Riley, George Overhead Valve Heads History Info

[hop up]

Were do you find the history of the great George Riley and the products he made. I have seen a few configurations of the 4 cylinder head and a overhead conversion for a Flathead V-8. Were any other products made by Riley? It seem to be a mystery on information on the products. I have a original Riley 2-Port head and haven't found much about the year produced ,type2 port 4 port and etc.
I see they are making new ones and not much info beside buy one on them as well. Thanks

[MikeK]

There is a 260 page book, "George Riley Racing Scrapbook" by Dan Iandola. I found it on flea-bay a few years ago, have also seen it on Amazon.
LINK to book

[Manuel]

I think Secrets ran a bit of a story on him as well.

Manuel in Oz

[hop up]

Thanks for the Link Mike WOWWWW I think 500 bucks for a book is Crazy. I was looking for info on my head not buy another one

Originally Posted by MikeK

There is a 260 page book, "George Riley Racing Scrapbook" by Dan Iandola. I found it on flea-bay a few years ago, have also seen it on Amazon.
LINK to book

[kelley's restoration]

secrets of speed volume 7 number 4 april 1998
all about the overhead for the bangers
i have a copy you can borrow if you like
tk

[MN Stumpjumper]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

hop up---- are you planning on selling your head? Is it complete and in good shape?

[Chris Haynes]

Originally Posted by hop up

Thanks for the Link Mike WOWWWW I think 500 bucks for a book is Crazy. I was looking for info on my head not buy another one

I just found one on Ebay for eighty bucks delivered to my door.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/FORD-...Q5fCarQ5fParts

[just plain bill]

Riley originally made 3 different 2 port heads B, C, D, D was low compression for trucks, B had higher compression, and on mine, any way, 1 5/8" intake ports. C had 2" ports and was high compression with the 4 port combustion chamber. Early 2 ports had spark plugs on drivers side and were prone to cracking, late had the plugs on the passenger side. As with everything else there are other variations. Dual plug heads for one. Also, each head size had its own size intake manifolds in different configurations to suit the individual, needs up or down, single or dual. The valves and guides were stock model "A" I think C Yapp's 2 port is probably based on a B.

[hop up]

So what years did he make them? Also did he make a bunch of them were I don't see alot of originals. So is the 4port a racing head and very cool! With a few winfields hanging off. Now mine must be a late one with plugs on the passenger side. The condition is great on mine and even has bauer flight plugs . Thank you

[Roadster62]

The 4Port was cast iron in the early years then cast in aluminum. There was an iron head with the intakes on top, not on the angled left side mount, I think this was a mid to late 1930's design, had one of these and two normal 4Ports years ago.

[just plain bill]

Originally Posted by hop up

So what years did he make them? Also did he make a bunch of them were I don't see alot of originals. So is the 4port a racing head and very cool! With a few winfields hanging off. Now mine must be a late one with plugs on the passenger side. The condition is great on mine and even has bauer flight plugs . Thank you

Early advertisements for 2 port in 1930 4 ports started around 1933 or 1934. After 4 port production started very few if any 2 ports made. In 2008 my original 2 port ran 84 MPH at the Antique Nationals. I really haven't seen any results for the Yapp 2 port, just tests on dynos and such

[Jim Brierley]

Riley made as many as 6 different configurations of his 2-port. Yapp copied the early one which in my opinion was the wrong one to copy. The 4-port came out in '33, they and the '34's had huge intake ports, later ones have 1 3/4" ports and run better. Iandola's book is great with lots of info, but it is a scrapbook, not a novel. Riley made a lot of things, a radial outboard motor, a 2 cylinder engine made of Model A parts, a racing side-draft carb and a drone engine for the gov't during WWII which was his monetary downfall, he improved on the military specs and they didn't want that. He made very few aluminum 4-ports but they were made by John Vesco in San Diego and later by George Butler in San Berdo.

[Chris Haynes]

Back in the '60's during my High School days I always wanted A Riley OHV for my A. Now, thanks to Charlie Yapp I have one.

[Chris Haynes]

Wow. Talk about disappointment. When I went to http://www.fordgarage.com/pages/1930...alveinhead.htm
posted above I was excited to see the original Riley Installation Instructions. Sadly I found they are blocked so I can't copy them. :-(

[Juggler]

I, for one, am grateful. Where else would I get this info if you hadn't stuck it up? Yes I'd like to be able to copy it and frame it on my wall, but hey.

Keep the faith

Regards

Juggs

[Chris Haynes]

I don't understand why you would block someone from coping it. Anyone is more than welcome to download anything they want from my web site.

[38 coupe]

I'm impressed that you made it available in the first place. Thanks!

[hop up]

I thank you for letting us enjoy your site and the Riley info. Plus you have lots of info and have help our projects many times!

Originally Posted by fordgarage

Wow. Talk about disappointment.
I post something which I believe is relevant and of interest, and instantly someone has to post a complaint about it and my site.

After listening to ten years worth of whiners and complainers about my web site, via emails and postings like above, and even after my recent few months sabbatical from Ford Barn, I was hopeful things might have changed.
Sadly I found some things have not changed.

[hop up]

Wow them are some very great number. Do you have insert bearing an d counterbalanced crank. I have a fresh motor with new babbit etc and thinking about using the riley head on it. Do you by chance have a photo or specs on the pushrods thanks

Originally Posted by fordgarage

Wow. Talk about disappointment.
[B][/B]I post something which I believe is relevant and of interest, and instantly someone has to post a complaint about it and my site.

After listening to ten years worth of whiners and complainers about my web site, via emails and postings like above, and even after my recent few months sabbatical from Ford Barn, I was hopeful things might have changed.
Sadly I found some things have not changed.

Originally Posted by just plain bill

Early advertisements for 2 port in 1930 4 ports started around 1933 or 1934. After 4 port production started very few if any 2 ports made. In 2008 my original 2 port ran 84 MPH at the Antique Nationals. I really haven't seen any results for the Yapp 2 port, just tests on dynos and such

[kelley's restoration]

yeah i forgot i was going to fax those to you today
i'll get on it tomorrow
or are you going to be at the shop on saturday? i have to work half a day but i can be down there by 11 or so
tk