Don Terrill’s Speed-Talk

Dale is a good friend of mine.

I found many years ago on a flow bench that after .600 you could take the valve completely out of the port with no increase.

A bit over .500.

I haven't bought any of those in some time but I think they have machined combustion chambers now.

That is the one.

No, that is an 8ba. 49 to 53.
The "R" heads were for the 48 and earlier 24 stud.

The transfer area in my heads is similar to the 8ba though much shallower.

Before CNC machining became available, I used to weld up the combustion chamber completely on R heads and machine it to what I wanted.

"R" head is are the common ones available for the early blocks now. They require ALL long studs. The "S" head, which they do not make any more used all stock length studs and had lower compression available. My heads do not have a dome over the piston and a minimal transfer area....

"Do you have some pictures or diagrams of 14:1 combustion chambers and pistons for a flathead Ford?"

No pics but , flat top 2 ring gas ported pistons.
Combustion chamber looks like a smaller Edelbrock "R" head one.

"But if one desires much higher compression ratio, the ordinary L-head becomes a problem".

What problem? We have been running 14 to 1 on flathead Fords since the early 50's.

In that pic which was taken at the West Coast Vintage Nationals in 2007, it had a SBC. Previously it had a 323 ci flathead and before that it had a model B 4 banger. It is being converted back to run at Bonneville again. Last time it ran there was in 1956 and won the street roadster class. 163.93. R...

I still run this once in awhile.

Thanks, I have been on there for a couple years.

"Can you show pictures please??"

Here is one where the engine had to appear basic configuration from the outside.

Upon returning from an absence I see one of my favorite subjects being discussed. Port relocation and chamber design on the flathead Ford. John Bradley and Ron Main's engines are classic examples of port relocation, Main's being far more radical. Over the years we have done a couple simlar to Bradle...

As a last resort, you could have a machine shop make you a few from aircraft Hy-Tuff AMS 6425.
It is readily available and has tensile around 230K.