Racing Flathead

D

Dave/Green Bay

Senior Member
I have heard about a Flathead engine near me that has the exhaust run out of the intakes and the carbs off of the exhaust ports that run backwards???. Does anyone have information, history or pictures of Flathead engines like this? The story I heard that this was a salt flat engine. I am trying to get the person to let me see the engine, take pictures and possibly purchase it, not much cooperation to this point. Any information greatly appreciated. Thank you. Dave/Green Bay
 
Was it someone named Tucker who built one? The cam was ground special to make the "reverse" ports work. There is a picture in an old car mag like R&C or Hot Rod. I don't think it would have any benefit, given todays flow bench conclusions. Definately a rare bone though.
 
Gene Winfield ( customizer guy) has one of these in a salt car. I got to see it run at Bonneville.
Fixes one of the flatheads weakness of combined exhaust center port.
Bad thing to say here on the forum but its makes them sound like a chevy....rbg :>)

At Bonneville you can tell when a flathead fires up by the sound of the engine, the center port engines change the sound. Beats me on the hp changes but the sound is cool....
 
There have been a few who have tried this mod. I do not know to what success. Didn't one of the mills for the Flatfire series of salt cars try something like this as well?

Some others have done tricks to the exhaust ports like make two new ports at the front and back portions of block. Some turn the heat riser hole into another exhaust port as well.

The one I'm thinking of is in that flathead rail called Slider. I believe it currently holds the record of the fastest flathead in the 1/4 mile.

I believe his name is John Bradley.
 
BUBBAS IGNITION said:
Gene Winfield ( customizer guy) has one of these in a salt car. I got to see it run at Bonneville.
Fixes one of the flatheads weakness of combined exhaust center port.
Bad thing to say here on the forum but its makes them sound like a chevy....rbg :>)

At Bonneville you can tell when a flathead fires up by the sound of the engine, the center port engines change the sound. Beats me on the hp changes but the sound is cool....
Click to expand...


Yep, few things sound as good as a healthy flathead IMHO. When set-up right, that "WHAP" sound you get once it fires up and is cleared out is ineffectious. Especially with a healthly, fast action cam. Even more so on fuel.
 
I don't know any of the history of this engine. The guy has been very tight lipped about even owning the engine and just recently admitted that he did have it. He is not willing to talk about the engine or let me see it yet. I will have to keep pushing the point. Any body have a picture of what one of these look like? Thanks for the info. Dave
 
There was something either on this site or the old MSN site about boat engines with the ports reversed. Seemed to be not too odd when they were discussing it. Sorry, but I can't find any links just now. I will see if something tickles the old brain in a day or two. Al K.
 
Years and years ago there was a hot rod mag with a pic of a coupe ( I think at the salt ) with the ext out the top and 3 barb on each side. Walt
 
Dale Fairfax said:
NO. The original question was about engines with the exhaust coming out the original intake ports and vice versa. The Ron Main Flatfire has had major alterations to the top of the block and has eight additional ports so all 16 are on the top of the block.
Click to expand...


Correct , the question was about a reverse flow set up. These are used a lot on the model T engines ran at the Newport Hill Climb.
Above my post was on the Gene Winfield deal, it was a extra pipe coming from the heat riser passage making four exhaust exits...

oops......
 
I remember a V-8 60 midget with conversion-it showed up at the Landeck, Ohio speedway back in about '51. It was an object of much curiosity but I don't recall any performance advantage. Sadly I can't remember much else but, given the circumstances-a low paying , remote location-I would assume the car came from Ohio, Michigan, or Indiana.



Dave/Green Bay said:
I have heard about a Flathead engine near me that has the exhaust run out of the intakes and the carbs off of the exhaust ports that run backwards???. Does anyone have information, history or pictures of Flathead engines like this? The story I heard that this was a salt flat engine. I am trying to get the person to let me see the engine, take pictures and possibly purchase it, not much cooperation to this point. Any information greatly appreciated. Thank you. Dave/Green Bay
Click to expand...
 
This subject was discussed here on either the old or new Ford Barn. Pictures were also posted. I'm wondering if Speedy Bill may have an example of this modified FH engine in his museum? Also, maybe JWL has some information on this conversation and it's potential performance advantages. Theoretically, I believe a FH engine with this conversion would run cooler because the hot exhaust gases would not have to travel through the areas between cylinders where the coolant is flowing.
I may have also read something about an engine that had this conversion in one of about twelve books I have on building and modifying the Ford Flathead V8 engine. I will take a look through those an pm you if i find something.
 
Last edited:
Using the exhaust ports for the intake would not seem like a good idea. They would be much longer and much more restrictive. Also would tend to heat the intake charge becoming less dense and hence less power. I would think you would need a supercharger with this setup.
 
flatjack9; I would think you would need a supercharger with this setup.[/QUOTE said:
That's most likely a given for this setup to avoid the other things you mentioned from happening.
Click to expand...
 
Given the many years elapsed since any sighting of this oddity, I believe that's the best judge of the concept's validity. If it had been a good idea,it would have been repeated many times.






flatjack9 said:
Using the exhaust ports for the intake would not seem like a good idea. They would be much longer and much more restrictive. Also would tend to heat the intake charge becoming less dense and hence less power. I would think you would need a supercharger with this setup.
Click to expand...
 
Back when this modification was first tried, the general thinking was that the exhaust was the big restriction to flathead V8 breathing. It has turned out that the exhaust flows better than was thought. It's more about getting the fuel mixture into the cylinder. Remember that the exhaust has a lot of pressure behind it when leaving the cylinder, something that the intake does not have. Unless of course you have a blower. Also, that conversion had to be a major pain in the butt to do.
 
Model A = two inlets, 4 exhausts.
So reverse em, you get 4 inlets and 2 siamesed exhausts. Kinda makes sense.

Can't see the logic in trying it on a V8 though.

Mart.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top