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scooder · 11-24-2016, 08:42 AM

Is a 150 hp flathead really that stressed that it needs forged pistons, stainless valves, lined guides and all that malarkey?
Now I'm not saying that that stuff ain't better, just really think it's overkill for 150 hp.
I know this is getting around twice the genuine hp numbers, but still? We're all fully aware how much power cast pistons in ohv stuff can handle, and the rpm they get whizzed up to. You can beat in it like a ginger step child and they just go on and on.
And as for cost comparison with ohv stuff, the machine work is the same except the valve job, the parts however are grossly different. Comparing the price of a trick hydraulic roller retrofit cam kit for a small block, to a regular flat tappet cam setup for a flathead just shows you a Big difference. Compare it to the price of a roller or radius tappet flathead cam!! Or use the price of a regular flat tappet small block cam. Pretty much everything is crazzy cheap for the regular ohv stuff, forged pistons again are much cheaper and bearings!! Sen the price of floating bearings versus a set of small block ones?
Martin.

11-24-2016, 08:42 AM	#65
scooder Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 2,597	Re: Motor build cost. Is a 150 hp flathead really that stressed that it needs forged pistons, stainless valves, lined guides and all that malarkey? Now I'm not saying that that stuff ain't better, just really think it's overkill for 150 hp. I know this is getting around twice the genuine hp numbers, but still? We're all fully aware how much power cast pistons in ohv stuff can handle, and the rpm they get whizzed up to. You can beat in it like a ginger step child and they just go on and on. And as for cost comparison with ohv stuff, the machine work is the same except the valve job, the parts however are grossly different. Comparing the price of a trick hydraulic roller retrofit cam kit for a small block, to a regular flat tappet cam setup for a flathead just shows you a Big difference. Compare it to the price of a roller or radius tappet flathead cam!! Or use the price of a regular flat tappet small block cam. Pretty much everything is crazzy cheap for the regular ohv stuff, forged pistons again are much cheaper and bearings!! Sen the price of floating bearings versus a set of small block ones? Martin.