Featured History Is the flathead making a comeback?

I have been into cars since 1995ish when I bought my first chevelle. However, I never really knew what a flathead was until I got my first 3 years ago. The other day I read a comment somewhere about how the LS was out and flatheads were back in style. I can’t help but think to myself every time I see a ford with a 350 in it “too bad about the flathead.” (No offense)

Me? I friggin love the Flathead and uniqueness of it. Oh, and they look cool. is it my own recency bias or are flatheads making a comeback? If making a comeback, when did it start? Again I only have 3-4 years of experience here.

Here’s a photo of mine in my 40. Dropped it at the interior shop today so it will be gone for a few months. I miss it already. lol.

 

On the plus side.... flatheads look really cool, sound really cool, are traditional. Lots of speed parts out there. On the negative side..... they cost a lot to build, most blocks are cracked and not usable, you spend a bucket load of cash to make only 150 horsepower.

 

I like flatheads in other peoples cars.

 

I currently have four good 8BA's. One in my '51 Ford. one going in my '35 Ford truck and two spares. No, they are not for sale.

 

I love Flatheads. But if I’m building an engine or buying an engine for a project I’m going SBC all day long. Easy horsepower, affordable, reliable, parts readily available. And they’re traditional.. they’ve been putting them in hotrods since 55.

The cool factor with a flatty is there for sure. But I like to hammer down across country in the fast lane and if it breaks pull into an autozone for parts.

 

I mean I get all that but not really what I’m curious about. Are they re gaining popularity in recent years or is it my unreasonable giddiness for flatheads that just makes me biased?

I understand the arguments for and against them.

 

I don’t know for sure but this post and the article you mentioned is the first I’ve heard of it.

 

Great if you have the right vehicle to put one in but if you think there making a comeback for something else then no.

For every flat head thats getting built up today there is likely a 100,000 to 1 LS going into some hot rod or performance vehicle.
Sbc are likely still getting built a 1000 times more than the flat head.

Are traditional HAMB style cars more in demand and wanted today over say a modern street rod with modern stuff and drive train ? Very likely but 32 Fords and other vintage iron is harder and harder to find just like a good flat head to build .

Traditional hotrod are more currently in style but street rods with a more modern engine even if its in a Traditional style are going to be likely 10,000 to 1 for the average guy . And thats likely just for the SBC .

EXAMPLE No body is likely putting a flat head in a square body PU like they wpuld a LS .

Most here would love a tricked out flat head in period correct build ( I would) but the fact is there are only so many and even done right there not making a lot of power and have limitations if your driving it all day every day .

Most guys would like a 392 Hemi as well but good luck unless you got deep pockets.

More desirable or rare dosent = making a comeback it just means more guys want one and there harder to find a good one every day.

 

People get paid to write articles and it’s always a good article when it sparks some sort of discussion. I don’t know where this guy actually came up with any statistics. Did he cite any sources? Sounds like his opinion. In my experience, a nice, pretty, built flathead is desirable. A car with a stock flathead can be hard to sell.

 

Yes I mean in old cars with original flatheads. Not talking about putting a flathead in a corvette or anything like that. I’m talking about choosing a flathead in ones build of a car that originally had one rather than a sbc or ls or whatever. It seems there’s more old fords with sbc rather than flatheads.

 

Not an article (otherwise I’d post it). Just a random comment I read that got me thinking about it.

 

Chock one up for the HAMB, there are no positive threads about flatheads, just a bunch of lemurs boasting the accolades of small block chevys which was not the question asked.

I love seeing flathead cars and I love talking to their owners. I prefer the road less traveled, and I will gladly leave the freeways to the 350/350 crowd.

To the point actually asked, I think they are alive and healthy. The number of aftermarket parts and supplies support that. I drive one, a lot of my friends do as well. You can make 300+ HP or less, whatever your wallet will back. Are they growing in popularity? Not on the HAMB. But there are a few of us keeping the flame alive.

 

I got my first one in 1982. They’ve been “in” since then.

 

that’s when I was born!

 

My first one was in the mid 90’s.
I haven’t had an OHV since.
I stopped looking for speed many years ago. it’s all about nostalgia for me.
yes very hard to find a good usable block. It’s also the rarity that attracts me. I hated following a crowd. I’d like to have an old in line banger someday.

