Snyder 5.5 head
 

Is there anything that needs done to a Snyder's head to make it appear more original to pass Judging? Thanks, Art

Re: Snyder 5.5 head
 

From what I've seen the high compression heads are a little bit shorter at the front revealing more of the head gasket than should be. I think this is from a standard head being used as a pattern and shrinkage from the casting process coming into play. Not sure how one could fix that.

Re: Snyder 5.5 head
 

Ditto to what Dave said. My 6:1 head has the same problem. I don't know why Tod has not corrected that. Functionally it's great, and really peps up a stock motor.

Re: Snyder 5.5 head
 

It will not pass for fine point.

Re: Snyder 5.5 head
 

I was thinking the same thing. The only fix I can see is to make a new, longer pattern.
Terry

Re: Snyder 5.5 head
 

It’s doubtful Tod will ever do that. Both of my heads, a 6:1 and the other 5.5:1 are shorter and when measured to compare both aren’t as wide as an original. Width not as much but length definitely shorter.

Re: Snyder 5.5 head
 

Since the 5.5:1 pattern was not made by me, and I used its length to make the 6:1, assuming that 20,000 + sales made it safe to do so, and that Don Snyder would have to make that decision, I can guarantee that I will not be changing a pattern that does not belong to me.


Tod

Re: Snyder 5.5 head
 

Guess that explains it. Unless Don sanctions it. Don?

Re: Snyder 5.5 head
 

So in the name of safety,due to faster road traffic, the judging committe should overlook the cosmetic difference of the slightly shorter cylinder head.

Re: Snyder 5.5 head
 

I feel like the idea with fine point judging is that you're not building a car per se, like a thing to drive in alongside other cars, but rather you're building an art object, a ship in a bottle. Cosmetic differences aren't to be overlooked, they are the entire judging criteria. The goal is to attain through diligence, effort, and phenomenal expense a car identical to one that sat on a dealer's lot in 1931 (or whenever). The function is almost beside the point – the requirement is that it be able to, as they say, run and stop.

Re: Snyder 5.5 head
 

They won't. When I received my 5.5 a couple of years ago I noticed it was shorter and thinner (width wise) compared to my stock head, block and the head gasket.

When I called them about it they acted like they didn't know what I was talking about. :(

Re: Snyder 5.5 head
 

So just curious, if Snyder approved the change, can the pattern(s) be changed, or will new patterns need to be made?

Re: Snyder 5.5 head
 

Since a high compression head is obviously NOT original, why try to pass it off as original? Seems rather dishonest to me!

Re: Snyder 5.5 head
 

Re: Snyder 5.5 head
 

In racing it is called "cheating" but some like to think of it as "creative thinking".

Re: Snyder 5.5 head
 

New patterns for the top of the head would need to be made out of aluminum, again, and the bottom would also need re cut. The expense would be high, and there is nothing to be gained, in my opinion, for Snyder's as long as the heads sell and work as they are. There are a couple of difficulties I would encounter as I do not have the original 5.5 model or files.



This was "set in stone" long before I came along and if Don felt the need to change things I am certain he would not hesitate to do so. If they get one complaint in every 1000 heads they sell, they are unlikely to see the need to spend the money, and I would not recommend the change, despite the fact that I would stand to benefit in cutting longer tooling. It is a simple matter of economics.


And that is my 2 cent's worth.


Tod

Re: Snyder 5.5 head
 

I would think the early patterns have paid for themselves many times over. It would be good PR if Snyder felt they owed the community a product enhancement. They are advertised as "original appearing." They don't quite live up to that, and the customer doesn't know that until its purchased,

Re: Snyder 5.5 head
 

It could be half the size so you need two of them, and still be "original appearing".

Re: Snyder 5.5 head
 

How about touring class?

Re: Snyder 5.5 head
 

How about a head with a B on top you would get higher compression and made by Ford .
That would be hard to beat