Canadian Heads

Hey these are my heads and I filled the chambers with solvent and then used a syringe to pull the liquid out. Obviously I was unable to get the entire amount of solvent out however both chambers were measured in the same manner and both came back to the same result. So yes 40cc is low because I was unable to get all of the solvent back out. I’m going to run them mismatched. I’ll post back here once I switch heads and let yall know how it runs.
 
It sounds like the chambers are close to equal (if your method of measuring was consistent). If such is the case, there should be no problem running the mismatched heads. Even if they're not, in my opinion, it would still be OK.

Good luck in finding a "match" for either one; as somewhat a connoisseur of Canadian aluminum 8BA components, I can tell you they are quite scarce, and anybody that has them will be loathe to break up a set. I have also found that usable pieces are quite expensive. I have tried to match single 8BA heads twice in my life. The first time I ended up selling the single, and the second is now a "wall-hanger" in a good friends shop. I believe the best thing to do would be to massage both heads to optimize quench and compression and do what you want with the id marks.
 
The only head harder to find is the earlier head for the 59AB block, It took me quite awhile to find a set of them. I have seen them on eBay occasionally for the 8BA block but not verry often for sure. Good luck finding one, i would agree with Tubman, match the cc volume to get even squish and move on unless it just has to match aesthetically. If what I have read on here is true, a lot of the time, the piston clearance from one end of the head to the other is rarely the same, so if that is true, the 5 cc if accurate may not matter that much truthfully.
 
Daughter to the rescue "CapLock" Stupidity iz my name, Boy these modern computers hard to figgerout..
Gramps
 
glorydime said:
Thoughts on running as is till I find another matching head.
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Sure, it'll run mismatched...and probably well enough you won't really notice it. As mentioned, really machining and matching the domes to the pistons to achieve approx .040" clearance between piston tops and head domes is quite beneficial and you WILL notice it then. But to make it run and drive...sure-bolt 'em on and no worry.
 
Just ordered me a book, i love the bits of information shared here, your never to young or old to learn from each other!!
 
'Low' meaning they already have small combustion chambers and therefore would produce high compression? Is there a number that is used to indicate the proper volume?
 
Y’all are great thank you for all the replies. I will repost when I fire it back up after paint and head and intake swaps.
 
If you think about it, you can't see the different markings on both heads at the same time when it's in the car.:D
 
Wanted to update this group, i got the motor running with the mismatched heads and all seems ok. Been alot of fun having my car on the road after around 4 years of building. Ill send a video once I get up to 10 posts on here. I am much more active on HAMB than here so i am not able to post links to videos just yet, but i will soon. 3 more posts to go. haha.
 
0 people have noticed unless i pointed it out. I mean i didnt even notice when i bought them untill they arrived.
 
glorydime said:
very true
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By the time I walked around to the other side I woulda forgot what was on the first side. Therefore I agree with the folks that say to run the mismatched heads. Heck, most of us don't hear as well as we used to so even if it sounded a tiny bit of we wouldn't notice. Just have some fun with it and keep us informed of your progress.
 
https://vimeo.com/938788319

First clip is from my local car meet, if you watch closely you can see the headlights come on and then go out. I didnt realize i had 6v sealed beams in the headlights. whoops, this video above in this post is from when i first got the car running with the Canadian heads.
 
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