Aluminum Head Update

Cesarvi17

Well-known member
Subscriber
Supporter 2023
Got an email from Vintage Inlines; here’s what it said:
“This is the latest update, still not an invitation to order. Please do not email me or call to ask if you are on the lists. If you have emailed me, you are either on the original list or my contact list.

I got a new update from the foundry this summer. The reason it has taken so long is that one part of the mold needed to be made in another state and shipped to the new foundry. Ordinarily this is not a problem, but in my case, the cores would be fragile and many would not have survived the trip by truck.

The news is that the foundry has purchased the equipment needed to make the cores in house. Once the equipment is installed and tuned up, they will begin using it right away to make parts of the molds needed for castings.

There will still be work to do after they start making castings. After they are happy with the castings, they will have to develop the machine drawings. This is where they do the basic machine work to the raw head casting. Holes are bored and threads are cut. Then, it will be a matter of scheduling the castings, I hope by the end of summer.

My plan is still to contact everyone from the original waiting list to give them the first chance to get one of the heads. Then, I'll make them available through the website. I will not take requests to be put on a list at this time. I will probably pre-sell when the heads are almost ready. I need to do this to pay for them when they are made.

Thanks for your patience,
Matt”
 
Nice work Matt.


To the guys who are asking for the fourth bolt hole to be added to the three bolt hole central branch of the exhaust branches three and four, well, I responded on Facebook. The exhaust branch from Number 3 crosses over it, so you cannot access an added fourth bolt hole. The thickness of the header and the three bolts holds all the items intact.

https://fordsix.com/ci/AlumDevelop-2.html
 
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Got an email from Vintage Inlines; here’s what it said:
“This is the latest update, still not an invitation to order. Please do not email me or call to ask if you are on the lists. If you have emailed me, you are either on the original list or my contact list.

I got a new update from the foundry this summer. The reason it has taken so long is that one part of the mold needed to be made in another state and shipped to the new foundry. Ordinarily this is not a problem, but in my case, the cores would be fragile and many would not have survived the trip by truck.

The news is that the foundry has purchased the equipment needed to make the cores in house. Once the equipment is installed and tuned up, they will begin using it right away to make parts of the molds needed for castings.

There will still be work to do after they start making castings. After they are happy with the castings, they will have to develop the machine drawings. This is where they do the basic machine work to the raw head casting. Holes are bored and threads are cut. Then, it will be a matter of scheduling the castings, I hope by the end of summer.

My plan is still to contact everyone from the original waiting list to give them the first chance to get one of the heads. Then, I'll make them available through the website. I will not take requests to be put on a list at this time. I will probably pre-sell when the heads are almost ready. I need to do this to pay for them when they are made.

Thanks for your patience,
Matt”
Sounds like good news for all who are waiting to order. We are also considering getting on the waiting list for one of these heads. Would you all suggest just e-mailing Vintage Inlines or is there another avenue we should take? Is this the preferred producer of a quality performance head for our 200ci, or have some of you obtained heads from other suppliers that have worked well and boosted performance too (prefer an alum head over cast, if possible)? Thanks in advance for any feedback.
 
Sounds like good news for all who are waiting to order. We are also considering getting on the waiting list for one of these heads. Would you all suggest just e-mailing Vintage Inlines or is there another avenue we should take? Is this the preferred producer of a quality performance head for our 200ci, or have some of you obtained heads from other suppliers that have worked well and boosted performance too (prefer an alum head over cast, if possible)? Thanks in advance for any feedback.
Vintage Inlines already has a closed waiting list. It was a first come first serve kind of thing I believe. After they get through with the list, they’ll start to sell them to everyone else. As for another supplier, I’m not sure. Vintage Inlines is for sure one of the best 6 cylinder suppliers.
 
There are really only about three choices on Ford Small Six Aluminum Heads that I know of being made right now. The Classic Inlines / now Vintage Inlines Aluminum Head is an Improved version of the Australian Ford 221 Cu. In. / 250 Cu. In. 2V Cast Iron Heads, it's a very good design and there is only the one place to source one of them. There are two versions also some Aluminum Heads that are made in Argentina they are based on their Special Performance Ford SP 221 Cu. In. Cast Iron Head the Aluminum SP and the the Max Econo. I am not sure what they would cost to buy and ship to the USA, but its also a very good design. Here is a couple of links to what a stock SP 221 looks like and also a Race 221.
Stock 221
Race221
 
Thanks for all the info. I wasn’t aware of the Argentinian 221 SP. My husband has a lot of experience in building FE’s and other Ford V8’s, but this six build is all new to us. Sounds like the Vintage Inline will be worth the wait, but since I’m not on the waiting list, I wonder if it may not be available for a couple of years or longer.

I’ll continue to read through the threads here to get ideas for improving performance on the stock setup while we wait, and, hopefully whatever parts we purchase now could possibly be used after the head upgrade. We are currently all stock 200ci with C4, single barrel carb and even points distributor.

