Its a crying shame that since they still have all of the old molding bucks that they dont offer some of the older parts on an as ordered basis. there were parts they used to offer years ago that are no longer available, such as for the Mopar Poly engines.
That sort of business plan would put them out of business. The labor involved to pour one manifold for a guy and then all the machine work to get it ready and sell it for 2-$400. They'd go out of business doing that. I'm sure if you call them and arrange a group buy they'd consider pulling old molds out.. but making one here and there is going to be cost prohibitive. Just my humble opinion. -Matt/ITG
Recently got a used office dual plane sbc and dont know much about it.could I get contact info to get more information on the manifold.thanks
What about getting all the machines up & running & producing parts again & securing contracts from major company's & expanding & opening another wing or another building & obtain C & C machining tools & 3d printer's & make Offenhauser's as much as a known brand again, & having Offenhauser parts on almost every true performance vehicle again? Why make it a museum? Make it into a functioning speed shop again!!! If Offenhauser's is turned into a museum instead of a world class speed shop, that will break my heart!!!
You missed half of what they were saying... it has never stopped being a speed shop and they’re currently producing parts. They have plans to grow the business more. They only are mentioning that they have a small museum so people can tour and see where their speed parts are made. -Matt/ITG
Would be nice to see a come back FORD INLINE 6CYL ADD ON PARTS FOR THE 170,200 c.i. JUST MY 2¢.
Cool Video !!
Cool video.
Ok well that seals the deal. Spending the money on their intake for my AMC.
Think about all the stories those tools have heard over the years by the individuals who ran the products, and by those who made the products especially, Hotrodding was exploding across the US and Detroit automotive manufactures were constantly coming out with new engines and vehicles to hopefully be some what competitive with Chevrolet..
Remember Non-Chevy guys; nothing wrong with Silver, or Bronze for you Blue Oval individuals…. 😂
Have they started making 216/235/261 valve covers again? Everybody's been out of stock for a while now
We've fixed this pattern and have made the first 40 of 250 on back-order Speedway will be in stock and check white owl speed
@@Oadmin835
Sounds good I appreciate the response. I'll be ordering mine soon
I wonder how many Indy 500 s the Offy won?
Alot, but I believe that was a different family member, but also named Fred. The post-war Offenhauser we know today is not the same as the one that made the Indy/sprint car engines. But obviously a pretty good gene pool in this family.
Correct, it was a separate company. The engine company actually sued the parts company over the name, with the latter not being allowed to use "Offy" for any materials.
Fred H Offenhauser was behind the Offy engine. Fred C. Offenhauser was an engineer for that company. Fred C. was Fred H's nephew. The war happened. The company was sold to Meyer and Drake. Fred H. retired. Upon returning from the war Fred C. started Offenhauser Sales Corp that survives today.
Meyer and Drake and then what that company became sued to prevent Fred C. from using both Offenhauser and Offy. The settlement was that Offenhauser could use his own name, but not the "Offy" nickname. Offenhauser recently re-acquired the rights to "Offy" so this is all in the past.
@@jbb115a If you look a some small parts and decals they say "Offie" that was a way to get around the settlement. Offenhauser engines won 27 Indy 500s.
Made from original bucks: Put another way, "we have never improved or updated our products". Great stuff for the nostalgia crowd, but hardly the cutting edge of ICE science. Seems like a quaint old mom and pop operation, though.