Hi! I'm new to the forum as you can see. Great forum here. There is a question about flathead engines that I have always wondered about. Why have none(to my knowledge) ever been built with valves on both sides of the cylinder bank? A double side valve so to speak. That is, with a straight 4,6,8 there would be two in-block gear driven cams, one on each side, actuating two intake and two exhaust valves per cylinder. With V-type engines 3 cams could be utilized (one intake cam and two exhaust cams). Intuitively it seems as though this could double intake and exhaust flow. Thus improving flathead performance vs a SSV configuration.

Thanks in advance,

Bob

 

The flathead was heavy enough as it was, imagen the extra bulk and weight with that setup, would have to had rail road car springs in the front.

 

Thanks for the reply. I'm thinking more current time. Using alloy blocks and heads. Extra cam, valvetrain, and some extra alloy in the block wouldn't amount to more than 25 lbs.

Chevy 327 V8 weight - 575 lbs
Ford Flathead V8 weight- 569 lbs

 

First, welcome to FTE!

What you describe sounds close to a "T" head engine.



While your idea is interesting, it would feed such a niche market I'm not sure it would be economically feasible. There have been attempts to cast new "stock" flathead blocks, but it looks like the interest/money just wasn't there to sustain it. A custom multiple cam block would be even more expensive and most likely only attract the salt flat runners and drag strip racers. That's a pretty small group.

I think the bottom line is....well...the bottom line.

 

Thanks! That would be it. I knew it had to have been thought of. By the look of the drawing I'd say 1920's (no counterbalanced crank). Yeah my design would be an X-head. I was going to design in a raised X in the top of the pistons to give more"squish" on the compression stroke. Two spark plugs per cylinder to even out ignition of the charge. I'll keep dreaming.

Bob