Posted by Kaegi [172.71.146.192] on Saturday, March 18, 2023 at 19:45:54 :
In Reply to: flarhead vs ohv posted by Jerry in Idaho [172.71.151.101] on Friday, March 17, 2023 at 18:34:25 :
off the top of my head AMC, Studebaker, olds, Pontiac, ford, Lincoln Cadillac, LaSalle, Chrysler, Plymouth, DeSoto, Dodge, Hudson, and other brands I cant recall all had flatheads. before 1949 when caddy and olds came out with overhead it was only a few that had overhead like chevy, Buick and some luxury stuff.
before and during WW2 and overhead valve was not necessarily a better performing engine to have. the average fuel octane was 70! flathead will run great on 70 octane whereas an OHV will detonate more easily and over heat and fry rod bearings. When octane went up after the war OHV made way more sense and obviously more power.
FYI the HP rating in the 30s and early 40s of a 218 or 230 dodge flathead was higher than the ford flathead or the chevy ohv 6
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