Engine and Transmission Tech

How-bout a "Swan Neck? Peeped on the JE(John Eales) site.Separate IR man's.(ram-tuning) for ea. bank/any deck height,cost,360 sterling. Looks like a copy of the factory "works" set-up. Set-up for DCOE's but how bout twin flow meters and port injectors, or better yet,slide plate? "May not clear a std. MGB bonnet-results may vary",roverman.

The TA heads made it into their catalog. Although the price is listed as "to be determined". The idea of changing the valve angle to put them closer to the centerline of the cylinder is pretty smart. 2.02 intake 1.6 exhaust is pretty awesome. Would work great with a larger bore.

I don't know, guys. I'm pretty keyed up to get these. I'm a bit surprised they built these heads before the 350 though. Interesting. They're showing pix of the rough cast with the flanges and deck finished. No CNC work on the ports yet. I'm pretty sure they were talking about doing that. I was also thinking they were going to sell them with valve gear installed. Having bosses for their valve covers would be great too. I'm pretty sure they were talking about doing that too. I do like the more parallel valve cover flange. The "flatter" stock flange really doesn't help much in regard to room for larger valve lifts.

Those V6 heads of theirs are pretty great. I'm hoping they are ready to by this summer.

I think there's a MUCH bigger market for the Rovers than there'll ever be for the 350 and making them work on the early SBB's is just an added benifit.. It was a smart business move.

If anything they should work on developing a "kit" to retrofit a 350 with these heads (cam, rockers, intake, headers/manifolds), rather than go through all of the R&D to make 350 heads that they may never even break-even with.

Marty at EELCO makes aluminum intakes for the Nailhead, was in developement of a SP 'nail intake (quit due to poor flow #'s), is IN developement of a DP 'nail single-quad intake.. perhaps some poor sap could convince him to work on Rover-BOP-SBB intakes???

I don't know how many of the 350 guys will go for these, they are a pretty fanatical bunch. But a few will if the parts are available. The rest are still hanging on promises that TA will make the 350 heads, and TA is still promising to do it. You can't really blame them, it's really been a fantastic engine.

As far as which market would be the best one, that's a complete crap shoot with no way to tell. 350 production numbers are something like double all of the BOP/Rover and early SBB combined if I remember right but of course many are long gone. What the actual market is, nobody really knows.

But I'm glad they are making these heads, even though I consider them overpriced based on their other heads. They should perform very well.

JB

Their other heads are between $1200 and $2500. That seems pretty reasonable. Are they planning on charging more than that? I mean it is more than the SBC heads but there is a LOT of competition there. I wish they were less expensive too but I'll probably buy them. LOL!

Their final price isn't set yet but they were talking a couple grand over those prices last time it came up. Personally I think they've lost their way. Hopefully they may recover because I think their volume will go way up if they can stay close to current pricing, but this deal with TR Spares has them seeing dollar signs so I don't know. We may have another part for the rich racers only on our hands. I don't know how much of that the world can stand, especially in these troubled economic times.

JB

Ok, This is "probably" a reach, but what if there was a better performing head for street use, that the average gearhead could install? Say like a 907 "kit" ,I'm thinkin Rover head market is a fairly small niche anyway, might be enough 907 heads to go around ? Yes I know, would'nt the "valves" cost twice as much? roverman

Seriously?! That's way off. $4k!!? That's a bit depressing. I hope they'll come around.

Yeah, I'm not in that market.

Looks like TA are thinking that if Ian Richardson at Wildcat can charge what he does then why not up the price,

Ian may only sell a handfull of sets of heads a year so you can see why his price structure is what it is, I would have thought that TA were looking at a higher volume production and sales and therefore their pricing should reflect that.

We will no doubt see in due course.

Kevin.

I hope they come to their senses. Mike's been seduced away from their traditional market and that's good for Rovers but could be very bad for TA. We'll see.

JB

I would truly enjoy putting a "smart" hemi head, into the mix,( bigger valves in a smaller bore), but just a bit much on my plate already. You know, the "ancient", early hemi, just placed an, awe inspiring, 3rd place in the "Engine Masters Challenge" ! That means there were 37 "modern" engines behind it !! As an antique myself, that makes me feel pretty good. roverman.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 02/01/2010 10:22PM by roverman.

Art, What's the bore spacing on the 53-57 241-270-325 Dodge Hemi? Hey, I know this is a Buick thread but you got me thinking, and you mentioned it first! Found it!Bore spacing early Dodge=4.1875,Desoto=4.3125.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 02/02/2010 12:02AM by mgb260.

It sounds cool but aren't those heads like 1000 lbs.? I wonder what the new hemi's bore spacing is... Nevermind, it's 4.46".

Jim, " one casting-one casting only".Nic'," there is no box-feel the force". Rover could finally be the "Lead" dog. Don't forget Plymouth thru 56', roverman.

Art, Plymouth were Polysphere,but block could be used with Dodge heads.In addition to Buicks,Pontiacs,Chevy's and Ford,I've had a few early Hemi's. Still have a pair of Red Ram valve covers hanging in the shop. There is 55 270 Dodge Hemi in an old wrecker sitting in the field down the road. I ask if he wants to sell and he keeps saying " I'm going to fix it up someday" Yeah, right. It's been about 10 years now. It would be cool in a T-bucket.

Jim, "one casting, one casting only". Get it ? roverman.

Yes,Roverman (aluminum with new Hemi chamber) or Rotus Brossum 4 valve- actually bathtub chamber,right!

Rotus=pentroof. MGB=bathtub. Modern/smart hemi,aka. 5.7 and 6.2L Mopar ,has relatively shallow chamber, squish, quench, turbulence and a fast burn. Of course, it's not a real hemi.

Didn't know where else to dump this for ya!
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