the FLE panhead

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panhead55
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the FLE panhead

#1

Post by panhead55 »

hello everyone. so ive read all the info on the FLE panheads in palmer's book. several guys ive ran into tell me that those motors are rare because of that "E" and because few were produced. here are my questions..... does the "E" stand for experimental, or because of the 61" cam which were in the EL motors; they took the FL for 74" and added the E for the 61" cam? also, does anyone know how many FLE's were produced each of those years? i own an FLE so would like to know as much as i can. also being a transition year for the lower end, the 1954 FLE is really rare. not sure, hope someone can set me straight. thanks, billy :idea:
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Re: the FLE panhead

#2

Post by panhead »

The FLE: 74" ci, 61" cam & M61 carburator. So the E stands for the 61"cam. Total production of FL & FLE was 4757 for 1954. No separate numbers for the FLE.
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Re: the FLE panhead

#3

Post by panhead55 »

hey cool, and i do have the M61 on my panhead too.
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Re: the FLE panhead

#4

Post by Panacea »

55, Do you know why the motor company would offer a 61" cam in a 74? Mike
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Re: the FLE panhead

#5

Post by mbskeam »

maybe for city use? cops, parades ie slow traffic
just a guess
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Re: the FLE panhead

#6

Post by steve_wood »

Mike:

I heard the same thing. The Law Enforcement Agencies asked the MoCo to do something about the 74s running hot in typical police applications (stop and go, traffic jams, slow speed escort, etc). The MoCo realized that the 61 cam would work in the 74 application with two results: Less power and less heat. It seemed like the perfect solution and the "Traffic Combination" option was born.

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Re: the FLE panhead

#7

Post by concrete guy »

What's the best way to determine what cam is actually in your FLE??? I have a 56 FLE that I am going to go through this winter.
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Re: the FLE panhead

#8

Post by steve_wood »

ConcreteGuy:

The cam for an FLE is 1.328" max diameter whereas the standard cam for an FL is 1.334".

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Re: the FLE panhead

#9

Post by concrete guy »

Thanks Steve!
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Re: the FLE panhead

#10

Post by Cotten »

INTER-DEPARTMENTAL MEMO 1954
PARTS WAREHOUSE TO MARKETING:

"What are we gonna do with all these goddam EL cams?"


.....Cotten
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Re: the FLE panhead

#11

Post by steinauge »

All the EL cams I have ever seen are marked "61" on either the end lobe or,oddly on the gear.
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Re: the FLE panhead

#12

Post by panz4ever »

Not to hijack the thread...but does that mean that cam would fit into a stock 49EL as well?
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Re: the FLE panhead

#13

Post by RUBONE »

Panz4ever,
The cam marked 61 will fit anything from '48 to '69.
Panhead55
I have a '54 FLE and have actually seen more of them than regular FLs. There are some '53s and another big bunch of '55s. Not particularly rare. i suspect most were hand shift with the Traffic combo. They also used 7:1 compression pistons. They produced lots of low end torque and accelerated well up to about 50 mph or so. Top end is about 80!
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Re: the FLE panhead

#14

Post by Frankenstein »

I had heard that the FLE was offered to satisfy all those guys that swore by the 61, the ones that said the 61 was a smoother running motor than the 74. This was to give them that smoothness, by cutting down on power and compression. Just one more rumor :lol: I'd have to admit that Cotten's explanation has ring to it...
DD
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