Flathead sound.

Fibber Mcgee

Fibber Mcgee

Well-known member
Maybe an unanswerable question. But what causes the unique sound of a Flathead, specifically the tat tat tat tat sound at idle? It almost makes you think it's not running right. This is not specific to my engine but all Ford flatheads I've heard.
 
Maybe I should have been more specific, I was talking about exhaust sound. Thats the best word I could think of to describe the more pronounced sound at idle without mufflers.
 
Yes The first 4 cyls in the firing order are the end cyls on each side the next for are the center cyls. So there is a longer delay from the end cyls to the centers. If that makes much sense. But, boy I love it, add alittle choke to your stocker at the drive in, and they'll think it an L-100.
 
Ol' Ron said:
Yes The first 4 cyls in the firing order are the end cyls on each side the next for are the center cyls. So there is a longer delay from the end cyls to the centers. If that makes much sense. But, boy I love it, add alittle choke to your stocker at the drive in, and they'll think it an L-100.
Click to expand...


Yes, the poor man's performance cam sound......, pull out the choke a little bit. I used to have a '55 Merc (when a kid) that had a bad power valve. The idle sounded so good, that I almost left it that way. Stunk a little though.

Sal
 
Thanks. That does make sense, so the end cylinders are the lower less pronounced tones and the center cylinders are the higher more pronounced tones giving it almost an uneven sound. I love the sound just never knew where it came from.
 
What makes a Harley sound like a Harley? Didn't some Jajpanese company try to duplicate that sound and got sued by Harley? Why did my dog know the sound of my sister in laws Sentra and get all excited and not stir when another Sentra went by the house?
 
scicala said:
Boy I love it......pull out the choke a little bit at the drive in. Yes, the poor man's performance cam sound.
Click to expand...

Yeah, 'til somebody with the REAL cam calls ya out. ALMOST as lame as the guy with a "stuffed" sock in his pants at the sock-hop. DD
 
V8COOPMAN said:
Yeah, 'til somebody with the REAL cam calls ya out. ALMOST as lame as the guy with a "stuffed" sock in his pants at the sock-hop. DD
Click to expand...

A real automotive codpiece! Anyway, I always thought these engines sounded the way they did because the center cylinders in each bank share an exhaust outlet.
 
V12Bill said:
What makes a Harley sound like a Harley? Didn't some Jajpanese company try to duplicate that sound and got sued by Harley? Why did my dog know the sound of my sister in laws Sentra and get all excited and not stir when another Sentra went by the house?
Click to expand...

Harley engines have a "dead stroke" as in 2 power and 2 exhaust which gives a "bang-bang" and a "puff-puff". Yes, the Yamaha Virago models had a dead stroke if I recall right. I always thought of flatheads as an adorable "blubber" characteristic to the exhaust tone.
 
Awesome sound! What kind of heads are those? I couldn't read the lettering. What cam is that thing running?
 
RalphM said:
Awesome sound! What kind of heads are those? I couldn't read the lettering. What cam is that thing running?
Click to expand...

Wilson & Woods Cylinder Heads
9e_1.jpg
 
RalphM said:
Awesome sound! What kind of heads are those? I couldn't read the lettering. What cam is that thing running?
Click to expand...

comp cams mutha thumper 287 or 295. sounds like he has some serious compression and looks like on alky by the fuel bowl...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top