Iron OHV prototype

[Tod]

Since the first aluminum OHV head tested beyond expectations, an iron version is being pecked away at as time permits so it can be tested soon.


I need to get cracking on these, as I have a dozen people wanting one, including some overseas customers.



Tod

 

[Phil Brown]

Make that a bakers dozen

 

[AZ_Nick]

Looks great from here! Keep us posted please.

 

[McMimmcs]

what is the advantage of the Iron over the aluminum?

 

[mercman from oz]

Iron OHV prototype - Tod

 

[Y-Blockhead]

Very nice Tod. What type of valve train (rocker arms, springs, retainers, etc) would you use with your head?

Almost looks like a Y-Block rocker rail would fit...

 

[redmodelt]

"what is the advantage of the Iron over the aluminum?" Thermal expansion rates would be about the same with both being cast iron, might be one.

 

[steve hackel]

The quality of the finish on that casting is truly amazing. When designing this head, were you able to address some of the porting issues that the originals had, the thickness of the deck for head gaskets, and depending on your rocker shaft location for the
towers, what rocker arm ratios do you think might work with this set up? Thanks

 

[Tod]

Very nice Tod. What type of valve train (rocker arms, springs, retainers, etc) would you use with your head?

Almost looks like a Y-Block rocker rail would fit...

Valve train is all LS Gen 3 beehive Springs keepers retainers and valves. This head will have 1.6:1 rockers. The rocker arm assemblies are roller rockers with a shaft and stand set up and made by rocker arm unlimited in Redding

The push rods are made by Smith brothers in Oregon.

The idea is to supply finished head kits with all the parts necessary.



Tod

 

[GeneBob]

This sounds fantastic! I sure wish I could play with this setup. Best of luck to you and all who can take advantage of it.

 

[Bud]

Tod, do you sell heads and your other items to individuals or only wholesale to vendors?

 

[Tod]

Tod, do you sell heads and your other items to individuals or only wholesale to vendors?

Some builders, like Steve Becker tend to buy heads 6-8 at a time, but mainly it is individuals. I have a builder that ordered 5 iron OHV heads and several blocks, 3 main and 5 main, as well as crankshafts for the 5 main blocks. The 3 main cranks with B journals is not ready yet or I would be selling some of those also. More runs of heads are under way right now, Winfield and Stock Top Crow Foot 7:1 heads.



Tod

 

[40 Deluxe]

what is the advantage of the Iron over the aluminum?

One advantage of iron is better thermal efficiency; that is, iron retains heat better than aluminum. An aluminum head rapidly transfers the heat of combustion through the water jacket into the cooling system. This loss of heat means reduced engine efficiency (both power and economy). This loss is usually compensated for by using a higher compression ratio. Plus add enough extra compression and power will go up. Aftermarket aluminum heads may also have improved combustion chambers (and ports, if OHV).
Iron also resists corrosion far better than aluminum. Back in the '30's, Ford built a lot of flatheads with aluminum heads, but most guys ran plain water in warm weather so the heads soon rotted and were replaced with iron. It's interesting the aluminum heads were rated higher compression than the iron heads yet HP was the same at 85 (in most cases).

 

[PC/SR]

What 40 Deluxe said about aluminum and cast iron heads and heat transfer. The legendary Ed Winfield reputedly said to the effect to use aluminum if you want to boil water (in your cooling system) use cast iron if you want power.

 

[updraught]

I thought Winfield said that aluminum was only good for cooking.

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showpost.php?p=543773&postcount=9

 

[Dodge]

Hey Tod,
Whats the chance that when your fooling around with these heads you try out a more
modern type quench combustion chamber It should really help wake one of these
things up.

 

[Tod]

Hey Tod,
Whats the chance that when your fooling around with these heads you try out a more
modern type quench combustion chamber It should really help wake one of these
things up.

If I make any changes it won't be any time soon. I am very busy as it is and design and process changes would be costly and and perhaps not worth R.O.I.


The aluminum version turned out better than I had hoped, so I'm not inclined to any nominal alterations at the moment. I have quite a few of these to make already as they are.


Tod

 

[johnneilson]

One of the problems with making this a higher performance head is the geometry.
You can modify the chamber to add squish but then realize the valves need attention.

At some point, the bottom end needs serious attention, more money than most want to spend.

And then, the car itself become the limiting factor.

It looks good from what we can see, best of luck, John

 

[ronn]

Wayne, 40 deluxe answers your question well. I had a 1937 cord and the water ate a hole right through the passenger side head, from sitting.
The one advantage of the aluminum head is it is lighter in weight. also todays metallurgy
is far more immune from aluminum rot. If not, we would have most newer cars rotting out and overheating.

 

[Tod]

Coming along.


Tod