Side or Flat V8
 

Folk over here tend to refer to V8s as flatheads pro rata. Am I right in saying the sidevalve V8 is the one where there are four cylinders at each side inclined at an angle and the flathead was literally that, with cylinders vertical? Was the flathead not the 4 and 6 cylinder version? I have always known the V8 as the sidevalve. Maybe the Scottish ones have had a wee bit of tinkering done on them!!

Nigel

scotish flatheads are the ones that have the funny accent when you floor the gas. :cheers:

They are refered to as both the 'Flathead' V8 and 'sidevalve' V8 here. They are in fact both as the flathead part refers to no valves, rockercover etc.

The 4 & 6 clylinder motors are also called either 'flathead' 4/6 or 'sidevalve' 4/6 for the same reasons.

If someone started to talk about a Ford V8 motor without saying either flathead or sidevalve I would assume automaticly that it was an overhead valve motor...one with the valves in the heads and a rocker cover.

cheers
Cliff:salute:

In Aust, a Flathead is a fish and a Sidevalve is an engine. Sidevalve V8's are invariably Ford (No-one has a Caddilac!), but Ford also made 4s in Anglia's and other English stuff and Dodge 6's are Sidevalves, too. Even small stuff like Briggs and Strattons are sidevalves. Flatheads will only be found in rivers or US catalogs.

Flat heads and side valves
 

are the same thing, and covers any motor of the "L" type valve in block configuration, as opposed to an ohv, or "F" head .

For the record, the famous V8 engine of Henry Ford fame was, is and always will be referred to as the flathead Ford V8, or flatty.
At least here in N. America where they originated from.
A good example of our cultural linguistic differences would apply to the word "boot". Of course in the UK it's the trunk of your car, here it's what you wear on your feet or something you do, like boot someone in the ass!LOL

"F" head....
 

"F" head properly reffers to a specific engine configuration with one valve (usually intake) in the head, and one valve in the block.
The two best examples are the early land rover 4 and 6's, and the m 38 a1 jeep engines...

Re: "F" head....
 

And of course the RR B Range engine used in 4, 6 or 8 cyl versions from Champs to Mk.1 432's and Centurion bridge-layers, to name but a few. :)

R.