"C" Head

[jcheshire31]

Bought a decent C head this weekend. Going to have it checked for cracks this week. I know people say the water pump that goes on them is better, and one guy told me that they "breath" better. Just wondering about any pros or cons that come with the C heads.

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Originally Posted by jcheshire31

Bought a decent C head this weekend. Going to have it checked for cracks this week. I know people say the water pump that goes on them is better, and one guy told me that they "breath" better. Just wondering about any pros or cons that come with the C heads.

I am of the opinion that what you have been told is "old knowledge" that really isn't that valid any longer. It used to be that those water pumps were marginally better ...when new authentic-looking, "leakless" water pumps were not commercially available. Now there is no advantage to the "C" (actually a Model B) water pump.

The same applies for the "Model B" head. There was a time when the compression ratio was a little higher over stock, --and for that reason was thought to be more desirable, ...but now there are several manufacturers of authentic-looking, higher compression heads that have better combustion chambers and are actually better quality heads IMHO. Again, many now feel the "Model C" (actually Model B) head is really inferior to the available high compression heads on the market.

[glenn in camino]

You will need another C waterpump as a backup because if yours goes bad at a Model A event, no one will have a spare to sell or loan you.

[Bill in SoCal]

I put a model B (marked with a 'C') head on my Model A many years ago. It was called the poor man's high compression head, and I was a poor kid going to college. It raised the cylinder compression from 65 to 80 pounds. You do need a water pump, and you may need a slightly longer upper water hose for a 30-31 radiator.

Back then, the head was one of two things done to pep up a stock 'A' engine. The other thing was to put a 'B' crank in the engine because they were counterbalanced. you had to turn down the main journals to make it fit. I never did that part of the upgrade. That cost some money and I heard that there was some problem with the rear main braking.

I don't know if the car went any faster or not, but you have the head - why not try it. Have fun, Bill

[Logan]

Don't c heads also have two extra water jackets that need to be plugged if put on an A block?

[Tom Wesenberg]

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Originally Posted by Logan

Don't c heads also have two extra water jackets that need to be plugged if put on an A block?

An "A" head on a B block needs 2 holes plugged.

[James Rogers]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

An "A" head on a B block needs 2 holes plugged.

In the block.