TROY, Mich. – Modern day Ford V-8 engines such as the Gen-3 5.0L Coyote can crank out numbers up to 460 horsepower from the factory. But its V-8 roots date all the way back to 1930’s, ‘40’s and ‘50’s with Ford’s legendary “Flathead.” While the Ford Flathead V8’s made anywhere from 65 horses to 125 back in the day, that was enough to have the introduction of the V-8 become a game-changer for Ford in the automotive universe. America simply fell in love with the torque of the Ford Flathead V-8, and the old engines are still revered today.

Brother’s Custom Automotive based in Troy, Michigan, is a shop that specializes in hot rods, customs, restorations, general maintenance -- and Flathead Ford engines. To help show off their work, they host an annual open house for local gearheads to check out their shop. Shop owner and Ford Flathead Master Engine Builder Bill Jagenow even set up an engine run-stand equipped with a custom-built Ford Flathead to demonstrate his work for attendees. Ford retiree Bill Cook happened to be in attendance at the last open house and captured these photos inside the Brothers Custom Automotive shop for you to enjoy:

FORD PERFORMANCE PHOTOS / COURTESY BILL COOK