Reverse flow flatheads?

JWL said:
I have seen the "reverse flow" concept applied in a couple of ways to our Flatheads. In the very earliest example, I remember, a single barrel carb was mounted at each of the standard exhaust locations(6 carbs) and special headers made on top of the engine for exhaust outlets. The guys were happy with their work and garnered mucho attention. BUT, they were 20 MPH slower than our conventional arranged Flathead.

Simply doing a flow test will explain why. As bad as the conventional intake flow is, the exhaust is slightly worse. Putting the inlet charge through the conventional exhaust ports would only serve to reduce potential power.

However, there is some potential power improvement when revised ports are bored into a new location at the top of the block. This improvement is a result of flows being increased.

The overheating "problem" has already been addressed in this thread and becomes irrelevant unless reasonable measures are not maintained.
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That was the answer I was looking for...I'm never offended by guys that know what their talking about so no worries there...the reason for the thread was to gain some insight as to why they did it since I couldn't find on it other than it was done to help with overheating problems...no other information came with the search...have to admit running the exhaust out the top would save me a lot of work on running a exhaust but a caddy is definitely out of the question! A ford needs a ford in it...way too many of them with sbc's now as it is...might consider a hemi but those are really hard to find and extremely expensive when you do
 
Mart said:
Ok, metalbender, you have a desire to do something with your motor. (Please don't be offended by anything I say). The people on this forum have collectively hundreds or even thousands of years of flathead building experience between them. Not one is running a reverse flow flathead. I don't know of any sbc commonality. In other words, real flathead nuts just mess about with flatheads using ford or aftermarket parts specifically designed for the flathead. The flatfire guys have (I guess) progressed to the stage they are at over many iterations, each more radical than the rest, and they have the skills and the resources to make it happen. In your last response you start to say things that make more sense to the regular flathead type guys that visit this forum. I don't think the flatheads made 130hp stock, but I am unfamiliar with the later ones.

A general tidy up of the motor, twin carbs, heads if you like, good ignition etc will get 'er running right.

Quietly forget what the out and out race guys get up to, it's not relevant here. Good down to earth flatty fun is what we like.

Mart.
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Mart, seems you are correct about the hp numbers according to this ...looks like the 52 ford made 110/106hp max...and man look at how low the compression ratios are!?!?! Would of figured them to be a little better than that...
 

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JSeery said:
And remember based on most actual dyno tests the factory numbers were over stated.
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That hurts! Mine is the truck motor to boot so max hp is 106...guess the question now is how to get power out of it without killing my credit card in the process? Figure 130-150 at the wheels is plenty right?
 
Believe JWLs book on that topic would interest you.
 

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The 239 never made much more than 80 HP, never saw any numbers on the stock Merc, but doubt it made a 100. Don't seem logical just adding 16 cubic inches. Good for low end torque. Read JWL's book.
 
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