Featured History Is the flathead making a comeback?

The rise in popularity of traditional Hot Rods translates to a greater interest in vintage engines. I’ve noticed more builds with flatheads, but there also seems to be an uptick of “hopped-up” bangers, Nailheads and other era appropriate engines. It’s refreshing to see something other than a SBC once in a while…

 

They never went away, these engines have been hopped up over and over well before I started showing interest in them way back in 2002. It’s just new to you and you’re excited, not a bad thing.

 

To answer the question...I don't believe they're "making a comeback".
Lovers of the Flatheads are aging out....yes, there are exceptions.
Then considering that they aren't as plentiful now (rebuildable cores) as they were in their heyday, is also a contributing factor.
Personally I've had several, and do like them, as many on this traditional site do.

 

I just went outside to see how many of them I have and the toll so far is……

3 in cars (2 running, 1 hasn’t started in 10 years)
3 on stands that can run
2 sitting on blocks complete ready to work on

And 2 NOS 8BA blocks tucked neatly away in my garage.

 

Question for all those that remember. Is Temple McFlathead a member here or does anyone know how to reach him?!

 

Yes they have definitely been making a comeback. I follow a few groups on FB that are dedicated to flatheads and they’re all buzzing with people asking questions and showing off their recent builds and finds. Up in Maine they have an 1/8 mile racing event called The Pinetree Jamboree that is strictly flathead powered vehicles. They’re going on their 5th or 6th year in September and it gets bigger every year. There are a few content creators on YouTube who give tutorials on how to build and maintain flathead powered cars and those pages are buzzing with interactions.

 

They've been popular for years (since 1932) in some circles. I love 'em. Can't always afford to do one though.

 

Yep, that's the one that I always say : I never spent so much to go so slow.. I sure love em though.

 

Yep it’s not how fast we get there but how much fun we having while doing it

 

Never bought the “you can get more HP for less building something else”
If you truly wanted to go fast, messing with the old stuff here isn’t the best way. You can purchase more HP on the showroom floor than 99% of the cars posted here. Cars with 1/4 mile times in comparison to the faster cars in the 50s and probably early 60s
It’s a decision based sryle, look, nostalgia and money.
I’ve been asked many times why a 283 when you can build a 350. The answer is always I didn’t want a 350.
Planning on possibly using a 153 in anA roadster
100-120hp. Not much. Bout what the average flathead would do.
Got a few flatheads at the house. Including Stude and Willys.
My son is putting the FH back in his jeep. He’s animate that he won’t use anything else. He says newer engines just doesn’t look right.

But gaining popularity?
I am seeing more vintage engines. Even from some of the high end shops.
Nailheads, Ys, Olds, Hemis and FHs. Sold some merc parts to a young man putting a 390 caddy in his merc.
my old shop did a twin turbo 302 gmc with cross flow head recently
So yes there seems to be more vintage engine builds. Last big show I attended was full of em.
Still more LS builds. But folks probably are not gonna put a FH in a c10.

 

I built my first flathead car 20 years ago and still love them. In that time I’ve been involved with plenty of people that build drive and race them. I go to multiple events a year where people race flatheads . I dunno I think since I’ve been involved there’s been a consistent interest.

 

For someone that stuffed a Ford 390 4 speed in a OT '66 Impala for the sake of it. Dare to be different? I love a Ford in a Ford and will p*** on a shivrola in a Ford every time. Hemi's? Ford had those too and yes in street cars. 429 Boss came along after the 427 Cammer. Both hemi designs and more efficient than the Dodge Brothers design just never caught the bean counters attention at Ford.

 

Flatheads, just like Levis five ****on jeans, have always been in style.

 

A few years ago someone on the HAMB tipped us all off about a sale on flathead headers, they were like $38 a pair including shipping on Amazon for chromed steel ones, some company was doing a hard clearance. That's what is on my T. And a few of the big suppliers of early Ford parts (engine and otherwise) have closed up shop in the last few years.

That was kinda freaking me out. I'm glad to hear there seems to be a relatively strong interest in them in other parts of the country/world, it'd be a lot harder to build and maintain them if the demand dries up and the suppliers go away.

As Black_Sheep said above, I seem to be seeing a renewed interest in flathead 4's, almost even moreso than the V8's.

 

The Holley close out had em cheap like that.
I bought tons of 47-54 gm truck parts for pennys on the dollar.

 

I saw one guy mentioned it’s a shame they’re not reproducing these Ford flathead engines. I remember somebody had produced a prototype. they could be bored and stroked, maybe it was 327 give inches. I’m guessing maybe that deal fell through?

 

Flatheads became nostalgic engines when the 49 Cad and Olds engines came on the scene. The SBC finished the job.

 

I was just wishing the other day that I would have bought some flathead headers on that sale... I did get lots of other stuff for projects though.

 

I remember that, stocked up on a bunch of mandrel bent tubing to make headers in the future. Picked up some other odds and ends.

 

That's cold, hard Truth. (and I have a banger T)

 

I didn't know they went away.
Was there a memo?

