Head question

[mustang652]

I may well have screwed up. Roughly three months ago, I bought a head out of a Ford parts place located in Portland OR. for the purpose of building a tri carb setup for my 65 200 CID Mustang. Dropped it off immediately at a local shop to have it checked for cracks, cleaned, inside and out and have rusted bolts removed. Can't believe I didn't notice any sooner, but a couple of weeks ago while doing the layout setup with the adapter, linkage and carbs, I noticed the numbers on the log are C3DE 6090D instead of a C5, 6, or 7 number. To late to cry over spilled milk even though the invoice states 67. It's too rate to complain at this point. If the C3 means 63, I am going to assume then that it is from a 170 or smaller. Can someone advise me what I have and is it useable for the Tri carb and cam upgrade, or do I write it off as a screw up and find a newer head.

 

[80Stang]

Yes, 1963 head from a 170. 1.52 intake valves, 1.266 exhausts, and 1.5 carb bore according to the Handbook.

Are you sure the shop didn't swap it? Just a thought...

 

[addo]

Over here, there are some people who look for the 170 head from 1963. It was held to be the best one for 170/200, prior to the 2V and other aftermarket units.

With improved carbing, I don't feel you will have a problem. There is so much less restriction.

Regards, Adam.

 

[CZLN6]

Howdy Back:

The C3 head was used on early 170s and 200s in the '63 Fairlanes.

The C3 will likely have the smaller, "kidney bean" chamber shape, which yeilds a higher quench to bore ratio, for better turbulence and combustion efficiency. That is the end of the good news.

We have heard the statement that Adam offered, "Over here, there are some people who look for the 170 head from 1963. It was held to be the best one for 170/200, prior to the 2V and other aftermarket units." We have searched for some verification of any unique qualities that this head possesses, to no avail. The best we can attribute the myth to is a quote in an early '60 Hot Rod article, where the then "New" 170 head was touted as superior to earlier C0 and C1 castings. That is true, based on intake tract volume and valve sizes- both are larger on the C3.

I do agree with Adam on the tri carb set-up. It may not make much difference once the end carbs have kicked in.

IF I were you, I wouldn't waste my time and money on the C3 head. I would wait for a D7 or later, for many reasons- unless you already have an Offy kit for the earlier C5, 5, or 7.

That's my two cents, for what it's worth.

Adios, David

 

[mustang652]

I picked the adapter for the round log as my first purchase several weeks before I bought the head. To be honest, I wasn't aware that the log changed on the later models, so I have to stay with the C5 to C7 or use my current head which I wanted to hold onto for a backup. Oh well, back to the drawing board and chalking this up to having learned an expensive lesson. Can only blame myself for not checking when I got it. By the way, I'm sure it wasn't the machine shop, I've used him for a number of years and he has a good rep going back long before I met him. Since I already have the earlier adapter, and if over all the C5 to C7 would be the better way to go, my gut reaction is to find a later model head or use my currently installed C6 head and start the process again. My thanks to every one for the imput.

 

[Anonymous]

Time for a road trip to Texas: http://fordsix.com/forum/viewtopic.php? ... highlight=
Or just keep watching the Buy, Sell, Trade section.
Or you could pull one from a salvage yard.

 

[mustang652]

Thanks, but he posted the numbers and they are all too late a series for the adapter I have, need to stay in the 65 to 67 range. Would have been nice though, my son lives moved back to Dallas and could have picked it up as we will be driving down there the end of April