I've looked at all the threads here and need help to ID a set of NOS aluminum heads for a older Ford flathead. The only stampings they have are: MF 11, a capital "A" and an a "W" within a circle stamped on one of the faces where a stud goes. Heads are dirty but free of any corrosion anywhere. would look like new if glass-beaded. Are these a stock set but for what? or, are they an aftermarket set. There is no damage anywhere but they have crud from sitting in a cardboard box. They would glass bead beautifully.
I remember back in the 60's in dirt track racing that heads like these were used by some. It is my understanding that they came stock on Fords manufactured in Canada.
Yes, there was some discussion about Canadian heads but they actually had a Ford number at least I thought.
I've had a set of Canadian aluminum heads. They say "Made In Canada" and have a part number on them that starts with C7RA If I remember correctly.
Do you think then that the "W" inside the circle which would be covered by a stud could mean they're actually the Weiland cheater heads? If so, any idea what they're worth as these have never been installed and will really clean up beautifully.
They are not weiand cheater heads. I've had a set of those also. They spell out WEIAND underneath so you can't see it when the heads are on the engine. I wouldn't clean them until you find out what they are exactly. What if they are the super rare Denver heads? Cleaning them could hurt the value. I've never seen a set of Denver's so I'm not saying they are. You never know. EDIT: Quote from Bruce Lancaster on a ford barn thread: " There were Canadian C78 heads, "C" goes on all Canadian variant part numbers. The Denver heads were iron. Canadians made lots of flathead aluminum stuff after USA generally switched to iron." So they aren't Denver heads. Could be aftermarket replacements even.
I just saw you are a Detroit guy, I spent a number of years in Royal Oak. Never misseda Woodward Cruise from the first one.
Yes, Detroit area. Not sure what those are. Like I said, Bruce Lancaster is the man, so is Dick Spadaro, if anyone knows what they are, they will.
Odds are very good that those are some aftermarket stock replacement head. They don't have the same "allure" as the Weiand "cheaters", and probably not as much as the genuine Canadian heads. For value, it's going to depend on who's looking and what they think. I'd guess anywhere from $300-500...............but then I'm not putting any money on the table so my opinion is worth what you're paying for it. Here are a couple pics; first is a genuine Canadian head, the second is the Weiand cheater (notice it lacks the "Made in.." . As noted above, you can't see the Weiand name when on the engine. If you want to see and compare these in person let me know.
Nick, when you say, "top side" can you be more specific? (I just watched a Youtube video, "Road Kill" shot in Brisbane and Perth. Great to watch your hot Holdens and Monaros
I was at a sale today in Lakewood and a early Ford roadster looks like yours, was there. Was it you? If I can't find specific info on the heads, I'd be glad to hook up around Fway if you wanted
Hey Bob, Sorry i wasn't more specific. I meant the top side as in, the part of the head you see, not the underside.. like the pics above that Uncle Bob posted. Get a good sized pic of your heads like how he's done and we might be able to ID it further. I don't know if all the canadian Ford aluminium heads actually have the "Made In Canada" on them though. I've got a 24 stud pair of ally heads that have the "Made In Canada" on them, but then have a single head for a 21 stud engine that only has a "Ford" script on it. Same goes for another pair of 21 stud heads i've just purchased, only has the "Ford" script. Its likely though they are the Ford heads that were an over the counter item back in the day. Bruce will know if they are Denver heads or not, i am not sure of that myself. We need some bigger pics to help identify them i think.
Also another note, not all Canadian heads are "C78" numbered. The ones i have are 81A heads. I don't know the difference between the two, or if there is one at all other than casting numbers.
I'll shoot pics in the morning. I looked at the heads again with a glass and other than the, "MF II" , the larger "A" and then the tiny circle with either an "M" or a "W" stamped on the edge of a bolt hole, there are no other marks anywhere. Many thanks Nick for staying on top of this from down under.
Would be good to see better pictures of them mate. If it was a dirty old pair of heads i'd have thought it could of been possible that the part numbers and Ford scripts were sanded off or something way back in the day, but as they look good and are NOS as you say its hard to tell and interesting that there aren't any markings. Bruce would be the best man to talk to about them, so hopefully he chimes in here at some stage. I've taken quite a liking to the factory aluminium heads and have been doing a lot of reading about them the last few months, but even my knowledge doesn't compare to what Bruce knows. I'm interested to see what your heads turn out to be, so will keep a keen eye on this one!
Honest Charlie speed shop in the late 50s and early 60s sold new Canadian heads out of their catalog. He must have bought out a large amount of them ..
Denver heads were all iron. Pretty sure these are aftermarket replacement heads... 4 small ports, so likely '39 or 40 or later manufacture... I would bet they are for prewar and are replacements with about stock compression... 2 checks: Level one and do a quick and dirty rough cc, get a CC cup or syringe at baby section of drugstore and just top off one chamber. That is crude but will give the idea... if up in the 70's stock, if down in 60's maybe (unlikely ) speed. Second, puttem on a 59A loose and hand crank engine over, see if the upper edge clears the late valves...if not, prewar for sure.
Thanks for the input Bruce. Since I don't have a block, then the cc test will have to do. I'd like to sell them but want to advertise them honestly. Let's assume they are pre-war since he had some 1940's FoMoCo odds n' ends though I just uncovered a NOS AC fuel pump for 51-53 Ford Merc Ford PU...any idea of value and should I bead blast or leave em dirty? Any thought re the stamped "W" inside the circle that would have been covered by a washer?
Probably just a stamp by someone signing off on the heads as finished... If prewar, modifying for later engines is simple and sometimes not even needed...clash between valves and chamber is a very near thing.
Here is the pictures from Bob. I think a front face photo will be the most helpful in identifying it though.
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