Thread: Ford Flathead 8BA

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It is tough to wake up a flathead much without getting into a fair amount of work on the block and valve train and induction/exhaust systems. The new heads by themselves won't make it run any better unless the old heads are broken, and a new carb, even though a Stromberg 97 might flow a bit more air than the stocker, it won't do much in terms of real performance. Now, in the area of looks, yeah, the heads will look great, and if you really clean the whole thing up and paint it, put some new plug wires on it, a few chrome accessories, and a set of dual exhausts, it will run well, an look and sound good doing it; a nice cruiser.

So the limits are in the block? I didn't expect to gain 100hp just wanted to have a little more bang.

Question about the aluheads: Wouldn't they be more efficient because of the material that should make it easier to get rid of the heat? Second I'm guessin that the old cast iron weren't made with perfection so both water channels and ehm, firingroom? should been worked on better? About the S97 a friend of mine tiped me about it sayin it would make it run cheaper but give a little extra boost. I already got a dual exhaust now I'm lookin for some sweet headers or maybe just build a pair of'em!