Model B Head

James Rogers

Well-known member
I have a customer that is looking for a B high compression head. He cannot use a Model A head since the engine is going in a stock truck. Anyone here know where I can get one?
 
I am pretty sure Dan Price had one or two flatheads on his table at Hershey that were for a 3-bolt water pump. You may want to give him a call.
 
I have a customer that is looking for a B high compression head. He cannot use a Model A head since the engine is going in a stock truck. Anyone here know where I can get one?

James,

Do you mean it is going into a stock 1932-34 truck and you want a correct head for that application or do you mean he wants a Model A Police head with the B?

Charlie Stephens
 
James,

Do you mean it is going into a stock 1932-34 truck and you want a correct head for that application or do you mean he wants a Model A Police head with the B?

Charlie Stephens
The engine is a Model B and is going into a 32 truck so it needs to be a Model B head. We have 2 of the stock heads with the C cast on top but want something with a 5.5 or more compression ratio and have to stay with the Model B style.
 
James,

All of the factory production 1932-34 heads had a letter C cast into them. This probably occurred because the letter B was cast into the Model A Police head. There was only one compression ratio for the 1932 head. You can cheat a little by milling the head but I don't like to do that. I have never seen an aftermarket high compression head that used the 3 bolt water pump. I assume that the people that wanted a high compression head in 1932 just used a Model A configuration aftermarket high compression head with a 4 bolt water pump since it would bolt right in. There probably weren't enough 4 cylinders made in 1933-34 to make tooling a head with a 3 bolt water pump worthwhile. If your customer doesn't already have a copy suggest that they get a copy of "The 1932 Ford Book" from the Early Ford V8 Club (earlyfordv8.org).

Charlie Stephens
 
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James,

All of the factory production 1932-34 heads had a letter C cast into them. This probably occurred because the letter B was cast into the Model A Police head. There was only one compression ratio for the 1932 head. You can cheat a little by milling the head but I don't like to do that. I have never seen an aftermarket high compression head that used the 3 bolt water pump. I assume that the people that wanted a high compression head in 1932 just used a Model A configuration aftermarket high compression head with a 4 bolt water pump since it would bolt right in. There probably weren't enough 4 cylinders made in 1933-34 to make tooling a head with a 3 bolt water pump worthwhile. If your customer doesn't already have a copy suggest that they get a copy of "The 1932 Ford Book" from the Early Ford V8 Club (earlyfordv8.org).

Charlie Stephens

You must not be paying attention... There was a Simmons high compression head made for the three bolt water pump pictured here a week or so ago.
 
Most, in fact I thought all, aftermarket heads back in the day were made for the A and its 4-bolt pump because there were more A's on the road than B's. I wouldn't hesitate to mill one down just enough to eliminate the machined area over the piston, but no more.
 
Most, in fact I thought all, aftermarket heads back in the day were made for the A and its 4-bolt pump because there were more A's on the road than B's. I wouldn't hesitate to mill one down just enough to eliminate the machined area over the piston, but no more.
Jim,
When recommending this you should also caution people to check clearance if the top surface of their block has been milled and the pistons pop up over the surface (a fairly common occurence).

Charlie Stephens
 
Purdy,

I would love to see it. Can you provide a link? I tried a search and came up with nothing.

Charlie Stephens

OK Charley, check this out. Go to page 10 and scroll down to the thread, rare model A head.. It is on Mike V post number 5 posted 10,5,12. Click on the bottom link , the picture is there. I couldn't post the picture from the link, you will have to go there to see it. Believe it or not!!!
 
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I have an F 3 head with the three bolt water pump on one of my engines. I had it shaved a small amount, mostly just to clean it up for a good gasket seal. This head has been claimed by some to only be 4.6 CR, it is obviously a much thicker casting than the C head. It performs nearly as well as as some of my brumfield heads. I feel that the F 3 head, because of its thicker casting could be shaved more than the C head for higher compression.,maybe not, just a thought. I see F 3 heads advertised from time to time on the swap site. Finding a Simmons three bolt head would probably be like finding a needle in a hay stack.
 
OK Charley, check this out. Go to page 10 and scroll down to the thread, rare model A head.. It is on Mike V post number 5 posted 10,5,12. Click on the bottom link , the picture is there. I couldn't post the picture from the link, you will have to go there to see it. Believe it or not!!!

I see only two bolt holes in the water outlet on that head??? Doesn't look like it's designed to have a pump mounted on the head.

Joe
 
I'm the one that wasn't paying attention. I see now that there is no top hole for the pump. Guess i've really put my foot in my mouth this time. I should really be catching up on some yard work now that the weather is nice. Sorry
 
I'm the one that wasn't paying attention. I see now that there is no top hole for the pump. Guess i've really put my foot in my mouth this time. I should really be catching up on some yard work now that the weather is nice. Sorry

Purdy,

Thanks for the followup. I saw the T engine when I did my search and thought that might be what you were looking at. I had to look twice at it. I am not saying they are not out there, just that I have never seen one.

Charlie Stephens
 
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