Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Model A (1928-31)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 01-08-2020, 11:12 PM   #21
Pete
Senior Member
 
Pete's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Wa.
Posts: 5,374
Default Re: High compression head choice.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Harpkatt View Post
What are the thoughts on the even higher compression heads? I happened to have a Winfield red head 7.1. I recently purchased an engine fully decked out in Winfield. (Almost certain its all repop). I've had it running but it's not in the car yet. It is a recently rebuilt babbet engine. Electronic 6v igniton as well. It should make my roadster a pretty fun machine. I'm pretty light on the pedal so I don't have much concern for the babbet.
I ran a 7.5 head for quite awhile on my parts chaser. (30 2Door) It was a babbit engine. Later ran a 10.5 head on same engine. I couldn't use cheap gas with that.
Pete is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-09-2020, 06:03 AM   #22
ronn
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: NNNNNNNNJJJJJJJJJJ
Posts: 6,758
Default Re: High compression head choice.

so does anyone offer the aluminum Lions head or Thomas?


every time I look, I see sold out. I want a head with a little wow factor.


I attempted to buy a couple from someone on here I wont mention and I was left by the wayside- deposit and all, though I did recve a refund.
wouldnt consider that route again.
ronn is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 01-09-2020, 08:01 AM   #23
Smitty
Senior Member
 
Smitty's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Boston North Shore
Posts: 750
Default Re: High compression head choice.

Question: I believe the 6:1 head is a little thicker than the stock and 5:1 head. If that is the case what studs would be used with 6:1 head? I know grade 8 but what length? A friend installed a 6:1 head on his engine and the nuts would barely go all the way on the stud..
Smitty is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-09-2020, 10:08 AM   #24
alexiskai
Senior Member
 
alexiskai's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Mebane NC
Posts: 2,330
Default Re: High compression head choice.

Quote:
Originally Posted by ronn View Post
so does anyone offer the aluminum Lions head or Thomas?


every time I look, I see sold out. I want a head with a little wow factor.


I attempted to buy a couple from someone on here I wont mention and I was left by the wayside- deposit and all, though I did recve a refund.
wouldnt consider that route again.
I forget where I saw it, but the Lion head manufacturer says they do one production run per year, so I guess wait till later this year?
alexiskai is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-09-2020, 11:53 AM   #25
Russ/40
Senior Member
 
Russ/40's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Santee, California
Posts: 3,505
Default Re: High compression head choice.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Smitty View Post
Question: I believe the 6:1 head is a little thicker than the stock and 5:1 head. If that is the case what studs would be used with 6:1 head? I know grade 8 but what length? A friend installed a 6:1 head on his engine and the nuts would barely go all the way on the stud..
The 6-1 Snyder head uses the same length studs. I used the grade 8 studs and the nuts sat right where they should be. Washers will be a problem, they are only for aluminum heads.
Russ/40 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-09-2020, 12:04 PM   #26
FrankWest
Senior Member
 
FrankWest's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 3,002
Default Re: High compression head choice.

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Great to get extra power but any thought what this increase does to the main bearings life.
Pouring Babbitt bearings is becoming a lost art. Should you over-stress your old bearings?
FrankWest is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-09-2020, 12:08 PM   #27
alexiskai
Senior Member
 
alexiskai's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Mebane NC
Posts: 2,330
Default Re: High compression head choice.

The general consensus I've read seems to be that the max you should put on Babbitt bearings that have not been recently rebuilt is around 6.5:1, +/- 0.5.
alexiskai is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-09-2020, 12:12 PM   #28
Jim Brierley
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Temecula, CA
Posts: 4,066
Default Re: High compression head choice.

Harpkatt, Your Winfield should give you good performance with no problems, just limit the spark advance because the higher compression will burn quicker than stock. If it is aluminum, it is a repro. I ran a Cyclone 7.5:1 crows-foot for many years and many miles with no problems. It is very similar to the Winfield crows-foot head. read my post above.
Jim Brierley is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-09-2020, 02:03 PM   #29
Smitty
Senior Member
 
Smitty's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Boston North Shore
Posts: 750
Default Re: High compression head choice.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Russ/40 View Post
The 6-1 Snyder head uses the same length studs. I used the grade 8 studs and the nuts sat right where they should be. Washers will be a problem, they are only for aluminum heads.

That's good to know, perhaps my friend ran his studs in too far. I am moving up from a Snyder 5:1 head to 6:1. New build with babbit mains and inserted rods.


Steve
Smitty is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-09-2020, 02:11 PM   #30
ronn
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: NNNNNNNNJJJJJJJJJJ
Posts: 6,758
Default Re: High compression head choice.

thx Alex!
ronn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-09-2020, 08:23 PM   #31
John Warren
Junior Member
 
John Warren's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 3
Default Re: High compression head choice.

I think Jim mentioned it earlier, to much advance will hurt babbitt quicker than anything. 26 deg. is plenty.
John Warren is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-10-2020, 12:31 PM   #32
Jim Brierley
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Temecula, CA
Posts: 4,066
Default Re: High compression head choice.

Babbitted main bearings do very well, I've run Bonneville at 167 mph on babbitt mains, still in good shape. Rods not as well but still no need to worry about them.
Jim Brierley is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-10-2020, 12:52 PM   #33
California Travieso
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Moreno Valley, CA
Posts: 940
Send a message via Yahoo to California Travieso
Default Re: High compression head choice.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Brierley View Post
Babbitted main bearings do very well, I've run Bonneville at 167 mph on babbitt mains, still in good shape. Rods not as well but still no need to worry about them.
What about your new head? Will you have a couple at the Big Three Swap Meet in San Diego later this month?

David Serrano
California Travieso is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2020, 05:30 PM   #34
old31
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,088
Default Re: High compression head choice.

For those that have a Snyders 6.1 head are you torquing to 55 or 65 lbs?
old31 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2020, 07:44 PM   #35
kenparker
Senior Member
 
kenparker's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Van, Texas
Posts: 1,122
Default Re: High compression head choice.

TerryO, I have been running Brumfeld 5.9 heads for over 30 years now. Three different heads on three different engines. Still have one in a box to be put on my next engine build. Never had a problem with them. that i did not give to myself.
kenparker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2020, 10:13 PM   #36
31a
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: College Station, Tx
Posts: 326
Default Re: High compression head choice.

I have a brumfield and a 6/1 both are good running heads the 6/1 seems to have more lugging power
31a is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2020, 10:31 PM   #37
Jack Shaft
BANNED
 
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 1,196
Default Re: High compression head choice.

Building performance in any engine requires a balance.more compression? add more fuel,more exhaust better spark control...and a better cam.Look at it this way..a model a engine,stock flows at about 180 CFM..180 cubic feet of air flow. A stock Zenith,even a B zenith flows at about 80 CFM,your basically leaving half the fuel/air mixture out of the equation.Stromberg 97 flow rate matches the model A flow..compression increases are great but reduce your tolerance for timing deviation..in short,run a mechanical advance distributor,stop the hand work. Lastly,now that air flow ,compression and precise timing is nailed,open your exhaust some..
Jack Shaft is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:59 PM.