Ford’s flathead V8 engine, produced from 1932 to 1953, was a marvel of its time with its quirky exhaust system that sent gases on a cross-engine road trip before exiting. Performance enthusiasts soon upgraded this setup for better flow, adding a classic rumble. The flathead’s monoblock design made it a powerhouse, while hot rodders relished making tweaks like porting and polishing. Ford wasn’t just making engines; they were crafting a legacy, one crankcase at a time, thanks to innovators like “Cast Iron Charlie.”