The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Flat Head Six....The Sounds

To All,

A healthy "flat head six" engine has a distinct sound. Right? How would one describe it?

I don't know about a flat head but my overhead valve 216 sounds like a...........216.

Yep, I used to have a flathead six in my '46 plymouth. I guess it sounded OK. Now if you're talking about a Chevy OHV six, I guess it does have a pretty distinct sound.

There's nothing else in the world that sounds like a Hudson Hornet getting a good bite on the dirt as it comes off the turn and heads down a short straightaway. Those flathead sixes were king of the short tracks in the early 1950's!
Jerry

Had a flathead six in my first car, a 48 Plymouth. The PO had put a glass pack on and it pretty much sounded like my 51 Chevy with an ohv six.

All previous posters;

Alright, alright....remember I'm a total novice at all this and this is my first ever vintage truck. So, I've more than likely have alot of terminology wrong. All this time I thought the Chevy 216 was a "flat head six". Looks like "overhead valve six" is the proper definition. Correct? Also, when I had my first vehicle it was out of the early sixties, not the fourties!

OK, back to the "Sound". My 1946 at idle has a very unique sound to me. Doesn't have that purring sound like newer engines. At the moment it sounds more like a medium speed "ka-chunk, ka-chunk, ka-chunk, ka-chunk.... All I'm trying to find out is "Is this close to normal"? If it is, what is making that noise? The lifters? The rockers? Anybody?

It should "purr", with slight tappet noise while warming up. Any ka-chunk is not normal. Without hearing the exact noise, a diagnosis is impossible. You should probably let someone with a bit of mechanical knowledge listen to it. Good luck.

"MOVIES"!!! I've got "MOVIES"!!

I posted two .MOV files on my Webshots page in the Lucille's Engine Sounds folder. I took them with my Kodak EasyShare digital camera. They are both about two minutes long. One taken from the right side of the engine and the other from the left. There is a bit of static interference coming from the electrical system as I move the camera about. Probably from the coil would be my guess. Anyway, enjoy the show and I'd love to hear all comments!

Is this how a "Stovebolt" 216 engine should sound? I need a good pair of ears out there!!!

Lucille, other than some minor lifter noise it pretty much sounds like a OHV Chevy Six ain't it just music to your ears!!

The valve tappet noise sounds pretty typical, however it sounds to me like you may have one cylinder not firing at all. When you let it idle down very slow in third gear, will it then accelerate smoothly? Or, does it jump and jerk. If it will accelerate smoothly, them I am wrong about it one cylinder not firing.
meansam

Meansam,

I hope your not too mean...ha ha!

You know I think there is a slight hesitation in low gear during acceleration. That leads me to the question....where are the timing marks located so when I get hold of a timing light I can make the adjustment? This would definitely help Lucille purr a bit smoother.

Thanks for giving me your ear.

BTW, I learned today that my engine is truely an "OHV Six"!! NOT a FLAT HEAD!!! Sorry folks! We all learn something every day!

Welcome to the 'bolt. No problem Lucille. We all had to learn this stuff somewhere.

It sounds pretty normal to me. In fact it sounds just like my '58 with mechanical lifters. Dontcha Love it?

Ooops! One more thing. You can always tell a flathead engine because they won't have a valve cover. The head on a flathead is basically a big slab of iron that bolts to the top of the block to hold the explosions in! The valves, instead of being in the head, are in the block.