 

It was posted on the bulletin board. You must have missed it.

 

There are exceptions to every rule, but I’ve always viewed Hot Rodders in two main categories.
There are those that are primarily concerned with power/speed (the essence of hot rodding). Whether on the streets, drag strips, or on the salt. These guys will do mods that are focused on going faster. Won’t see many fenders or stock height roofs in this group, and many spend more time replacing tires than spark plugs. Speed is king here.
Then there are the guys that spend their time, efforts, and money on making their rides cool. These are the guys that like to ‘show’ their cars, and whether that’s on the corner, at the burger joint, cruisin around the block, or at ‘car shows’, it’s more about achieving a look/vibe than anything else. Let’s call these folks the ‘look at me’ crowd, and it’s how many people envision hot rodding because it’s more visible (by design). Tons of effort goes into being different or unique and expressing their inner rebel through their cars. It’s the custom side of hot rodding.
There is, of course, much overlap as many want some degree of both elements and that’s what makes our p***ion (this thing called hot rodding) so amazing.
So now to your question, is it more popular? I’d say yes, on both fronts.
On the speed front, maybe to a lesser degree though. The salt has cl***es that maintain space for the flattie, but with the growth of nostalgia events like TROG and the Hot Rod hill climb it seems that the flathead has gone through a bit of a revival. One could argue these events are no longer growing, but hopefully there is enough interest to keep them alive.
Where I’m seeing the real growth though is in the ‘look at me’ bucket. There have always been lovers of the flathead as the primary motivator, and it is after all, the origin story for hot rodding, but along with this group (bunch here on the HAMB) there seems to be new blood doing flatheads and often it’s guys with money that are building to an ‘idea of hot rodding’. Seeing lots of H&H stuff and ‘new Arden’ product everywhere I go. People are spending a ton of money to go slow, but it’s not about ultimate speed here. ‘How you go’ is as important as ‘How fast you go’. And it seems to be both younger and older boys doing it. I, personally, am loving to see this and I’ve been calling it: ‘Retro-rodding’ for a while now. Seeing makeovers where guys pull 400 hp engines and replace them with less than 200 hp engines puzzles me a bit, but I’ve always been a ‘more power’ kinda guy.
All this said, more flatheads and more unique engines makes going to car shows way better. I still love the sbc, but variety is the ****e of life.

And Happy New Year everyone..
.

 

Being 78, I had my first flathead at age 16—-nice 40 Ford convert in 1964 for $250 running. First order of business for a novice 16 year old——make it faster. Bought J.C Whitney ultra thin head gaskets for increased compression ratio—-they were so thin, they both leaked water b4 even turning the key. Started a 60 year love affair with Henry’s “finest motor”. Bought,sold,traded over 50 engines over a sixty year period. Had blowers,br*** heads,30-35 intakes, 15+++sets aluminum heads. I was determined to make the flathead “show decent at the drags” and strong on the street. In the 60’s—70’s, flathead goodies were cheap and I did well buying selling trading all kind of speed equipment. Someone once said there was more flathead speed equipment made than all of the other ohv speed equipment combined from multiple sources. I had no desire to run 10’s at 130 mph/things go wrong too fast at those speeds. The flathead was a control of speed and coolness.Had a cherry English Ford Prefect(48 4 dr Anglia) that ran 14.90’s at 93 mph with Muncie 4 spd/my 32 cabriolet hiboy ran 80 in the 1/8 mile/I was the salesman for the French Flatheads that entered Texas in Dec1999(friend of the money man). Wife and I relocated to Delaware after living in s.Texas for 75 years—-sold all flathead goodies to move to a double car garage on east coast. Really “miss” those early Ford days—-in my opinion the flathead Ford is still regarded as a FUN source of entertainment.FLATHEADS FOREVER IS THE REASON THESE ENGINES CONTINUE TO BE THE CHOICE OF MANY BUILDERS.

 

.....You might consider putting some pictures in your ad. It could make a big difference in responses. Looks like a nice Ford and priced fairly.....Don.

 

Proudly a member of this camp. Flat, fast and fastidiously detailed. I love seeing the look on guys faces when they are trying to catch up and at the next light they glance over and see a flathead poking out from under the hood. Why follow the crowd? Be a leader and show 'em your quick change at 60 feet.

 

I'd say if you do not think flatheads are cool you are on the wrong forum. had I been born rich instead of handsome i'd definitely have an "A-V8" built by someone else in my stable.
how does the cost of building a flathead compare to an early Olds, Cadillac or Hemi?

 

These days you have to "want" a flathead just because it is what makes the build right. I've got an 8BA that I have more money in than any SBC that I have ever owned just in parts for it that doesn't even have a ch***is or body to go in right now. Why? Because that is what I wanted to build a car around. That will probably end up being a bobber truck or 27 T roadster. Just a simple and no fru fru outside of engine goodies car. I'll have to admit being around Billy a few times has convinced me that that is what I want but not at the level he has.