Glossary / General

flat head

11 Episode Mentions

Too Afraid to Ask

A flathead engine is a type of engine where the top part is flat, which was common in older cars. It makes the engine simpler but not as powerful as modern designs.

Technical Definition

A flathead engine is an internal combustion engine design where the combustion chamber is located in the engine block, resulting in a flat cylinder head. This design was popular in the early to mid-20th century, particularly in American cars like those from Dodge.

Hear It Discussed

"I think you're going back to the back to the forties early fifties on Forge with their flatthead vights because the steel pump was up on the back end of the engine driven by a little push rod..."
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - May 9, 2026 - Hour 1 - Why Your Car Is Quietly Burning More Gas Ron Ananian The Car Doctor 28:25

"...And it did sound, it was a flathead, you know, the Sidewacker and, and they, they've always..."
That's no Capri! Turmoil means bargains; kit or McLaren? My week in cars: the Autocar podcast 11:33

"I can read more about learn more about trade, you know, buy and sell pre war cars or even like you know, uh, the hot Rods, the thirty two deuce coupe, flathead whatever. Like."
Automotive Journalist Brett Berk Bloomberg Hot Pursuit! 24:31