8ba help

1

12cliff23

Member
I have an orig. but well used 50 f3 8ba. also have an eab from a 53 Vicky or so I was told! I have read here that using these heads will increase comp. on my 8ba. is it worth it? just bolt on and go? will I notice much diff.
also were is a good place to get new head bolts?
thanks/// what an interesting site to learn from
 
The various factory heads may increase compression but hp and torque increases will not be substantial to say the least.
To really feel a difference, the combination of several 'power adders' would be required.
-An increase in compression would go well with an upgraded cam and dual exhaust topped off with dual carbs.

I'm not sure what heads your 53 Vicky may have now but even a switch to the factory favorite 1CM Mercury heads would only bump a few hp on their own.

If you were hauling 3 tons of coal all day long then even those few hp with the bump in compression may help you pull the big hill in town a wee bit better but honestly the real difference on their own would be a couple ~3 hp and maybe 4 pounds of torque.

If your f3 is stock and running fine then personally I wouldn't swap heads without considering dual exhaust and better carb(s) at the same time.
Is all that time and $ worth it to you or is your F3 destined to remain a good working weekend warrior? That's a question only you can answer

just my humble opinion.


moe


.
 
I have seen 8CM and EAC Merc heads, but have never seen 1CM heads. EAB heads are definetly the best. If you were to use them, you need to check piston to head clearance and set it at .050. It will increase performance and fuel economy to some extent. The stock head bolts are probably reuseable.
 
The Merc heads (8CM, EAC, and 8RT) have the lowest CR. If you have 8RT heads then the EAB heads would be an improvement. However the 49/53 distributors were the biggest problem, unles their in good working condition.
 
Thanks
I am going with the Fentons that Pat Dykes sells. The thing runs fine now ,just little rich.
Think I will leave the heads alone for now. Also considering the full flow oil filer that Frank Oddo talks about in his book. I have seen a lot of good words on here about JWL book.
Also thinking about the c4 tran. conversion. I am trying to finally build something like I wanted when I was a teen in the mid 60s, although maybe without the Hurst 4 speed.
Things are a little slow on the farm in winter, also finally have a heated shop!
Thanks again Cliff
 
C4 conversion?
I wonder why the A4OD (early -non metric) doesn't get more respect.
The addition of an overdrive/4sp robbed from a pre 85 LTD or Grand marquis along with the conversion doo dads would be my preference, although not necessarily in an F3.
But I prefer stick/clutch due to durability. dependability and serviceability.
 
Headers will help. Be sure you are buying oroginal design Fentons. I visited Honest Charlie's a few years ago and was ready to buy Fentons for my 8BA. They told me Red's were better (and cheaper) so I got them instead. I ask why they were trying to sell me DOWN and was told the new Fentons were not the same fit and quality of the originals. I have never regretted the Red's purchase.
Concerning the heads it really is a matter of combustion chamber size. If your original heads have not been milled then 0.010 will boost compression. As flatjack9 said be sure you have adequate valve clearance.
Like Ol' Ron said the Merc heads have the lowest CR. I believe that is because more room was needed to fill the cylinder because or the 4" crank.
 
Headers, won't to a darn thing to performance. The best thing you can do to your engine is to buy JWL's book. Also milling the heads to decrees the clearance between the piston and head, does not raise the Cr a measure-able amt. It increases the turbulence in the chamber to completely burn ALL the fuel. Thus making the engine more efficient.
 
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thanks for all the good words of advice, I also look forward to all the various opinions, very valuable. ordered JWL book today.
I have had Ron's book even before I bought the f3 in 2013.
looking forward to more
cliff:D
 
ck this rare head..bought the pair a few years back,,was going to mill them ,however went with new EAC merc 125 hp heads and milled them,cc the heads,,wound up with 8.1 comp heads..does supper job .bored out to 060 arrived at 266 cu..balanced the engine and drive assy ..smitties sound great on our big Merc
 

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Hard to believe you got 8:1 CR with those heads. How much did you mill from them?? I have a set of EAB heads on a 280 Ci engine and only have 8.2 and the heads have beem milled .040"?????
 
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