Head debacle

[Anonymous]

Hi,

I must have been born under a bad sign, without bad luck I'd have no luck at all. :x

The machine shop said the 78 head I just dropped off is cracked. I was having it checked before I DIYed the port n polish. At least I didn't complete the port n polish first.

I think I'm just going to stay with my turd log, put a H/W 5200 from Stovebolt via a clifford adaptor, MSD 6 with new 78 Fairmont Dizzy and Blaster 2 coil, Clifford 6 to 2 header with divider, 2" true duals with H-pipe and DuraMax turbo mufflers. Stock cam no head work. The engine has been rebuilt by PO but I have no idea what they did with the head or if they even milled it for the gasket difference. Compression in each cylinder is around 160--checked with a cheap guage.

What's the approximate HP of this set-up? 68 block, 67 turd log head, 4 cyl T-5, 7.25 rear with 320 gears. Will I at least be able to fire 'em in first and chirp 'em in second. I want to be cool like Doug. 8)

Then I'll start saving for either AzCoupe's hinted at aluminum head or Cliffords aluminum crossflow head. By then it should be ready for a complete rebuild and I can just do the whole package at once.

Bob

 

[addo]

born under a bad sign

Funny; Albert King's version of this song has been in my head the last few days.

I would strongly urge you to rearrange some aspects of your planned build, if you are not doing up another head.

You'll get further with a split duration cam ground for street-RPM torque and dual roller timing set, than with headers and the MSD, all else being equal. I agree it's not as sexy. Performance will mainly suffer at the top end as it runs out of induction, but this will not notice in everyday use.

Regards, Adam.

 

[Anonymous]

Addo,

Are you a blues man? I love 'em.

I agree that I would've been better off with the cam, however I've already purchased everything on the list except the H/W 5200 and the clifford adaptor.

I planned to use a 78 flat log head with a direct mount Holley 350.

I started with a $1500.00 budget for the engine. My 3.03 tranny went out so I had to do the T-5 coversion first. I have all the pieces parts for that except the pilot bearing and it's in the mail.


I found some money in my son's college fund and increased my budget to $4000.00.

I spent $1200 on suspension, springs, steering, sway bars, bumbers, braces xport and mc, weather strip kit, etc...

I've spent about $800 on the T-5 but it's going to wind up at about $1000, I still have to have the flywheel surfaced and the shaft shortened. I'm not sure what that will run yet.

I spent about $500 on the sound system.

That left $1300 for the engine. I was starting with a good engine so I planned for a flat log head (budgeted $350 for head and machine work) Holley 350 (got one-recently rebuilt $100) cam kit from FSPP w/pushrods ($350) Ignition ($300) paint, hoses, vacuum/fuel lines, chrome goodies and other miscellaneous ($200)

A forum member has a head in California for $250 with the machine work done however I couldn't work out shipping. The head that's cracked came from a local salvage yard. There's another in Hagerstown but no one is answering---so I give up.

I'm putting the money that's left back into savings and waiting for a new head to be built.

I still have to install the tranny, suspension, headers, ignition etc... so I have plenty to keep me busy for awhile anyway.

Bob

 

[Anonymous]

To get that motor to chirp them in second is not as hard as you would think. All I did was put a mild shift kit in my Cruise-O-Matic plus the stuff on my signature; but I also have a 3.50 in the rear. It does a pretty good job of putting those ricers back place.

 

[ruckus68]

Sorry to hear that your head is cracked. save you pennies for an oz or argie head.

In the meantime do the cam and headers and whatever else so when the time comes you can just put on a new head.

good luck with the other projects

John

 

[Anonymous]

Look at my page on hopping up the 66 small log head,

http://www.inlinepages.com/~inlinefever ... tions.html

They can be made to breath just not as well as a later model head. Port & polish it, install clifford port divider, open up the intake hole from 1.5" to 1.75" and install the later model 1.75" intake valves in place of the 1.6? somthing valves.

If you were closer, I'd sell you my old tricked out 66 head!

Later,

Doug

 

[AzCoupe]

There are a lot of things happening behind the scenes, on cylinder head options. Some you are aware of, others you are not, but things will be getting very interesting within the next few months.

We all know how difficult it is to locate an OZ head, and the prices keep climbing, so I doubt these will be available much longer. I looked into having them reproduced, but it was too costly considering all the other options that are shaping up.

The Argie heads will be readily available thru at least one or two suppliers, if not three, in the very near future. The drawback is having to swap headers, if you already have them, as the US/OZ headers will not fit. Even though they incorporate the same port and chamber designs as the US and OZ heads, which limits the flow capacity, they are far superior to the US log heads. The big advantage, is availability, which will lower the end cost to the consumer.

Next is the aluminum crossflow that Clifford has been working on. No one knows for sure if this will actually happen, but I have heard inside rumors that they are still working on it. I don't know if it will use existing headers or if a new design will be required, but did heard they will probably use their existing intakes to keep expenses down. With new port and chamber technology, you can be sure they will out perform the Oz and Argie heads with easy.

Then there is the aluminum Argie head which is already in production, and has been previously discussed in this forum under another topic. I don't know if there are plans to import them, but believe they will show up on the market as well. I don't have any info on the flow characteristics, but have heard they are superior to their parent cast versions. The drawbacks are limited production, which may keep the prices high, even at the current exchange rates, and the need for specific headers.

I am working on an aluminum cylinder head as well. I can't say much right now, but will say that one of the worlds leading cylinder head designers is working on the port and chamber designs as we speak. If all goes as planned, they will be available by years end, at a very reasonable cost. According to him, a naturally aspirated six with a properly designed cylinder head, can make in excess of 300-350HP. I was skeptical of this statement, but considering his designs have won the Engine Masters Challenge, I feel confident he will back it up.

So, hang on to your hats, and get ready for an exciting year. Lots of options are headed your way.

 

[ruckus68]

thanks for the heads up AZ
looks like it is time save up for the new heads!
something cool to look forward to 8)

John

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the support guys. It's always makes it better when someone else can feel your pain and frustration. I appreciate the offer to sell me your head Doug, I think shipping would be worth it to have the actual head from my idols car 8) . I finally heard from the guy in Hagerstown, 78 head $15 and all I have to do is drive up to get it.

I think this is the way to go. Do the minimum to this head, mill .075 some DIY port n polish. Install the 264 cam.

That should do me until the end of the year when Mike's heads will be available. I have one more son with a college fund so I'll be able to do the complete rebuild at the end of the year, with all of Mike's goodies.

Mike when will you have some new oil pans in? By the end of the year I hope.

Thanks
Bob