Best head combination for motor

J

jerry/tx

Member
I have a 59AB factory relieved block bored 3 5/16 - 4 1/8 stroke - Max 1 cam . My question is about the heads . I have the stock 59AB heads plus some 42A heads and can get either the .425 or .400 Offenh. heads . What will make the best combo for my build ? I'm going with the Offenh. 2x2 intake . Advice please Thanks Jerry
 
I think at least part of the answer will depend on 1) what you're putting the engine into and 2) what's the intended use - i.e. street, stock car, drag racer, etc. A little more info. will be a help.
 
(Just putting it out there from experience)
If you like your flathead to sound like it has something more than a stock cam you will hate that one.


The ones for .400 should work with all but the highest lift camshafts.
 
Does anyone know if they still make the Offy 375 heads? if so do you think a new set will be OK in the valve pocket with a Max 1 cam? Thanks Walt
 
Walt I've found that the Offy heads are all over the place and I never found a set of 425's that cleared an L-100. Maybe things are different now, BUT??? I like the 400 best because they have allot of meat in them and I carve my own combustion chamber.
 
I used a set of new Offy 400 heads a couple of years ago for a stock car engine with a 400JR cam. The valve had .050 clearance with a BESt graftite gasket. I forgot the lift on a Max1 cam, I think around .370. This guy is useing a 59 releived truck block. I'd like to see him get as much compression that he can with bolt on stuff. He says there is no machine shops around where he lives that can machine the valve pockets. Walt
 
Henry/Kokomo got real close to asking the right questions-----"Best combination for what"?? The "best combination for using 87 octane gasoline on the street? The best combination for power above 4000 RPM? Best for low cost?

It might be that the Ford 59A heads, when fitted to your pistons, are the best choice. They would probably allow the use of 87 octane gas and they would breath better than the Offy heads.
 
Thanks guys ! I just want a good running motor that I can feel good about . I'm not into a lot of rubbing on something to keep it pretty . I like the 59AB head idea if that's the best choice for a good driver . Thanks Jerry
 
naybe its just me, but i like the 52-53 ford heads, they have the highest compression, (7.2) and it the valves happen to touch the heads its no big deal to have them fly cut above the valves for clearance, there cheap and a bunch of them around, you wont have a pinging problem running reg gas, 87 octane, unless you put a blower or turbo on the engine, but not recomended for street use, the heads look real nice painted the for color with the chrome head bolt covers, and you can use the copper head gaskets with out any worry of a reaction from the copper head gasket and aluminum head, your stuck with composition gaskets with the aluminum heads, get the cast iron heads and save 2 or 3 hundred dollars
 
Once in a while, someone mentions using early 'A' heads... I see that John has mentioned the possibility of 59A heads for this case. Any comments about 'A' heads versus 59A heads? Ron? John?
 
Following reading JWL's book, and reading Ol Ron's book, I'm using the C7RA-A heads that came with my C59A engine. I've ground them for 0.045 clearance over the pistons. We have 91 octane as standard here. I have yet to start the engine, so don't know what it will be like. Just thought I would mention it.
 
bobH said:
Once in a while, someone mentions using early 'A' heads... I see that John has mentioned the possibility of 59A heads for this case. Any comments about 'A' heads versus 59A heads? Ron? John?
Click to expand...
The A heads are good, they are smaller champers than the 59AB, BUT, to use them on a 59AB block you have to have the valve pockets machined a little up in ther top corner. You don't have to take much out if you set the heads up in a Bridgport on a 5* angle and just cut a little meat out up in the top corner. Walt
 
My Ford SB show the 59A heads to be 6.75 which is the highest of all stock Ford heads up to the later block. In my opinion the 59A heads cool better than the earlier heads. I am running a set of Cheater alum. heads on my 47 and it seems to ping less than it did with the 59A heads. Sure runs a lot better and starts immediately.
 
The 6.7 or 7.2 that the specs call for, depends on the combustion chamber volume. After checking dozens of heads when I wrote my book I found non of them would come any where 6.7. Most were lucky to come up to 6.0. IF your engine pings it's not the compression it's the ignition, I build all my engines to have at least 8.5:1 CR and they don't ping on 87 oct. fuel, if the timing is right.
 
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