Riley Head

Never seen 1 before only heard about them interesting
I think the price is up their but it is rare item
 
Wow. Another head to make. I'm going to model that chamber up today. I think 400 dollars for new ones is better than a grand for that one.

Tod
 
While I agree the price might seem expensive to some, however isn't this kinda like the difference between owing a real Picasso painting vs. some cloned reproduction painting??
 
Tod said:
Wow. Another head to make. I'm going to model that chamber up today. I think 400 dollars for new ones is better than a grand for that one.

Tod
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If it were mine I guess I'd hang it on the wall as art and try out your version….
 
Pete said:
Poor chamber design.
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Yes, I agree with you Pete but I did not want to say something here earlier to influence anyone, but now that you said it, ...the cats' out of the bag! :p

I think if that Riley head was dyno-ed, folks would find the Bill Stipe influenced, Tod produced head that Snyder has probably makes 20%-25% more power over the Riley flathead. A lot has been learned over the years. If I were not thinning out my cylinder head collection, I probably would have purchased this head just for display. A neat piece of history!!
 
Pete said:
Poor chamber design.
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Hey Pete,
Amen to that sentiment :) ! Even I can now recognize a ho hum chamber ! I'd bet you the cost of this 'wall hanger', that Tod ...not only can make a head that looks like this on outside...but that will be light year ahead on construction..with a good cr and chamber (maybe crowfoot or other proven) !
For guys who can afford to 'hang a grand + on the wall' , go for it, I say :) !
As far as 'clones' go, don't you think that when you take a junk car , to whatever degree, and 'make' a 'clone' of what that car was from factory..do you fool yourself that it is NOT a clone :eek:

IMO, guys make a dam good profit off of others , making clones and call the 'product' anything that makes you feel warm, eh.

BTW..Tod, any updates on block/Winfield ?
 
That is in great shape inside and out for a head that old. Wish I knew the secret to keeping cast looking that good for that many years.
 
Mike V. Florida said:
That is in great shape inside and out for a head that old. Wish I knew the secret to keeping cast looking that good for that many years.
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Hey Mike,
One 'secret' may be to not run the head and use as wall hanger, eh!
I think that this head was/is a 'flawed second'. Look at the ebay ad and notice the HOLES right at the critical gasket sealing areas between #1 and #2. I wouldn't run it as is .
 
hardtimes said:
................... Look at the ebay ad and notice the HOLES right at the critical gasket sealing areas between #1 and #2 ...................
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here are the photos showing the area hardtimes comment pertains to!!

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picture.php
 
Tod said:
If the chambers are bad, then I won't bother.

Tod
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Tod, I think you could do many things to improve this Riley head, just like mentioned above using your Winfield chamber, --or even the Stipe chamber. I guess it then boils down to how many do you need to sell to see any return on your time investment. I think you are on the right track with your Winfield project, ...and then sell them.
 
I haven't tried all of the chamber designs but it was fairly easy to narrow it down.
On a 215 ci B engine, this made the most hp.
Along with that it gave 21 mpg on the street.
This design was later modified and the hp went up by 3.
This was the easiest chamber to make with a production head.
The ultimate design at this time may be the KR Harley but it is difficult to
re-produce and requires special pistons.
 

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Nice combustion chamber Pete
Interesting spark plug location is that the edge of the exhaust or inlet valve
 
Hey Tod

If you make a Riley cast iron head with Pete's chamber design (improved or not) I'd buy one.

Hell, swap "Riley" for "Pete" cast on the outside, I'd still buy one:D
 
Juggler said:
Hey Tod

If you make a Riley cast iron head with Pete's chamber design (improved or not) I'd buy one.

Hell, swap "Riley" for "Pete" cast on the outside, I'd still buy one:D
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I think I'll just stay with the Winfield for now. I have 4 heads in the works with 5 different chambers as it is.

Plus, I had an idea for a completely different design. I may mess with that today since the Riley model is already finished.

Tod
 
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