Lion Speed Head?

J

jeepguy1948

Well-known member
There is a guy near me advertising a Lion Speed Head Cast Iron 6.5 for sale for $750. Are these heads any good? Are they still being made? I have a new head from Jim Brierley which I am installing on my current B motor build but I’m the type that buys stuff when he finds it because “you never know”. The last few years it seems that none of that type of thing has been available. Should I buy it?
 
Out of production, You need to see what version it is. The early ones had some issues.
They got better as time went on. The latest ones have a fully machined combustion chamber which will take larger valves and fit the gasket better.
Search the forum here. Charlie Yapp the man that made them has done an article on all
the different configurations.
You'll get some here that love them and some that hate them.

Good luck.
 
also, what are you planning on doing with it? running easy or beating on it?


makes a huge difference and the quality of the motor you are putting it on.
 
And then there is my wife's comment.

"You're restoring another Model A (whatever) so that your heirs will have more to deal with?"

I tell her I take my pleasure where I can find it and life is short.

Joe K
 
He who dies with the most toys wins. Buy it.





I used to think that way.


Minimalism is under rated. I agree with your wife...........
 
I bought a NEW Lion Head III (version 1, Not Lion Head III version A) when they first came out.

My experience was similar to post #8.

Good low end torque but would fall flat at higher speed. Very much worse at WOT up a long mountain road.

Here is what we found, For what it is worth:

1. The head had many sharp edges on the casting in combustion chambers which would get red hot and Detonate (My theory) under WOT.

2. After cleaning up the sharp edges it was much better But still a problem.

3. I found that the sparkplugs I was using had a reach that was too long and several of the threads projected into combustion chamber.

Sharp edges would glow and the result as above was Detonation. (again my theory). Found this after I sold the head.

4. Phil offered me $200 more than I paid for it so I sold it.

His engine had oversized intake valves and they hit the sides of the combustion chamber as the valves came up. We found this before firing the engine.

Phil sold the head as he did not want to get the chambers in head machined.

By the way Lionhead III version A has modified chambers to clear the 1.7 inch valves.
 
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A friend? gave me this Lyon Head. It pinged no matter what we did 103 oct race fuel, polished the chambers. over size head gasket, pinged We dud notice that one of the combustion chambers was a little out of place, like maybe the molds had slipped during poring.
 
I have heard rumors of Lion heads detonating, that is how the one I have was acquired.

Using the proper sparkplug and limiting the advance does wonders.

I doubt seriously the sharp edges could get hot enough to detonate.

J
 
johnneilson said:
I have heard rumors of Lion heads detonating, that is how the one I have was acquired.

Using the proper sparkplug and limiting the advance does wonders.

I doubt seriously the sharp edges could get hot enough to detonate.

J
Click to expand...

John,

1. Thanks for info about sharp edges. That explains why changing them made only some difference, if any.

2. About the sparkplug threads, we found that problem after I sold the head and then when Phil had the over-sized valve problem we never tried the head again to see if threads exposed in combustion chamber was causing the problem. And we lost contact with the buyer that Phil sold the head to.

All I know is that when I put the Police Head ("The head with the large B") back on engine, the problem went away.

3. When I owned the head I also noticed that if I opened the GAV up that it was less of a problem and also noticed that spark advance was very "picky".
 
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