RS Motorsport :: Classic Speed Restored

Does it have to be a ford based head?

Llew a mate Dean is very friendly with Phil from Connaught and the info we're getting is telling us that a Warrior/Holbay head wont make the hp of a well done YB

John, I agree with you about building the head around what sort of engine charachteristics I'm looking for, not just max numbers across the board. And I am looking at it from that perspective. However despite what it may seem, Tarmac rally uses high revs.... a lot! there are actually plenty of high speed sections and you end up spending a lot of time in the upper end too, and they don't have to be high speed straights either, there is often large successions of similar corners that see you stay in one gear plenty of the time and push right up to the limit.
And don't worry I'm not looking for 10Krpm but the bottom end will do 8K no problems all day and I am aiming for a power band with that number at the upper end.
The problem really is you want a good low end too, just an all round flexible motor and you really don't want compromises anywhere!

And no it doesn't have to be a ford based head, it can be whatever you want as long as a few other features of the engine remain as standard configuration I.E carbs, ignition etc.
And I don't really want to go the warrior either Danny, if for no other reason than it's 15K plus to my door.

I am slowly formulating a plan though, have a few more calls to make and ideas to work through though.

A question I would like to ask though is regarding deck thickness on a second hand head. Other than the combustion chamber edge encroaching on the valve seats with larger valves, has anyone ever had any problems from skimming a YB head beyond a certain point?

Well it seems finding a good YB head is pretty tough on this side of the pond. Anything that is half decent almost bears spending a little more for a new casting.

It appears I may be heading over to the UK later this year so I may wait until then to have a hunt in person. spending a few grand on something I can't even see is a bit hard to commit too so that may be a better way forward.

In the mean time, I think i'll do the pinto option which isn't a bad thing as I have another good short motor that my current lesser head can then go on giving me a whole spare motor. And it'll hurt less absorbing the cost of a YB over a longer period.