aluminum head
 

Is anyone making a relatively low compression (6:1) or less aluminum head ? of any style? Cast iron heads are getting to be too much for the back at my current state.-------thanks

Re: aluminum head
 

The price may make your back feel better: http://www.millerhi-speedheads.com/products.html

Re: aluminum head
 

How often are you removing heads? You could always use an engine hoist to remove them and move them to a work bench or at least chest high for optimal carrying.

Re: aluminum head
 

Tod is making alluminum heads. Do a search on this forum for Tod.

Also Snyder has an aluminum head:
http://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/th...mpression-head

Here is a winfield aluminum head in 6:1 or 7:1
http://www.reds-headers.com/html/mod...ine_parts.html

Re: aluminum head
 

6.5:1 too high?

http://www.secretsofspeed.com/lion-speed-head

Re: aluminum head
 

I have wanted to up the compression on my stock A speedster, but I am worried about knocking the bottom end out of it.

Re: aluminum head
 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?sns=em&v=qg0T4ubdw_M

Vid of one being CNC machined.

Re: aluminum head
 

I have a 7-1 Thomas head on one model A that has a modified B engine. So far, I love it.

Re: aluminum head
 

wow, just went through all those speed websites and I want my wife to ignore the debit card bill for a while

Re: aluminum head
 

Why? is your engine tired?

Re: aluminum head
 

Snyders has a good selection.

Re: aluminum head
 

It's not high compression that causes babbitt problems, it is detonation. I ran a 7.4:1 Cyclone head for years with no problems.

Re: aluminum head
 

Re: aluminum head
 

Tod makes a stock looking aluminum High Compression head. I think Hard Times got one of the first ones.

David Serrano

Re: aluminum head
 

In the 60's and 70's I ran an original Thomas 8.25 aluminum head on an old worn out babbitt Model A engine.

Dwayne Helms here in Denver runs a 12.0 to 1 Cooke head on a babbitt engine.

Re: aluminum head
 

So how did that work for you

Sent from my SM-J700T using Tapatalk

Re: aluminum head
 

well ive not had the bottom end apart but it runs smooth and fine doesn't burn oil makes no knocking sounds

I was under the impression that higher comp was very hard on the bearings so haven't done it would like to however

Re: aluminum head
 

the reason I specified 6:1 or less was to maybe reduce oil consumption. I really don't know but it would seem that a higher compression would tend to inhale more oil past the rings on the intake stroke-- that was my thought anyway.

Re: aluminum head
 

I would think tht would make no difference at all compression has nothing to do with the intake stroke while the valve is open

Re: aluminum head
 

Re: aluminum head
 

Tod’s fordbarn name is Tod, but he is not here a lot. He is 427designer, I believe, on H.A.M.B.

Re: aluminum head
 

Harry: A high compression head is not going to harm babbitt, increase oil comsumption or do anything else detrimental the an A engine in ordinary use if the engine is in good condition. The limiting factor of an A is RPM which conventional wisdom has at around 4K when the rods cannot get enough oil. I have never seen any tests or other scientific confirmation of this, but neither have I tried to press an engine to failure. 4K (with babbitt) has not been a problem for me on hill climbs with a stock oil system with filter and opened up passages and pressure center main. However, friends that do high performance runs at Bonneville and El Mirage use pressure oil for their higher RPMs in the 5K plus range.
Basically, if you are not into heavy duty racing, don't worry about it. The A engine can handle it. Use an HC head, more carbs, good cam, whatever you like. Trust me you will recognize when you decide to get into high performance. It is a disease that affects your wallet and makes it shrink. Then you start lying to your wife. Get Brierely's book for the range of performance options available.

Re: aluminum head
 

I would like to mention here that Mr. Brierley has a new head design that looks very promising. The casting is top quality and the chamber design should be efficient.

J

Re: aluminum head
 

Question:? Did early Diesel engines run Babbitt? I know they were a low speed engine at first, but hi compression.

Re: aluminum head
 

I think the only option back then was babbitt.

If you look at many examples of babbitt journals, the surface area is nuch larger than modern pressure fed bearing designs.

The Model A is a good example of this.

Both work very well if the application is proper for the design.

John

Re: aluminum head
 

Let me add at this point that I have run many model a engines with high compression heads (flatheads and overheads) over the past 50 plus years. The car I am working on now has had a 7:1 Winfield for 11 years. I have no worry about high compression. I asked about a 6:1 or less compression ratio as I was curious to see if it might reduce oil consumption in my weakening engine.

Re: aluminum head
 

You could use 2 head gaskets to lower the compression, easy and quick to do but I also don't think it will make a difference in oil consumption.

Re: aluminum head
 

You are probably right but what got me started on this train of thought was when I raised the compression on an a B engine years ago from about 5:1 to 7.5:1 it started burning oil. So recently thinking back on that I thought I would like to see if the opposite might hold true. Just curious.

Re: aluminum head
 

Oil is cheap..........................
Paul in CT