Heads

Ol' Ron

Ol' Ron

Well-known member
Two weeks ago someone bought a set of Flatattack heads on ebay. I was going to bid on them but didn't get the bid in on time. $540 for probably the best set of heads ever comercially produced was quite a gift. I used a set of these heads on a Hydroplane engine. They have a very good combustion chamber designed by Mike Davidson. Probably their only disadvantage is lack of CR, this can be solved by milling and redoming the heads.
Good luck to who ever got them.
Ol' Ron
 
Ron, I noticed that there were a set of Champion heads, a set of Kogel heads and a set of Kong heads also listed. What are the pros and cons of these heads? Ed
 
The Kong heads have the spark plug in the wrong place as well as a very large combustion chamber. Some of the first ones made were 2 piece. I've see the Kogel heads, but not the Champion ones, but don't know much about them. Real collector items and I don't collect.
 
The KONG heads were custom made for each customers requirements. Not commericially produced. They were primarily designed to be used on nitro fueled engines to run at Bonniville.
Mr. Jackson made a set for me. I used them on my 34 roadster. I had to give him the bore diameter, and what compression I desired. He would cut the combustion chamber to match. You can see them on page 69 in the "FORD FLATHEAD V8 BUILDERS HANDBOOK" book by Fisher Books (CALIFORNIA BILL).
He wasn't keen on his heads being used for street use. His intrests were toward performace and all out racing. We had become friends,so he made a set of heads and intake manifold for me.
It's difficult to say one head has better performance due to the variation in cams, valve relieve jobs deck heights, pistons, etc.
Kong Jackson was a great guy; as was all of the igintions and engine parts he made. With so many the the gentlemen from this era they are gone, but we can still enjoy the merrits of their knowledge and work.
 
Yes, I've talked with him on the Phone, really a nice guy. I don't know the story of the heads that went on an engine we built for a customer. I do know we couldn't use a big bore gasket because of a water leak and had to use a special gasket. Heads could have been made for a special application. Yes he was quit the innovator.
 
Besides the Flatattacks, I'm the caretaker of three sets of Kong's.
One set of the blank Kongs has had the chambers CNC'd to match the old ROOF design, using double sparkplugs. This motor will be Latham blown.
 

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Very nice looking chamber. I wonder why the other heads had the spark plug at the top of the chamber between the valves?? I was a one piece casting?
 
I see what you mean. I like them ypu could pretty much carve out any combustion chamber you want and still put the plug in the right place. If there is a right place.
Thanks.
 
I'm pretty sure the Champion heads were cast iron. The Kogel heads may also be cast iron. They won't polish up like aluminum but they can take a pretty good beating.
 
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