You guys (and gals) are awesome! Thank you!
 
Thanks for all the info. I wasn’t aware of the Argentinian 221 SP. My husband has a lot of experience in building FE’s and other Ford V8’s, but this six build is all new to us. Sounds like the Vintage Inline will be worth the wait, but since I’m not on the waiting list, I wonder if it may not be available for a couple of years or longer.

I’ll continue to read through the threads here to get ideas for improving performance on the stock setup while we wait, and, hopefully whatever parts we purchase now could possibly be used after the head upgrade. We are currently all stock 200ci with C4, single barrel carb and even points distributor.

You guys (and gals) are awesome! Thank you!
I am a Huge Fan of the FE's I used to race some of them and had them from the 352's to several versions of the 427's my last was one of the SOHC. Anybody that can work on an FE will have no trouble with these little six's. You could also use one of the later Large Log Head's 200 or 250 (1978 to 1983), with a 2V Carb, an updated Cam, Headers, and a good flowing exhaust system for a good boost in power until you can get one of the Aluminum Heads. Best of Luck
 
I am a Huge Fan of the FE's I used to race some of them and had them from the 352's to several versions of the 427's my last was one of the SOHC. Anybody that can work on an FE will have no trouble with these little six's. You could also use one of the later Large Log Head's 200 or 250 (1978 to 1983), with a 2V Carb, an updated Cam, Headers, and a good flowing exhaust system for a good boost in power until you can get one of the Aluminum Heads. Best of Luck
Love it Bubba! My first experience with an FE was when I was in my early 20's. I was building a '69 Mach 1 for the drag strip. Had a 427 medium riser, side oiler with cross bolt mains, LeMans rods, 12.5:1's, Harlan Sharp Roller Rocker set-up and a bunch of other goodies. Sure wish I still had that engine today... although it sure wouldn't fit in that little '65 2+2. LOL! I'm sure my husband, Gary, will get me all set up with something, and I appreciate your recommendations for a semi-quick "fix"!
 
Love it Bubba! My first experience with an FE was when I was in my early 20's. I was building a '69 Mach 1 for the drag strip. Had a 427 medium riser, side oiler with cross bolt mains, LeMans rods, 12.5:1's, Harlan Sharp Roller Rocker set-up and a bunch of other goodies. Sure wish I still had that engine today... although it sure wouldn't fit in that little '65 2+2. LOL! I'm sure my husband, Gary, will get me all set up with something, and I appreciate your recommendations for a semi-quick "fix"!
That 1969 Mach 1 sounds like a really great combo I tried to get a few 1969 or 1970 Mach 1's with the Cobra Jet but so far haven't been able to. LOL my first 1965 Mustang 2 + 2 had a 390 & C6 with the Ford Tri Power set up shoe horned into it. I also had a 67 Mustang GT 390 4 speed Fastback I wish I could of kept that one.
 
That 1969 Mach 1 sounds like a really great combo I tried to get a few 1969 or 1970 Mach 1's with the Cobra Jet but so far haven't been able to. LOL my first 1965 Mustang 2 + 2 had a 390 & C6 with the Ford Tri Power set up shoe horned into it. I also had a 67 Mustang GT 390 4 speed Fastback I wish I could of kept that one.
I bet that was one wild ride! Ah! If we only knew then what we know now…
 
Got an email from Vintage Inlines; here’s what it said:
“This is the latest update, still not an invitation to order. Please do not email me or call to ask if you are on the lists. If you have emailed me, you are either on the original list or my contact list.

I got a new update from the foundry this summer. The reason it has taken so long is that one part of the mold needed to be made in another state and shipped to the new foundry. Ordinarily this is not a problem, but in my case, the cores would be fragile and many would not have survived the trip by truck.

The news is that the foundry has purchased the equipment needed to make the cores in house. Once the equipment is installed and tuned up, they will begin using it right away to make parts of the molds needed for castings.

There will still be work to do after they start making castings. After they are happy with the castings, they will have to develop the machine drawings. This is where they do the basic machine work to the raw head casting. Holes are bored and threads are cut. Then, it will be a matter of scheduling the castings, I hope by the end of summer.

My plan is still to contact everyone from the original waiting list to give them the first chance to get one of the heads. Then, I'll make them available through the website. I will not take requests to be put on a list at this time. I will probably pre-sell when the heads are almost ready. I need to do this to pay for them when they are made.

Thanks for your patience,
Matt”
The email also mentions that there will still be work to do after the castings are made, such as developing machine drawings and scheduling the castings. Vintage Inlines plans to contact everyone from the original waiting list to give them the first chance to purchase one of the heads, before making them available through the website. Additionally, they will likely pre-sell the heads when they are almost ready to help fund the manufacturing process.
 
Really happy this design will hopefully live on, but has there been any updates as to an eta on public availability?
 
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