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mgb260
Jim Nichols
Sequim,WA
(2482 posts)

Registered:
02/29/2008 08:29PM

Main British Car:
1973 MGB roadster 260 Ford V8

Merlin F85 heads
Posted by: mgb260
Date: January 08, 2023 02:39PM

Anybody have more info on how these compare to Rover TA and Wildcat heads. Price? Flows? Valve size and chamber cc?

[www.v8wizard.com]


MGBV8
Carl Floyd
Kingsport, TN
(4559 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 11:32PM

Main British Car:
1979 MGB Buick 215

authors avatar
Re: Merlin F85 heads
Posted by: MGBV8
Date: January 08, 2023 04:00PM

That looks like a tiny combustion chamber.


mgb260
Jim Nichols
Sequim,WA
(2482 posts)

Registered:
02/29/2008 08:29PM

Main British Car:
1973 MGB roadster 260 Ford V8

Re: Merlin F85 heads
Posted by: mgb260
Date: January 08, 2023 08:19PM

That is what I'm thinking. I found out a little more about them. Developed over 30 years for max mid range TQ. I've seen a few Dyno sheets and the torque curve was pretty flat from 2000-5000 RPM. 1.73 IN and 1.45 EX valves. I think out of the box probably similar to well ported Rover heads with bigger valves. Probably between stock and the Wildcat and TA heads. Don't like the proprietary Valve covers, would need to adapt to Rover and still don't know price.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/09/2023 10:38AM by mgb260.


mgb260
Jim Nichols
Sequim,WA
(2482 posts)

Registered:
02/29/2008 08:29PM

Main British Car:
1973 MGB roadster 260 Ford V8

Re: Merlin F85 heads
Posted by: mgb260
Date: January 08, 2023 10:10PM

Dyno sheet:
L9 ELS Dyno Graph Joolz_zpshik5dv3m.jpg


BCMGB
Ian Pattullo

(1 posts)

Registered:
05/19/2021 10:26PM

Main British Car:


Re: Merlin F85 heads
Posted by: BCMGB
Date: January 08, 2023 10:29PM

[shop.v8engines.com]

$5500.00. Yikes!


mgb260
Jim Nichols
Sequim,WA
(2482 posts)

Registered:
02/29/2008 08:29PM

Main British Car:
1973 MGB roadster 260 Ford V8

Re: Merlin F85 heads
Posted by: mgb260
Date: January 08, 2023 11:26PM

Ian, That's what I was afraid of, sticker shock. Their flat tappet cam prices are as expensive as roller cams too. That Dyno was their 5.0 motor with their cam. Great torque numbers.


minorv8
Jukka Harkola

(271 posts)

Registered:
04/08/2009 06:50AM

Main British Car:
Morris Minor Rover V8

Re: Merlin F85 heads
Posted by: minorv8
Date: January 09, 2023 08:34AM

I bought a pair of bare Merlin heads years ago when they were sold by Real Steel in UK. I ran a pair of home ported 4,6 heads and expected huge gains given how they were advertized by Real Steel. Anyway, I think I only gained less than 15 hp and was quite disappointed. But at that time the price was tempting. And definitely an upgrade compared to stock heads. Mine flowed something like 180 cfm and the flow stalled after 0,5" lift or thereabout. The best figure I got from 4.6 engine with Merlins was 314 hp at flywheel. This with a same hydraulic cam as in the photo I attached. I still have that engine as a spare.

I think Art has/had a pair of Merlins as well and had them professionally ported. These flowed in excess of 200 cfm.

Real Steel then sold the right to RPi and the price went sky high. What is good about the merlins is that they are more or less bolt on. They did require specific head bolts. Rover intake and exhaust manifolds fit although there may be some port matching required. TA and Wildcats require more work in that respect.

Here is a pic of an ancient Real Steel catalogue ad and some info.

Merlins.jpg



roverman
Art Gertz
Winchester, CA.
(3188 posts)

Registered:
04/24/2009 11:02AM

Main British Car:
74' Jensen Healy, 79 Huff. GT 1, 74 MGB Lotus 907,2L

Re: Merlin the Magitan, F85 heads
Posted by: roverman
Date: January 10, 2023 05:39PM

I "think" McKensie quoted 218 cfm. @ .6"/int. Have yet to dyno them but when I semi-retire....


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