Stage 3 Head on E'bay

[knapman]

Hi

Been looking at the stage 3 head on E'Bay.

Does any body know if "Newark Engines" are

a good firm for such items, not heard of

them myself?

 

Thanks

Bob K

[mikew]

I think Newark engines do most of Rimmers' work.

 

As to the head without flow bench figures how can you judge?

 

You also need to know the chamber volume to calculate the compression ratio on your engine.

 

If the head was from Neil Collingwood or Tony LD you could be certain of its potential performance, just because its polished doesn't mean that it will flow well, its in the shape not the finish of the ports that matters.

 

mike

[Bald Rick]

Hi Bob

 

According to the oracle it's the right head for cars from CP25001 - CP54584, TR5, 2.5PI up to MG50001E and some 2000cc engines.

 

Don't know about Newark Engines, there are a couple listed. I'm assuming it's the one in Notts. They have a web site listed (www.newarkengines.co.uk) but it doesn't open up. Their feed back seems ok though.

 

They appear to be a generalist engine re-builders but NOT a Triumph specialist. Personally I'd prefer to go to a specialist who has experience of Triumph engines. That doesn't mean that this head will not be perfectly OK. It's a matter of confidence really and I like to use people who have a proven track record with Triumph sixes. Especially when buying performance parts Like heads and camshafts.

 

I got my stage two head from Gary at TRGB.

 

Reading this back it doesn't really help much does it

 

Tony

Edited February 24, 2008 by Bald Rick

[knapman]

On the contrary Tony.

Both answers have helped make my mind up.

Will not jump in too quickly & be tempted with

a bargain.I will bide my time & deal with a Triumph supplier of

known reputation.

Dont know who Neil Collingwood or Tony LD is Mike are

they private engineers or specialists?

 

Regards

Bob K

[trtom]

newark engines have been around for years, build very good high spec engines and heard good reports about them. Dave Walker owns the place if i remember correctly

[mikew]

On the contrary Tony.

Both answers have helped make my mind up.

Will not jump in too quickly & be tempted with

a bargain.I will bide my time & deal with a Triumph supplier of

known reputation.

Dont know who Neil Collingwood or Tony LD is Mike are

they private engineers or specialists?

 

Regards

Bob K

 

Bob, Neil does some of the best heads around, on a recent flow bench test his head was flowing better than any of the others initially tested. Tony Lindsey Dean does some really good work too although I have not seen figures on any of his heads (yet). Neil does heads (I think) for Racetorations, and others and Tony does them for a number of TR racers. Tony did my TR5 gearbox - really really nice job.

 

There have been a large number of posts on the forum about heads and exhaust work (unfortunately some now deleted due to various comments from the parties involved) but what is certain is that without a high spec exhaust manifold you will not see all the benefits from a good head. Although people like Phoenix make extractor exhaust manifolds, they seem to be made to a price, and have unequal length primaries, which causes a number of apparent flat spots in the rev range. A good extractor exhaust manifold with equal length primaries, and secondaries, 3 into 1 type with a good head gives superb results.

Some Triumph specialists can supply such manifolds, but they are about twice the price of the Phoenix ones - so you do get what you pay for.

 

You could pay a great deal for a stage 3 head, but see little benefit over a stage 2 one, because the rest of the engine was not optimised for it

 

I am not a mechanical engineer, but I am aware of a current project which is flow bench testing a number of different heads, with a number of different valve designs to finally produce the ultimate triumph head. This will then be dyno tested (with various cams and exhausts) to produce irrefutable figures at the flywheel.

 

I would suggest that you approach a reputable specialist and ask him about a package of work, that way you know it will all be compatable and he will be able to suggest packages to fit your budget that will go together well.

 

To get the best, head, exhaust cam, fueling, ignition timing all need to be optimised.

 

There are various books on tuning triumph engines, one by David Vizard (which I think is available as a download) , Kas Kastner (of course) and Gareth Thomas (now in reprint) - perhaps it is work looking at these too.

 

mike

[knapman]

Thanks for the info Mike.

At the moment am collecting a number of tuning

parts as & when i can afford them. Have aquired a 6-3-1

Rimmers manifold off E'Bay (probably not the best

but not looking for perfection) & will get the matching sport

exhaust. Am in process of making a remote air filter

& airbox for the hs6 su's. Might look into a stage 2 or 3

head in the future.

Where can i find Neil in the future if i need to get a head.

 

Bob K

[Jersey Royal]

Neil is a forum member,

 

try a pm to ncoll

 

 

 

Regards

GUY

[knapman]

Cheers Guy

[mikew]

If you are running Su's do you have an american low compression engine ?

 

If so the best way to power might be a head skim to get to 10:1 compression ratio and a tr5 profile cam and followers, that with a secondhand pi system should gain you 35 bhp, and a lot cheaper than a stage 3 head. Although a lot of people are getting good figures with SU's and probably better fuel economy.

Power is always in the head (cartainly compression ratios) and a skim and valve grind is cheap.

 

mike

[knapman]

If you are running Su's do you have an american low compression engine ?

 

If so the best way to power might be a head skim to get to 10:1 compression ratio and a tr5 profile cam and followers, that with a secondhand pi system should gain you 35 bhp, and a lot cheaper than a stage 3 head. Although a lot of people are getting good figures with SU's and probably better fuel economy.

Power is always in the head (cartainly compression ratios) and a skim and valve grind is cheap.

 

mike

 

No Mike its an ex PI engine in a 4A, am sticking with the SU's just want to get the best out

of the engine. Been looking at the cost of a stage 3 head, didn't realise they cost

so much makes the one on E'Bay look a bargain. Will just stick with doing the inlet & exhaust for now

& see how it goes.

 

Bob

[Alec Pringle]

I've had some components from Newark in the past, all very satisfactory.

 

The head on ebay looks a bargain, on the face of it.

 

Whether a 'Stage 3' head is desirable on a road car is another question . . . perhaps yes if the car is a weekend rocket ship, and maybe no if you wish to go touring in it. It's a cake and halfpenny question, as in you can't have both - top end power rarely equates to tractability.

 

Cheers,

 

Alec