What can you do to a flathead motor to get better performance other than boring out? I just bought a car w/ a Straight 8 flathead. Wanted to see what I could do. I think it only has a 7:1 compression ratio. So I could probably get the deck shaved and up the compression. Anything else?

 

Hi and welcome to FTE

Straight 8? Same treatments as any other engine I imagine - carburation, exhaust headers, cam, and as you said, boring and shaving heads.

You might have more luck on a GM board tho

You ought to check out HAMB - there are hotrodders of every stripe over there and I'm sure some have straight 8's. They'll have sources for aftermarket parts. Good luck with it!

 

I've actually got a Chrysler so gonna have to try and apply stuff from one to the other no matter what. Do you have any links, like to HAMB, or a GM board?

 

Ah, I forgot Chrysler made one of those too...

Here's hamb http://www.jalopyjournal.com/TJJ/links.htm

You might also try fordbarn.com - bunch of guys there that have hotrodded most everything.

If you need anything more, just ask and I'll do what I can.

 

I have a 1948 inline 6 purs like a kitten but i have just switched out rear end which help greatly with high end speed. I have switched over to 12 v Heres my real qustion, I got my hands on a t4 turbo for free with the space I have I can easily make it work but do you think that an older engine like that could handle 4psi worth of boost?I am not looking ot build a race truck ovious but would love to get extra power from an original engine and do something that I don't think anybody else has done (just likes to be different) any ideas or concerns I would love to hear them

 

Packard made a mean straight 8...Try the simple fixes first.Make it breath better!.

 

I witnessed one of the coolest cars I have ever seen in person or any magazine. A guy from Havre, Montana built an old porthole Buick ( I think '51) with a straight 8. THis guy built an intake manifold to accept port fuel injection on the original engine! Crank trigger ignition, GM injectors, sensors, and thottle body rounded out the system, but he didn't stop there. He added twin turbos, (custom-built exhaust of course) and intercoolers. This whole package was controlled by a custom ECM (computer) that he bought from some aftermarket company. The ECM even controlled the wastegates on the turbos. It was absolutely unreal, and ran like a top. Not a super high horsepower engine, he said it was only around 350hp, but he built it for the cool facto. He has a massive amount of money and time into, but it was sure cool.

Gary