[Staowners] CYLINDER HEADS

[george.simpson.forums at neuf.fr]

Pete -  I found nothing  above #2 - 3 inlet ports on both heads (do you mean above
the siamesed  central exhaust port?) but then there is the usual silver
blue paint so today I will scratch some off to look further.





I looked on the top of the head and found two characters stamped into
the machined edge on top where the rocker cover gasket seals with the
head. They were  W   and   8    ... could this mean 8 : 1 or the H.C.
head? So also tomorrow, I will take off the rocker cover of the head
presently on the Alpine and look at the machined edge where I found the
above characters and report back.





I tend to agree with you about the hardened seats - if one is not
thrashing the car at high revs for hours at a time (and hopefully none
of us would treat our 50+ year old cars like that!!!) then the risk is
very small - presently I add a lead additive for the low kilometres I
do in a year.





Bedtime .......





George





outstarcars8 at comcast.net
wrote:


  
George, The high compression head is identified by the letters
HC stamped into the side of the head above the #2-3 inlet ports. The
high compression heads were fitted as standard on all Alpines. I posed
the question of hardened seats againsy normal to three different
machinists independently. They all said that with the power output of
our engines there would be no benefit from hardened seats. I guess it's
a matter of personal choise.Personally I have experienced no problems
on any of my cars with regular seats. Oh by the way,if you fit a high
compressoin head be sure to fit the spacer caps on the valves to
maintain correct rocker height. Item 122 on the motor unit illustration
in the parts book.

  
 

  
                                                                           
Pete

  
 

  
--------------
Original message -------------- 

From: George Simpson - Forums <george.simpson.forums at neuf.fr>
    

    

> Many thanks to the Group for resolving my query on which engine I
have 

> presently have in the Alpine .... it turned out to be an early Mk
2. 

> Alan Orpet has practically finished testing my rebuilt carb on his
Mk 2A 

> which has the high compression head. He suggested that as I have
the old 

> Alpine Mk I engine complete, it would be useful to use that
cylinder 

> head for a bit more power and to match the characteristics of the
carb. 

> 

> The problem is, I don't know whether the P.O. already changed
heads when 

> he put in the Mk II engine. The cylinder head presently not on the
car 

> has two casting numbers besides the valve springs: 

> 

> C (or 0) 20794 and RMO 19721A 

> 

> I could take off the rocker cover and see what I presently have
but 

> before I do this, does anyone have a head lying around from which
they 

> can identify these numbers and link to a model? I have looked in
the 

> Parts Supply manual but the heads have no such numbers associated.
    

> 

> If it is the Alpine head that is presently off the car, this will
be an 

> excellent opportunity to put in hardened seats (available from
???) and 

> tidy up the ports before installing this higher compression head. 

> 

> Thanks for any help 

> 

> George 

> Cognac 

> 

> 





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