Hi all What brand of Aftermarket aluminium heads for a 59ab will fit with stock studs? I don,t want to change them
As far as I know most ,if not all,aftermarket heads require longer bottom row studs..Its not that big a deal..Buy a stud extracting socket and rip em out.
Ok I get the point, but could anyone answer if there is any heads that goes with stock studs? I heard Navarro, Edmunds, Evan, but not sure if it,s true
The selling point of most early production speed heads was instant installation so they had the pockets sunk into the stud locations just like factory iron heads. Later, much much later, heads started being made with flat decks using all the same size studs which picked up considerable extra water capacity for better and more even cooling. All modern speed heads have this feature, most even though branded with different names appear to have only the length, placement, height and thickness of the cooling fins as distinguishing feature.
Don't know much about current heads, but I think Edelbrock still makes late heads with stock stud lengths. Edelbrock used to make S series (take stock studs) and R series (all long studs) heads for earlies in Block letter days and in script, and there were many other suppliers as well. Also, if looking at head measure the depths of the bosses on your stock heads on the two sizes of shorter stud holes and use those to compare...it looks to me that some of the apparently stock-stud heads were not thought through very well, and did not allow enough room for the very necessary washers, so you either run inadequately engaged nuts or order custom studs anyway...
ive got original navarro heads on my 59ab and they dont fit with original studs. here is a pic of my engine.
the pedals are on the right side, its yours that are on the wrong side the filler tube came from flathead jack http://flatheadjack.com/38.html the fan is a std 6 bladed flathead fan from something like a '39 ford, the pulley was made up for my application as nothing else was going to fit in there. the bracket for the generator was modified and a mount for the fan was welded onto the genny bracket then shaped as needed, its still to be finished off and polished.
Change the studs. Their torqued and retorqued over the years. They stretch and just aren't reliable after all those years. Bolts or studs your choice. Most heads will except either or. But Pasedena is spot on. Almost of the originals were designed to be direct bolts ons. H&H, Shadow Rods, Reds Headers all good sources and there are many more.
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