how do you make a flathead sound "loopey"

how do you build a flathead to dound "loopey"?

is it the 4 inch mercury crank, the more numberous carbs, or other modifications or the combination of all of them?

i like how some of them sound...

usually it's how long the stroke is of an engine that makes it sound loopey right? but that can't really be changed, can it? or are flatheads already longstroke engines?

 

It's the overlap on the cam

 

What the kid said.

The lobe separation angle is the key number (besides lift). The same cam with say, .500 lift with a 114 angle will idle smoother than the same lift/duration with a 108 angle.

For the sickest 'sound', that is drivable, pick a cam with moderate lift, but a 104-106 separation angle, and run as much compression as possible on the gas you can afford. Bear in mind that running a 104 cam will allow more compression that a wide cam.

High compression also adds to the right 'sound'.

 

I think you mean "lopey" as in lope as in a slow pace of running or pertaining to horses means a 4 beat gait as all 4 hooves hit the ground separately.
Loopey or "loopy" is crazy or strange behaviour like when you get kicked in the head by a horse.

 

I think a .500 cam @104 in a small bore sub-300" engine will qualify as "loopey"

The #32 "Rambler Rebel" car that was at the roundup had so much cam it had no idle. He had to start it, move up in line, then it would die. It only ran when he had his foot in it Best sounding flatty I ever heard. Even the cam timing was trad!

 

An aluminum flywheel never hurts either.

 

cant say I have seen a 500 lift cam in a flathead. Most of the commonly available heads only have 425 thou clearance from deck to top of combustion pocket.

check out scneider cams. they have a wide variety.

I am going to run a L100 in my blown motor I am going to build.

Dont forget isky they still make cams for flatheads.

 

Or you could pull 3 plug wires and let it catch up with it self , it would really sound different

 

I was just talking theory. I don't know a flathead from an anvil.

Someone else than me should pick your cam!

 

Repoman is absolutely right about the theory, but the specs he quoted were appropriate for an OHV engine like a 350 SBC. Talk to an experienced flathead builder about a cam with modest duration and lift, but with a narrow Lobe Separation Angle (LSA).

 

I realise that, but then I know flathead cams, I get the feeling that snortonnorton doesnt, so I just wanted to point out to him to do some research before he goes and buys a cam.

and as has been said before, a flathead isnt an overhead valve, so the duration etc is differnt to OHV motor. I havent got the info on my cam handy to post it. but if you want to talk cams, go over to fordbarn and do a search, there has been plenty of talk there and you should find what you want.

cheers.

 

Talk to Ol' Ron, on here and on the barn; he is THE cam guru.
By the way, someone over there is reprinting Ron's book!

 

You can use a 500 lift cam but you gotta run extra head gaskets... HAHA

 

Isky Max 1 ! Just the right amount of "lumpy" at idle and that man knows his flattie cams.

Flatman

 

Lopey = Isky 400jr.

Crank it up

http://media.putfile.com/400jr-sound

 

Or you could pull the choke knob out.

 

yeah, i've read that the 400JR is the best all around one, right?

thanks for the link to the sound, that's awesome..

this site freaking rules, i feel like without the Hamb, i would never have been inspired enough to begin this journey. YOU GUYS RULE!! since i didn't grow up in california or Ohio, I would never have seen a traditional hot rod without this site.. LOL
florida sucks, it's all gold chainers with glass cars except for the cool people like the rumblers and stuff. Go Nads!!

 

i run a isky bumpstick 400 jr in my flatty, sound is cool

 

yeah, that's what i'm hearing. cool as hell. sounds cooler than any sbc i've heard, even with a super charger.

kind of like my long stroke norton commando...

it's one of the longest strokes of any bike. i get a boner when i start it... LOL

 

Literio L 100

 

hmm,

a timely question indeed seeing as im toying with the idea myself. hmm what to do what to do....

my research indicates the 400jnr is a great cam whilst the max 1 has been described as almost useless, or very close to stock. the potvin 3/8 has alot of fans as does the very popular L100. day dreams day dreams...

Danny

 

Max 1 is a great cam,a 400jr will outrun it but not by much.

 

Hey Flat,

I cant really talk mine is still stock! I remember a discussion on fordbarn where some of the guys were saying the max 1 is really close to stock feeling but its probably dependant on so many variables, induction, ignition, weight of the vehicle, gearing etc etc.

What cams have you run before? I'm still thinking about what to get for mine...

Danny

 

i've found when you take off a plugwire it makes the car sound really looooopy

 

just finished listening to the flattie on that website, http://media.putfile.com/400jr-sound ,woooohooooo ! that was sooo damn good!Now,.... I need a cigarette.
R.R.

 

Thats how I sound after an order of chili fries.

 

LOL, you guys are funny.

I'm thinking Isky jr 400 is the way to go from what i'm hearing..... that and changing the valves to chevy 1.6 valves with adjustable lifters and then the engine should really be loud to show off the lopeyness... LOL

now carbs i'm going to have to research, but most like the dual 97 strombergs, right?

 

94s work very well and they are alot cheeper...and a better carb dare i say?

Danny

 

You'll prolly have to also budget for a new dizzy as well. Original dizzy may be a problem with vacuum advance after adding dual carbs.

 

Phy,I have run Max 1 400jr MCF 7/8 grind,and CRower roller,MCF ran the best.Crower is only one I ran with without blower.Don,t think it wild enought but ran well with blower.Have a wilder roller for next motor.Don't get wrong idea about performace ALL of the above cams ran well if I had to pick one for the average guy it would be Max 1.MAybe L-100 or Snider I keep hearing good about.