The Ford Barn - View Single Post - How to Increase compression on 1937 Flathead

Bored&Stroked · 03-22-2023, 07:18 AM

Without spending too much money, you can check the compression height above the pistons and if it is over .045, then have the heads milled to bring the clearances down to .040 to .050. Flatheads like a tight squish area. Other than making extensive changes to increase the cubic inches (stroker crank of some sort) or doing additional modifications to the heads (filling in the transfer area), there are no other easy and inexpensive ways to go about it.

Other performance things to consider are a mild CAM, improved ignition curve (mods to the distributor), new intake and dual carbs and exhaust.

03-22-2023, 07:18 AM	#2
Bored&Stroked Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 5,906	Re: How to Increase compression on 1937 Flathead Without spending too much money, you can check the compression height above the pistons and if it is over .045, then have the heads milled to bring the clearances down to .040 to .050. Flatheads like a tight squish area. Other than making extensive changes to increase the cubic inches (stroker crank of some sort) or doing additional modifications to the heads (filling in the transfer area), there are no other easy and inexpensive ways to go about it. Other performance things to consider are a mild CAM, improved ignition curve (mods to the distributor), new intake and dual carbs and exhaust.