Questions about a flathead FED.

[novacain]

I've got a 168" car with a small block Chevy that won't cert. Only runs 10.80s. Thinking of upgrading to a new chassis that will cert. My idea is to keep the old chassis and put a flathead ford in it . Since I know nothing about flatheads I'm wondering what kind of time could I expect out of it. Stock motor with a cam, 350 turbo. 4.30 gear. Car weighs 1360 now with the small block. Any ideas?

[denverflatheader]

novacain – here’s my guess; stock fh with just cam (e.g. similar to isky 400) on 90 octane at a track 5700 feet elevation, high 13s to low 14s.  If your track is elevation like Speedworld  (now closed) in Arizona, about 7/10s faster.  If you decide to go that route, you might help that little cubic inch fh last longer by switching to a 3.60-3.90 rear gear depending on your tire diameter : )  It would take a little more effort to add electronic ignition and raise compression and you could subtract another 7/10s, and add a few more cubic inches and subtract another 7/10s, and run fuel instead of gas and subtract another 7/10s and so on and so on…  I like your idea to keep it running.  DF

[novacain]

Thanks for the info, DF, I'm still in the pondering stage on this but would like an idea of where I'm going before I start.

[denverflatheader]

sure thing, plus I found it interesting you mention stock fh but "cam" in your post so I was thinking you knew a little bit about fh engines.  If you ran a stock fh with stock cam, they're good to about 4000rpms.  In the quarter, you'd hit the 1/8 mile and then... be like letting off the throttle the rest of the way, probably be high 16s...   DF 

[Tim Jones]

sure thing, plus I found it interesting you mention stock fh but "cam" in your post so I was thinking you knew a little bit about fh engines.  If you ran a stock fh with stock cam, they're good to about 4000rpms.  In the quarter, you'd hit the 1/8 mile and then... be like letting off the throttle the rest of the way, probably be high 16s...   DF

Hi DF, I think he was meaning stock flathead with diffrent cam,, BTW I'm going to run a 3.70 in the comp coupe,, Tim Jones

[novacain]

 I've got access to a complete running flathead. I figured on a simple overhaul to freshen it with a cam, intake and carb change.

[denverflatheader]

novacain - one more fh saved, excellent engine to improve.  DF

[novacain]

I've never driven anything with a flathead, but I want own one in my lifetime. The one I found is the engine, trans and radiator still mounted in the front half of a '34 (?) frame, currently it's the power plant for a sawmill on a friend of mine's farm. Thanks for the info. I'm sure i'll have a lot more questions when I get started on it.

[Tim Jones]

I've got access to a complete running flathead. I figured on a simple overhaul to freshen it with a cam, intake and carb change.

  Good way to start , That's pretty much what I'm doing to start with and work out the new car bugs ,while I build the good motor,  Tim Jones

[tcarr]

i have no insight on using a FH or what times it might run but you could always win a few bucks with it doing this at parties......