Technical Gran Cor heads advise

Your second to last picture shows that there is still an offset between the back of the water outlet and the sealing surface of the head. That would seem to indicate that these heads have not been ,milled to an excess.

All in all they look pretty good to me. The first set I saw were on a friend's '50 Ford (he named it "The Stray") in 1958. (He also had dual carbs; since all I had on my '51 was a Mallory dual point conversion, I was very impressed.)

 

They have been milled though, you can see the dome is much smaller than the original size, about 3-3/8".

 

Don't take this the wrong way, but do you actually know the original diameter of the combustion chamber in a GranCor head?

 

No, but all the other aftermarket heads I've seen started out with a diameter close to a stock Ford cylinder. Might not matter if there is still enough clearance to the pistons in the engine they go on.

 

Yep, foil balls.

 

I picked up a set of Grancor heads off Ebay in January 2015 for $777. IMHO, Ebay can be a good indicator of a parts value when it is exposed to a large pool of buyers. Mine are slightly different than yours, and in slightly better condition

That receipt is cool! I also have that intake with a 4 bolt in the center and 3 bolts on the outers. I picked it up at a swap meet.

Mr. 500 is an awesome book, I just read it a few months ago. What a character, what a life!

EDIT: I looked up the price I paid for the heads and date

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Here are some pictures of Mac's cars over the years. 1932 coupe in 1951.. sedan in the later 50's he dated his wife to be in it. He first ride was setting on a bucket and he dumped you to the back..some adult language from her but she was hooked. Later a Cord.. and Auburn. Check out the Brewster..with E&J headlights! The picture in gasoline alley Mac is with Tony Hulman Jr owner or the speedway. Mac had Indian and Harley motorcycles with side cars and played some kind of games at shows. There was an Avanti and a Bricklin. A 57 T bird and a 63 split window Corvette....he wanted to keep the Chevy and Ford friends all happy. His 32 with Ardun conversion and chrome artillery wheels. The car was sold and went to Washington state.. I believe. And has been in the Goidguys Gazette quite a few times over the years. His last older car was the Mustang and now he has a 2002 black and black Tbird that got a Borla exhaust.. pretty cool for a 94 year old.. more to come..if you want to hear me ramble on. Thanks for all you help with the heads. I need to decide what to do with them.

 

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Those chrome wheels on the red roadster are rare covers over wire wheels, not artillary wheels. IIRC they are Stewart Warner brand. Very rare. I've seen the car in pics of show coverage lately. Looks pretty much the same.

 

If those heads were mine, and I was concerned about the surfaces of the water outlet ports, I'd not even bother with a machine shop. I'd take a flat mill file and back file the surfaces. It wouldn't take but just a few strokes and they would be shiny clean and flat. And, if that wasn't clean enough, new gaskets and a liberal application of #2 Permatex would solve the problem. Those deserve to be on a running engine.

 

Thanks.. I only saw the roadster a couple times so I was not su re about the wheels. Mac always used neat stuff on the ones he built. Everything had blue dots.. Anyone from years ago that never new his name knew he was the blue dot guy. Heck years ago he would set up in the building at the street rod nationals and sell lenses and physically drill lenses for people..
Thanks for your comment in the heads. I may try to more them to someone who want to use them. That is were they belong

 

The consensus seems to be these are repairable/useable and as a swapper for many years I know this is the cardinal sin but were should these fall in a price range?.. And I know the next sin it telling someone that price.... But, they do need to be in a running engine.
Thank you all for your help

 

Well, your friend had them on the wall for 40 years, I think you said. Seems he never wanted $$ for them. I’d guess he liked to look at them, so donate them to a museum, or hang them on your wall.

Is he able to offer advice, his wishes?

 

I had met "Mac" many years ago at the NSRA Columbus meet. I bought quite a few lenses from him. He was really a gentleman.

 

If those heads were mine Id place them on my engine with no gasket loose held on with 2 bolts loose and roll the engine by hand. If the combustion chamber cleared the lift of the valvles id run em. I dont see anything in those pictures that would deter me from bolting those right on. Ive seen way way worse heads run without leaks.

 

Question : Are dead soft copper head gaskets in different thicknesses available for these flathead Fords ??

Asking because I do not know. Have used different dead softs for a 13:1 compression SBC I built. Wondering if same exists for these engines.

"IF" there would be a "clearance" issue & all.

I'm in the "run them !!!" camp, obviously .. ... too.

 

Answer : I researched this exact subject a few years ago and someone does (did) make them. The name of the outfit slips my mind. "Cometic" maybe? One thing I do remember is that they were hideously expensive; several hundred a pair.

 

A good fab shop with a lazar or water jet should be able to make them for you.

 

Thanks again for all your help with these heads. I will be set up in the swap meet at Goodguys Columbus and the heads will be on the table...
Jon