The Ford Barn

fried okra · 06-20-2022, 07:33 AM

I see there is the stock 4.22 compression head, the 5.22 police head and a 5.5 aftermarket head and others too.

Is there any way to tell which compression cylinder head I've got while it's still on the car?

Specifically from an external appearance perspective, without pulling the plugs and doing any kinda testing really.

Thx!

rotorwrench · 06-20-2022, 08:41 AM

Original Ford parts have identifying casting marks. The B marked head was the police head. The C head was used on the new model B cars from 1932 through 1934. A head with no markings is the standard model A head. Aftermarket heads generally have different markings unless they are exact replicas of originals.

nkaminar · 06-20-2022, 09:35 AM

I know you said that you did not want to do any kind of testing, but a compression test will tell you approximately what compression ratio you have. Most of the higher compression heads were made to look just like the originals with no marking. Another thing you can do is use a dental mirror or bore scope to look inside the head and then compare that to what the different styles of heads look like inside.

katy · 06-20-2022, 10:09 AM

Try this: https://www.fordgarage.com/pages/hea...ssionratio.htm

Y-Blockhead · 06-20-2022, 10:17 AM

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Snyder's 5.5 has a couple of ways to identify externally. Easiest is two dots...

06-20-2022, 07:33 AM	#1
fried okra Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Daniel Island,SouthCarolina/Knoxville, Tennessee/Sanibel Island,Florida Posts: 302	Which cylinder head do I have I see there is the stock 4.22 compression head, the 5.22 police head and a 5.5 aftermarket head and others too. Is there any way to tell which compression cylinder head I've got while it's still on the car? Specifically from an external appearance perspective, without pulling the plugs and doing any kinda testing really. Thx!

06-20-2022, 08:41 AM	#2
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,489	Re: Which cylinder head do I have Original Ford parts have identifying casting marks. The B marked head was the police head. The C head was used on the new model B cars from 1932 through 1934. A head with no markings is the standard model A head. Aftermarket heads generally have different markings unless they are exact replicas of originals.

06-20-2022, 09:35 AM	#3
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 4,016	Re: Which cylinder head do I have I know you said that you did not want to do any kind of testing, but a compression test will tell you approximately what compression ratio you have. Most of the higher compression heads were made to look just like the originals with no marking. Another thing you can do is use a dental mirror or bore scope to look inside the head and then compare that to what the different styles of heads look like inside. __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.

06-20-2022, 10:09 AM	#4
katy Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Red Deer, Alberta Posts: 5,076	Re: Which cylinder head do I have Try this: https://www.fordgarage.com/pages/hea...ssionratio.htm __________________ If you don't hear a rumor by 10 AM, start one!. Got my education out behind the barn!