Excuse the ignorance. What's a Crossflow head? Shopping for a head gasket on Rockauto, I came across the term.

thanks,
-Michael

Cross-flow means the intake comes in one side, and the exhaust goes out the other side... so the overall flow pattern is across the top of the engine block. Hence the term "cross-flow". The Fiero engines (both the Duke and the 2.8) have cross-flow cylinder heads.

In a reverse-flow cylinder head, the intake and exhaust manifolds are both on the same side of the cylinder head. So the overall flow pattern is a U-shape.

[This message has been edited by Blacktree (edited 04-26-2009).]

Yeah, some of the really old dukes used to be non crossflow.

arnt there dukes for Jeeps? i know they had a 2.5 engine model. i thought they were non cross flow?
maybe im wrong. i know the jeep Inline 6 are non crossflow heads.
i only know this because i have one. piece of junk. almost pushing 400000 kms! and its really starting to show.

That makes sense. Thnaks. Hmmm... to get a non-crossflow head could make for a much shorter exhaust, right down and out the back and not in the way of dropping the oil pan. Are crossflow and non-crossflow heads interchangable?

-Michael

------------------
"A guy know's he's in love when he loses interest in his car for a few days." -Tim Allen

He who dies with the most toys... still dies.


Check out my restoration!

I can't comment as to whether or not cross-flow and reverse-flow heads are interchangeable, but going back to a reverse-flow head would be a step back. Cross-flow heads are pretty much standard on everything now, and have been for a long time, they offer a better combination of low-end and top-end power rather than the either/or scenario you get with a reverse-flow. What do you have in mind for exhaust? The ports are going to be on one side or the other with an inline motor, so length isn't really a factor.

So-called "reverse flow" heads were used on early motors to help fuel vaporization. My 1932 Pierce Arrow has an inline 8 cylinder flathead design motor. It also uses an updraft carburetor with the base of the intake plenum mounted to the middle of the exhaust manifold. It needs the constant exhaust heat to keep the fuel in suspension (especially on a long, in-line motor). I've always assumed the crossflow design became necessary when V-8s were designed.

The benefit with the crossflow head design is room for much larger ports. I think that even if you found a reverse flow head that would fit, the valve size (limited by the port size) it would be a poor performer.

~Neil

that makes sense

You don't want to have your exhaust visible from your intake. The infrared light (heat) would heat up the incoming air. If I remember correctly, it's bad for horsepower, but good for fuel economy. That's probably why my Sonoma had the intake flatten out and go right over the radiator (literally).

It's that thing that say "caution." (not reverse flow, but just a show of intake near heat)


Here's Crossflow:

[This message has been edited by Rolling Thunder (edited 04-30-2009).]

Check this link out:

http://www.legendarycollect...our-exclusive-video/

It's about Smokey Yunick's Hot Vapor Fiero... 0-60 under 6 seconds and 51mpg

quote Originally posted by Rolling Thunder: Check this link out: http://www.legendarycollect...our-exclusive-video/ It's about Smokey Yunick's Hot Vapor Fiero... 0-60 under 6 seconds and 51mpg

Great! Now you've made me want to be a mechanical/electrical/chemical engineer again. There is so much to learn. Thanks Rolling Thunder for the info worth reseraching.

Michael