What exactly is a flathead engine? Believe it or not I am mechanically inclined and understand how an engine works and alot about them.

 

Good question not a dumb one, go to the Flathead Engine sites at the links below. If you know how the overhead engine is built with the valves in the head you will notice in the Flathead engine drawings in the links below how they are in the block on that design.

http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/flathead_home.htm
http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/f...itelinkspg.htm
http://www.btc-bci.com/~billben/flathead.htm

Hope this helps
Rod 51F1

 

They weren't really called flatheads until the OHV engine became common in the 50's. Then the term popped up and the rest is history. There are no dumb questions.

The valves are in the block beside the pistons. The head is only a waterjacket with sparkplugs and compression chambers. And I guess technically the heads also serve as valve covers of sorts.

Check out this website - it covers a good bit.

http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/flathead_home.htm

edit: evening Rod, I see you've got it covered! - Tim