Race Head

[Mr2Mike]

Just after some opinions on this:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/A-Series-Race-H

I'm bidding on this for a work colleague who recently bought a nice 1275 pickup, and was wondering what sort of price decent A-series heads go for these days? I've just been outbid, and as I've not had a mini for a long time (far too long actualy...) I'm a bit out of touch with s/h bits prices. Hate buying stuff for other people like this, but he is a good mate.

[edit] Forgt to ask, whats the circular pattern on the gasket face for?

Thanks chaps.

Edited by Mr2Mike on Monday 21st August 22:22

[richspec]

Dunno on price? But I'd want to know who supplied it in the first place and whether its unleaded or not?
A Swiftune tune head will be more expensive than say a minisport head

Rich

[wildoliver]

Makes me cry to think of the 12g940 big valve head fully ported and poliched with unleaded seats I slung away a good few years ago, even more so the fact I want a mini back now!

[Mr2Mike]

Throwing away good mini tuning bits? That's a criminal offence I reckon

[guru_1071]

the circle pattern is engine turning - just a machined finish.

id seen this head on ebay and think its a bad gamble tbh.

the valves are very close together and the inlet in the photo looks as if it has sunk into its seat - you can see the seat around it. as a result the inlet is nearly touching the exhaust - a recipe for cracks to start. i think the exhaust may be a 31 rather than a 29 as well, which would explain why they are so close together

its had some fair porting though, but its a gamble as to what it would cost so sort any problems, if you have to pay for a set of valves, springs, guides, seat recutting etc it will soon add up to more than a new head.

the fact that there is no id numbers stamped on it suggests that it may be a home made jobbie as well

id also bet thats its not unleaded

lifes a gamble though!

[chuggaboom2]

My 1st head,b4 i started doin my own, was a stg 1 done by Janspeed and it had a similar circular pattern...theory is its easier for the gasket to seal aginst rather than to a ground finish.

AFAIK sleeved out p/r holes went out of fashion as flow benches proved little gains for the work and hence cost involved. Also better torque figures were obtained with not so big ports.

Guide re-pitching does help as obviously larger valves can be installed, but its really for race applications only as reliability is reduced coz of possible cracking as mentioned.

But if its sound it won't NOT perform well on a road car.

[love machine]

I like the look of it but then again, I have bought a load of shit on ebay. I reckon it's a bit OTT for a road car, if he's going for a 300deg cam, some BIG CARBS, it will work. Looking at the chamber sizes, they are small for a 1380/1430. Does he plan to run a decompression spacer or avgas?

You can't get unleaded inserts with 37mm inlets, I'm sure. I saw a similar head for sale and the valves had sunk, the thing was pretty much scrap. Ebay though, you can get money for old crap. I'm putting my 1.5" SU's on soon (go well with that head)

[Mr2Mike]

Thanks gents. Going to hold off for now and see how bidding progresses, it usualy goes a bit silly near the end IME.

I emailed the seller, and whilst it's not unleaded, he assures me there are definately no visible cracks between the valves. I know the early Cooper S heads suffered from this, and they had the valves nearly touching. LM, you are probably right about this being a bit OTT, but would give some scope for future mods!

[love machine]

Mr2Mike said:

Thanks gents. Going to hold off for now and see how bidding progresses, it usualy goes a bit silly near the end IME.

I emailed the seller, and whilst it's not unleaded, he assures me there are definately no visible cracks between the valves. I know the early Cooper S heads suffered from this, and they had the valves nearly touching. LM, you are probably right about this being a bit OTT, but would give some scope for future mods!

Go for a 36/31 head with big chambers then your scope with a supercharger is good. the 37/29 configuration works best with smaller large bore capacities with stupidly long duration race cams. Any less than full tilt will result in low gas velocity and shitty running. I reckon the exhausts are a bit small on standard head as it is.....load of big maths/etc. I reckon the exhaust is the first place to improve.

No cracking? how about sinking? Don't let your ebay gremlin buy a load of crap will you?