I guess what piqued my interest in this subject was an article in the current( May) issue of Cycle World. The "TDC" article written by Kevin Cameron. The article concerns itself with the side valve Harley's, which were losing ground to the smaller/lighter/ hi revving english twins. The solution was quarter inch thick head gaskets. It was described as having a 3:1 compression ratio yet it made just as much power. The culprit had been restrictions in the head not the valve train. This was all 1960's technology, but the thinking still applies. Something was needed, all the other flathead hot-rods, Auburn, Hudson, had that "something". They did the exact opposite of what logic would dictate and came up with a vast improvement. I don't know if the flat head has reached it's peak, I just hope they stay with the developement.
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