supercharging · FF-0363

Why does a supercharged Flathead need a bigger combustion chamber than a naturally aspirated one?

For a supercharged engine Steve says it is better to start at about 7 to 8:1 compression, which leaves room to supercharge. On a naturally aspirated engine you are trying to raise compression, so the chamber is made smaller than a stock Ford head. Most performance Flathead heads have small chambers because there were few supercharged applications, and those were strictly racing.

Expert

Steve Coppock

Evidence

expert attributed

Component

combustion chamber size

Applicable scope

Ford Flathead V8 cylinder heads for supercharged use