Could Edelbrock cast a flathead block

[Henry Floored]

Originally Posted by BillM

It appears that the video mentioned was shot in 2012; anyone seen anything since then?
http://vintagemotorsusa.org/events.htm

I spoke to someone last year that is involved to some degree with that project. He basically told me that a similar '34 Ford with a ZZ4 Chevy engine cannot outrun the '34 Ford with the MCF Flathead. This was about a year or so ago.

[Tim Ayers]

Originally Posted by Henry Floored

I spoke to someone last year that is involved to some degree with that project. He basically told me that a similar '34 Ford with a ZZ4 Chevy engine cannot outrun the '34 Ford with the MCF Flathead. This was about a year or so ago.

I love flatheads as much as anyone, but I find this very hard to believe. There is more to this story if true.

In stock form, ZZ4's put out 350 h.p and 400 ft lbs of torque. Hard to walk away from that, even with a 300+c.i. normally asperated flathead.

Same trams, same rear, I think that story is an urban legend.

[Henry Floored]

Originally Posted by Tim Ayers

I love flatheads as much as anyone, but I find this very hard to believe. There is more to this story if true.

In stock form, ZZ4's put out 350 h.p and 400 ft lbs of torque. Hard to walk away from that, even with a 300+c.i. normally asperated flathead.

Same trams, same rear, I think that story is an urban legend.

Tim, you know I'm not sure about the Chevy combo. I will say this though, the most important way to look at engine performance on a dyno is to look at the "area under the curve". Simply put hp and torque averages are more important than peak numbers.

Thinking about it another way, the stock 221" Flatty in my '41 runs darn good for what it is. I doubt a 221" OHV V8 would put all that much daylight between us if the theoretical 221" OHV were similarly equipped induction wise.

"Flatheads don't breathe" is the mantra you hear. Maybe at stop light to stop light speeds the L head engine doesn't give up all that much in breathing and make up for it with better fuel mixing and combustion efficiency. Not to mention the 4 3/8" stroke in the belly of that Flatty. That's a dimension that a small block Chevy could never swallow. Just sayin'.