I've had these half finished patterns laying about for about 20 years, I dragged them out recently to show someone & it got me thinking about maybe finishing them off, They have some issues that need sorting , I don't know what rockers they had in mind. These will be a 2 piece head & should they go into production I can't imagine many will be made, but I would love to run a head I have had a hand in making. I'd be interested to see some pictures of other F/Heads & to get some ideas about which ones worked better than others. Or personal experience with them.
I do have a Rajo F head on a T engine and it added some horsepower above stock. It is a one piece head....I'll try to take some photos and add them later. It flattens out the hills.....you asked about "what worked better than others" It works (performs) better than the stock valve-in-block but I have no other F head to compare it to. The rockers are fabricated by Gary Anderson in St.Paul, MN Robert Roof made a F head for the Model A/B that his grandson and Charlie Yapp pepopped. I have one but have not installed it...acquired it in an estate sale. https://www.secretsofspeed.com/roof-101-cyclone-ohv His sales literature states 50 parts total and 6 castings. The sales literature also states horsepower gain to over 100 hp...that is an incredible number for what you start with and there are dyno results. I can see that a F head would solve the lean-rich problem created with the siamese inlet ports with the stock valve-in-block. Also, beyond rocker arms, rocker covers that have to be custom manufactured, there are fasteners, valves, keepers and springs which may be sourced from catalogue parts. Also there are tappet caps to accept a push rod for the OHV operation....but I have cheated (and Steve Serr that makes the modern Miller OHV conversion suggests) is using a adjustable lifter, removing the adjuster and replacing it with a socket head fastener for the push rod to rest in. Head gasket is an other item and can be very pricy in small lots The Smith Jiggler was an F head made for the V-8 60 that was used in the midget racers. It was said to solve the cooling problems of the stock configuration I know casting technology has changed and modern patterning is done with a computer.... I bet Charlie Yapp would chat with you as well as Steve Serr about finding a foundry and their needs for patterns unless you are going to set up a backyard operation Good luck on your journey
Thanks for your reply, I see that Charlie is selling up the tooling for the heads? I also didn't realize that he was Roof's grandson. I bought one of his Lion Speed heads for my first A 20 years ago. I live in Australia & have a foundry which I have worked with & my boss has worked with for some time also a couple of pattern makers I can chat with about what's needed from that perspective. I agree that it will solve the Siamese porting issue, it will also bump up the compression over side valve. Thanks for your encouragement, it will be a slow journey but should be a bit of fun. The photo's of the Roof head were helpful.
Robert Roofs grandson and Yapp It sounds like you have an inside track for pattern making and casting...you are already way ahead...
Gotcha re Roof/Yapp I'm fortunate in that way re/pattern's & foundry, The rest of the journey is new to me, just fishing for info around traps & pitfall's. The Roof head runs a 1.75" valve, I would be interested to know about port size & what might be ideal.
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