A common flathead malady is spark plug fouling. Performance got a bump for the 1952 model year, up to 125 horsepower in the 255, and up to 110 horsepower for the 239, but by this point in history, the Y-block overhead valve V8 engine was in development, and the flathead V8 was dropped for 1954 models in the United States. Early_Ford_Store of CA Phone: (909) 305-1955 Official March Products. 1932-51 Ford Headers; Flathead Headers; Exterior Parts. Flat-O Products sells well-designed, complete kits to install the Ford C4 automatic and T5 manual behind either 8BA or 59A flathead engines. Isky, Schneider, and Elgin have been making flathead cams for decades. For more info, visit our disclaimer page. Produced from 1932 to 1953, the Ford Flathead V8 was offered in several displacements, but the block remained the pretty much the same. FORD FLATHEADS LIVE ON THROUGH BROTHERS CUSTOM AUTOMOTIVE TROY, Mich. â Modern day Ford V-8 engines such as the Gen-3 5.0L Coyote can crank out numbers up to 460 horsepower from the factory.