8BA heads with two ports on each

Merc Cruzer

Merc Cruzer

Well-known member
I am used to seeing, only one temperature port on the drivers side, yet these have two. What was the application and the years they were used. What was the extra port for?
 

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Only the passenger side heater connection would be used. The driver side would be plugged or not even drilled. Heads are universal either side, with exception of some years (not sure which) used 6049 one side, 6050 the other side. No difference between them except for those bosses drilled or not drilled.
 
ford38v8 said:
Only the passenger side heater connection would be used. The driver side would be plugged or not even drilled. Heads are universal either side, with exception of some years (not sure which) used 6049 one side, 6050 the other side. No difference between them except for those bosses drilled or not drilled.
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Except that if mounted on the other side, the water outlet would be on the wrong end. I guess that's what they make those looooong flex hoses for.
 
Two temp gauges - great idea!!One for each side, lets you know what each cylinder bank is doing.
If you don't want the head let me know.:)
 
I have 2 separate gauges and two serrate sending units in my car, with the drivers side, having only one port.
 

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ford38v8 said:
Only the passenger side heater connection would be used. The driver side would be plugged or not even drilled. Heads are universal either side, with exception of some years (not sure which) used 6049 one side, 6050 the other side. No difference between them except for those bosses drilled or not drilled.
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Alan, The heads depicted within this thread certainly cannot be swapped from side to side.
 
I can't see a prefix on it since the photo is small. The other one has the 8BA prefix. The prefix may give a clue if it has one. I've seen some that are plugged on the driver side front but I can't remember what the application was.

Your Mercury with EAC has the divorced choke so it wouldn't work to have one there. You can see a depression where a port may have been. I have one 51 Merc with a 1CM head on the driver side and the other 51 has two 8CM heads but I'll have to go look and see what configuration they are.
 
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On the serious side, I have often wondered if running he heads backwards on an 8BA would enhance coolant flow. You would probably have to match the openings in the head to match the block. I can envision long finned aluminum coolant pipes between the radiator and the thermostat housing. Adding a distributor hold down would also have to be done but should be manageable.
 
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