New weslake heads

[trevorhp]

Used in ETCC Gp 5 in 1968
Then homologated for Gp 2 in 1970
Courtesy of Mark
http://mk1-performance-conversions.co.u ... _8port.jpg

Obvious but hope this helps in some small way

[Pete]

Vita cast their own of course! Not sure of the subtle differences to a Weslake.

[mk1]

Vita cast their own of course!

I didn't know that Pete, I always assumed the Vita heads were Weslake cartings that were modified by Vita.

[ivor badger 2]

Vita cast their own of course!

I didn't know that Pete, I always assumed the Vita heads were Weslake cartings that were modified by Vita.

Having seen a discussion on casting during the period, this would make perfect sense.

[trevorhp]

Vita cast their own of course!

I didn't know that Pete, I always assumed the Vita heads were Weslake castings that were modified by Vita.

The one I have that came with KDK320F is a modified Weslake BMC casting 707 1172 differing in many ways to the other 707 1172 casting I have.

However I do have 2 sets of Vita's own TJ throttle body castings quite distinct from any others I have seen.

Interested to know about their own head casting though.

[mk1coopers]

It's all the rest of the kit to get the fuel in that's the issue, it would be good to have a modern set up that fits under a standard (round nose) bonnet available that looked period

[georgesheep]

rsz_img_0466 (1).jpg

Hi
I know that this is not a Weslake, but I only have an old Arden. This is a project that I am working on at the moment. Lucas injection with a slide throttle inlet manifold that I have cast from an old Landrover TD5 cylinder head. Do you think it looks period?, I hope to have it running soon.

Regards Paul

[rich@minispares.com]

the carbs on the back are a nice touch!

[Alex]

the carbs on the back are a nice touch!

Does that make it a super-cross-flow ?

[251 ENG]

I would guess it was more likely that vita were supplied with unmachined or part machined head casting and finished them off themselves.
The vita one I had was fitted with offset guides and massive valves .

[ivor badger 2]

the carbs on the back are a nice touch!

Does that make it super-cross ?

.

I don't know, but it looks quite annoyed

[Pete]

I would guess it was more likely that vita were supplied with unmachined or part machined head casting and finished them off themselves.
The vita one I had was fitted with offset guides and massive valves .

I would think the same if it wasn't for Harry telling me they cast some of their own, Norman Grimshaw confirmed the same story. Impossible for me to substantiate any more than that though.

[mk1]

Georgesheep, That looks like a superb set up. I hope to be able to see its development. It certainly does look VERY 60's.

As far as the Vita heads are concerned, if Harry & Norman claimed that they cast some of their own, that's good enough for me. Now that HAS to be the holly grail of 8 ports!

[phil82]

now is there any chance to distinguish Vita and Weslake heads?

Was Broadspeed ever involved in selling / modifing theses heads? The guy who sold me the heads I have claimed to be Broadspeed heads (he didn't know the name Weslake)...

[mk1]

Although I can't be certain, I think it is unlikely that Broadspeed had ready access to these heads as they swapped allegiance from BMC to Ford in 66 before these heads were available. In the early days they were not available to the general public, if at all as new heads.

[Pete]

Broadspeed were still doing lots of work on A series engines in the late 60s though Mark, so it's very likely they worked on/modified a few crossflow heads.

[mk1]

I suppose it could be possible. I just find it hard to believe that BMC would hand their new "trick" race head to their most bitter opposition. I would certainly be interested to hear any decent accounts.

[phil82]

I just read that Broadspeed prepared the Wooding race Minis. They used Weslake heads at zehn of the 60s. Will dig that out tonight.

[Pete]

I just find it hard to believe that BMC would hand their new "trick" race head to their most bitter opposition.

I doubt they'd have done it knowingly or with any enthusiasm but by '68/69 they were knocking quite a few out and a big chunk of Broadspeed's customer work was still A series by all accounts.

[graham.codling]

I have two of these cylinder heads one running the other dropped a valve sometime in its life (repairable) .the damaged one is standard the running one has been modified .i was told by downton but I can't verify .the difference in port size isn't a lot different between the 2 it's more visual on the exhaust side .anyway my question is how many are still running I've been to a few shows and seen only2 so far . They still must be quite rare .rather have them running on road or track than looking at an expensive doorstop .