Weiand cheater heads alu

3W Hank

Well-known member
What was the time era on the Weiand aluminium cheater heads.
Is this late 30's or 40's or into 50's when this was a popular class and they sold them ?
As far as I heard they was made as a class did not allove the finned heads.
I plan a 59 engine and I like the Weiand hirise and the Zephyr ignition, Wittek clamps, dual 97's, and don't like to use finned heads on that one.

-What was the real purpose of use aluminium actually.
Was the Ford heads to big in CC, so did Weiand make less CC or more room for more cam and maybe over 0.4", as in my world steel must be a better material to make HP.
As far as I heard on the finned heads it was more the 'looks' and in the case of the L&S Racing heads I has, it was told to me they had more water in them.
( I can't say )
If anyone has historical knowledege about this, please infor me.
 
60's for sportsman class dirt track cars. I do not know why they were allowed and fins not. Around here it was common to see heads that had the fins broken and ground off. The advantage of the cheater heads was a gain of compression.
Local rules allowed 60 over bore, 4" stroke any cam except rollers, one two barrel, no v12 igns,
 
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When was this period, early 50’s ?
I never really see this heads as hotrod heads.
Ok so raised comp, but I wounder if a FH really need higher comp, as better lower vs better flow vs the ’design’.
But who does a FH now on try gain HP...it’s all abot looks/felling and finned are classics but I plan has my flat style painted black.
The modest style speaks to me.
Keep more info coming.
 
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The Weiand I traced up has also 375 or 400 beside logo.
Camlift ?
Has some one ideas whst heads the LA guys had on them 46/50 if not finned style ?
 
Was a big advantge going from std Ford PU alu heads or the Weiands in better cooling etc from std Ford steel heads ?
( The 375/400 is that distance vs camlift.
 
Typically the numbers 375,400,425 etc represented compression ratios based off bore and crankshaft stroke. Not valve clearance.
Ronnieroadster
 
How do these numbers (375, 400, 425) translate into compression ratios? How does the bore and stroke fit in? Is there a formula one can plug these number into?

I always thought it was the camshaft lifts they would accommodate. In that context those numbers make sense, given the lifts of various flathead cams range from a stock 8BA lift of .307" to a Schneider 270F at .425".
 
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Maybe not in the 60’s but AI say this ;

Popularity: By the mid-1950s, Weiand was well-established, eventually purchasing its own foundry in 1958.
The term "cheater" often refers to aftermarket speed parts, such as these heads and corresponding intake manifolds, that allowed stock-appearing cars to have significantly higher performance, which were highly popular during the hot rod boom of the 1950s.
Wikipedia
Wikipedia
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