Weslake or Arden 8 port

[ivor badger]

When an expensive 8 porter finishes behind a 5 porter on SUs, it's time to throw away the 8 porter.

Or the driver

you don't know any of the drivers involved do you? reckon you would be pleased to be able to drive a mini like any of them.

[Fanfaniracing]

Would the Swift CSI Distributor be a good solution for a good timing on the Arden-headed Engine?
And can Anyone give me a good adwice to to setup the Amal Carbs?

Thanks for any input!

Fabian

[Pete]

"faniracing".... ?

Now I'm not quite sure how that works but I would definately pay good money to see it !

Sorry, it's not big or clever..I just couldn't help myself.

[graham in aus]

"faniracing".... ?

Now I'm not quite sure how that works but I would definately pay good money to see it !

Another 'tea down the nose' moment of genuine 'Laughing Out Loud' from the Mk1 Forum.

I love this place! Cheers Pete!

[Astro]

Hi,

in the meantime my Arden is working quite well. But I am still waiting for the new Weslake head. Are there any news about?

Astro.

[Astro]

Hi,

isn't it a nice sound?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7urt4qlWjq0

[Astro]

or here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jG9Jvh68zAI

1°C and a bit windy, more than 60 km/h

[Spider]

Interesting and lively discussion

I think the thrust behind it is what is the best head for the period under the rules? I can't say regarding that, however what I have found is the the 'power' restiction is not from the ports or the number of them. It is from the valves and the total area of them. The Arden and 5 porters use similar sized valves and so the power and torque produced from engines so equiped will be similar, or put another way, not a real lot between them. It seems that the 8 porter's biggest advantage is getting the intake tract away from the heat of the exhaust.

but for me I prefer to trust cast iron.. Least it doesn't need a skim every time you pop the head gasket.

i would go the other way, at least with an alloy head you can easily and cheaply weld it up if there is problems, something that cannot be done with an iron head (look at astros weslake, a single porosity problem and its scrap)

Hi guru_71, with respect here mate, I have cast iron heads welded often, no big deal and no problem. I'll throw up some pics a little latter

[guru_1071]

Hi guru_71, with respect here mate, I have cast iron heads welded often, no big deal and no problem. I'll throw up some pics a little latter

spider

whilst i agree that small cracks, can be, in some instances be succesfully welded on cast heads, its problems like dropped valves etc and the damage to the chambers etc that can be succesfully welded up on alloy heads - the same sort of damage would scrap any cast iron head



id say that this sort of damage on an iron head would be 'goodnight vienna', on this alloy example it was welded up and is still racing.

[Spider]

id say that this sort of damage on an iron head would be 'goodnight vienna',

Fortunately no!!

This one had the head of the valve part company from the stem



and the piston looked like



following welding and machining



Tada- fixed

[5portsrock]

Hi Spider, where did you get that fixed ??

[Spider]

Hi Spider, where did you get that fixed ??

In our workshop, but I have in the past prior to doing them ourselves, had them done by a number of shops. In the early days, I had a specialist welding company do weld them and then I'd take them to the machine shop for finishing. Did out gearbox cases the same way.

[guru_1071]

spider

i doff my cap to you!

ive never seen a mini five port get welded up like that

my main area of knowledge with iron casting recovery welding is on pre war stuff, and it can cost a fortune (and often doesnt work very well)

[Gray]

The new laser additive technology seen here could be a way to go in the future when it becomes more widely available. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQYLTkslPTM

[Spider]

spider

i doff my cap to you!

ive never seen a mini five port get welded up like that

guru_1071, thanks for the kind comment

[251 ENG]

What process was used to weld the head ?

[In the shed]

Welding?


(There is an old BOC handbook on welding cast iron I have in my shed, I'll dig it out). I assume it is Gas Welding with a specific technique, rather than narrow pulse TIG.

[Spider]

Depending on where the repair is required, I use either or a combination of stick, TIG or Gas (as a last choice!), but if you are going to try this yourself, don't expect to learn it in an afternoon! I am told that there are various techniques for doing it with special MIG wires and Gases (?) but I haven't done any special types of MIG welding, so might be another avenue to explore.

Oh, one other feature I like about Iron over Alloy heads is they make slightly more power.

[Astro]

Oh, one other feature I like about Iron over Alloy heads is they make slightly more power.

Why?

[Spider]

Oh, one other feature I like about Iron over Alloy heads is they make slightly more power.

Why?

In short, they hold the heat in the combustion chamber better

edit> Doh - Typo fixed