Engine and Transmission Tech

Is there a US source for the Merlin heads, or do I just need to contact Real Steel and pay to have them shipped? Thanks.

Joe, IMHO, for me, they were something to do, while waiting for TA heads. Getting useful information out of Real Steel, is like interveiwing Smokey Yunick,(as he is today). I requested to become a stocking dealer for RS. heads and I never got a response. I'm not saying TA is the way, just much closer. Good Luck, roverman.

Hi guys,
Joe, from what I've researched the Real Steel heads in std form are about on par with ported Rover heads. You could probably get Rover heads ported with bigger valves cheaper than buying the Merlins and getting them shipped (the shipping costs will hurt). I know starting with a new casting is more desirable though.

In regards to the TA heads, TRS out here in Australia have had them on the flowbench and have posted the results on their website. Also on their site they have the intake port volumes which stand at 193cc which are quite large.
I guess it just depends on what you want from your engine and how big the engine is (and your wallet).

Regards

Jason

The TA heads are probably going to flow the most right out of the box. I understand they actually improved on the port design they were using in their V6 (Grand National style) heads which were already extremely good.

JB

FWIW, Stock Merlins int."flat lined" @ 179.9 cfm(28"), @ .400" lift, exh. 132.4cfm. @ .60". Huffaker ported TR8 head, int. 185.8@.60", exh.121.7@ .60". If you spend for pro porting, new valves/springs/retainers, you can make good #'s with the Merlin.Maybe you won't mind the underwhelming tech assistance or that your "F85" billboard rocker covers use RTV, as a gasket. All of this has been covered in earlier post. Dan Jones has an impressive data base. Cheers, roverman.

Hi Art,
Do they get rid of that corner part of the intake ports of the Merlins when they port them? It looks like an obstruction (I'm no porter by any stretch) but I think Real Steel recommended to someone else that they keep it in.
Regards
Jason

Thanks for the responses. This all gets back to my goal of putting a 4.6 Rover in my 1962 F-85 wagon. I want it to look like the original Olds version of the 215. Only the Merlin heads have the flat valve cover mounting surface (parallel to the engine deck) that lets me use the stock Olds valve covers. I could machine a tapered adapter and use the 300 heads, but I prefer not to do that (and the custom machining likely wouldn't be any less expensive, frankly). The TA heads have the same problem. This is a wagon, so I don't really care about 10/10ths performance. My alternative is doing the best porting I can on the stock Olds heads.

As for RTV valve cover gaskets, most new cars use that anyway. Not a problem in my book. The trick is to run a bead and let it partially cure before installation.

Jason, I "think" the corner fill in the RS. port is for distribution? How will that work without a matching intake runner ?? Joe, no way the Olds rocker cover will fit the RS head without an elaborate adapter. Have you considered a "Jetfire" motor in there ? Good Luck, roverman.

Roverman,

A friend of mine has spent the last 4-5 years piecing together a Jetfire setup for his 62 Cutlass convertible. After watching that (and all the trouble he's been through to get it to run "relatively" correctly), I'll stick with displacement over boost.

Joe for straight-forward avoidence of trouble, you might be best with flow enhancement of the Olds heads. Six bolts per bore-not four, correct rocker covers the valves are centered in the bores and you have them. Good Luck, roverman.

"Joe for straight-forward avoidence of trouble, you might be best with flow enhancement of the Olds heads. Six bolts per bore-not four, correct rocker covers the valves are centered in the bores and you have them. Good Luck, roverman."

Keep in mind that these heads are going on a 4.6 short block, so the six vs. four head bolts is irrelevant. Again, my biggest concern is an optical one - I want the heads to LOOK like Olds heads, not Buick/Rover heads. If I do stay with ported Olds heads, I'll be converting to stud-mount rockers and hollow pushrods anyway to avoid the whole rocker oiling issue.

An Australian P76 head already has rocker mounted studs and four holes per cylinder. They are the last two in line.



Greg

Greg, and the going rate for bare P76 heads/block ? Joe and clan, since Olds always used steel rockers, I haven't heard of oiling issues. Volvo rockers/shafts, are a strong/adjustable upgrade,( used sucessfully on my GT 1/TR 8).Are you going to use fake bolts, on the exhust side ? Good Luck, roverman.

"Joe and clan, since Olds always used steel rockers, I haven't heard of oiling issues. Volvo rockers/shafts, are a strong/adjustable upgrade,( used sucessfully on my GT 1/TR 8).Are you going to use fake bolts, on the exhust side ? Good Luck, roverman."

The oiling "issue" is that on Olds heads, the oil passage to the rocker shafts is concentric around the "sixth" head bolt. This is obviously a problem when putting Olds heads on a Buick or Rover block. By using hollow pushrods and stud rockers, this oil passage is no longer needed so I can simply plug the hole and not worry about machining special thread inserts that let me mount the rocker shafts AND provide for an oil passage. Of course, the ability to use commonly available stud mount rocker arms is an added benefit. See the article in Hot Rod a few months ago about modifying a Buford 300. Same basic concept. And yes, I plan to simply use fake bolts on the exhaust side for optical purposes.

Joe, It "might" be easier to cut down the 300 Buick rocker cover rails , parrallel to the deck. Much less expensive than Merlins and close in flow potential. Good Luck, roverman.

"Joe, It "might" be easier to cut down the 300 Buick rocker cover rails , parrallel to the deck. Much less expensive than Merlins and close in flow potential. Good Luck, roverman."

Already thought about that. The problem isn't cutting the exhaust side, it's building up the intake side. Note the photo posted above. That's the intake side of the heads.