 

They were really never out of fashion on here or with the people on here before there was a here. The outside world sometimes aligns itself with the side of traditional hot rodding.....but most of the time it doesn't.

The only way I can tell when it happens is the used parts I like get more expensive, then I'll pop my head out of the sand to see what's going on.

 

Put me in the "no need for speed" catagory as well. As long as I can keep up with modern day traffic and look good doing it, I'm happy. In my opinion, well chosen gearing will supply the needed performance without striving for maximum, costly horsepower. Today, kids around here are getting nailed for "stunt driving" for things I did in my youth, just from stop light to stop light. That extra horsepower just cost a whole lot more. Not that I don't appreciate the time /cost/effort of a high performance build, I'm just a spectator and enjoy most racing venues. I'd rather pay for the nostalgia than optimal performance. To each, their own and LONG LIVE THE FLATHEAD!

 

Generally if you see a flathead it is in something pretty cool, and worth your attention. Consequently those vehicles seem to garner attention. For some the juice is worth the squeeze.

 

The only one that I ever had was in my first car, a '53 Ford Mainline, that I bought in 1966. It was a rebuilt unit from Sears. Served me well for a few years, but I was too young to really appreciate it. Love the sound of a Flathead through some Smitty's or gl*** packs. They were great little engines and served the public well for all of those years of production. Probably thousands of them spent their lives in circle track cars all through the '40's, '50's and even into the '60's, some still today in nostalgia events. The cost and availability now sorta rele gates them to a niche group of die-hard hot rodders who I am happy exist. I love 'em, but to answer your original question, are they making a "comeback"?, I would have to say no. They've always been around and I hope that they continue to be put into cool *** hot rods for years to come......Don.

 

Well put Don!

 

Its a shame no one has produced modern castings for them like the Burtz motor.

 

Yes !

 

....Thank you, Sir.

 

I love flatheads but only have one that is running. I might argue that "recency bias" and the fact that you are more interested in them now is more what you are experiencing. As mentioned, they are always around, lots of the high end traditional hot rods currently have them, but I don't see it as a "comeback". I still have to argue with people daily why I would rather drive my 51 with a flathead than if I were to put an LS in. Same thing applies to me rebuilding a y-block currently for my 56 instead of just putting a SBF or LS in it. It costs more to go slower, but it is also cooler.

 

I had one in my 40 coupe that blew up. A SBC sits in its place.
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/cured-my-flathead’s-occasional-overheating-the-hard-way-updated-1-30.1265297/

The car has a 3:00 Maverick rear and that little 2 bbl.flattie struggled to pull the slightest hill, and I was living in East Tennessee. Supposedly rebuilt, but not, it looked good and would run 70 on level ground.
But the Block was cracked, it blew and holed a piston.
Just in case I long for the sound or look, my 32 has one that runs great.
Or did before I moved, I haven’t brought it over yet.

 

When I was growing up in the late 50's and early 60s, flatheads were around in a lot of cars. My 53 mainline, Like @lothiandon1940, is going back to flathead power just because. Agreed they are harder to find uncracked blocks and costly to build but will probably never fade into non-existence.

 

I have a very good flat head in a very nice 50 ford 2 door that has been for sale for quite some time, but not very much interest from buyers. So i dont belive they are making a come back.

 

Really knew nothing of flatheads before I began my speedster build back in 2018. I’m really glad I chose a flathead to power my speedster. It has the vintage look, and that was all that mattered. I was lucky the engine I bought for $100 was not cracked. The second flathead I bought last year (both C69A), was also not cracked which I got for around $200 IIRC. I thought through my research, the flathead was gaining in popularity back in the 90s. I always look for flathead powered hotrods at local events, but in reality they are rare as hens teeth in my area. So, I have to travel further to find them like I did to TROG this year which was on my bucket list. For sure, having a flathead is for those that prefer the road less traveled, but I think it’s worth it in the end.

 

I like the flathead Fords, used to drive one as a daily 40 years ago and now I’m driving one again as a daily just for kicks. The nostalgic cool factor is through the roof with one but let’s face it there’s tons of options that make power the flathead couldn’t even come close to no matter what. Since hanging out with you knuckleheads if I swap a flattie out for another motor I would pick an Olds or Caddie with a slew of 2bl carbs before a modern belly ****on