Merlin Magic ?

[roverman]

Is it possible ? Only 6 months ? I ordered Real Steel's heads on 3/12/2010 an..an   NOW there ready !! .Let the "fun" begin. roverman.

[djw090]

Well it may well be magic if you have ordered them in the future. Over here 3/12/2010 would be 3rd December 2010!

[roverman]

David, Unfortunate indeed. So Real Steel is still not convinced, market demand is not strong enough, for higher production rates ? It isn't like Wildcat or TA are "real" competitors. I suppose, I should have guessed, If I bought "heavy" in Stage II Buick V6 parts, my "Merlins" would magically appear ?

[Greg55_99]

Perhaps you can do a comparo of Merlin heads against a set on worked 64 Buick 300 heads.  

Greg

[roverman]

Greg and clan, We have flow #'s for 300's. Thanks to "Jukka", of this forum ,for Merlin #s. roverman.

[djw090]

I must admit when I saw the title of the thread I assumed you we going to use a supercharged Rolls Royce V12 out of a Spitfire.

[roverman]

David, like I've never been accused-here, of being "out-there", lol. Good news is , I can't count past eight. I might have titled "F-85" heads, but since they have as much in common as a Rolls V (8+4) ??

[roverman]

Since I'm "planning" on receiving heads,(maybe they'll ship this week), might as well start on a Rover race motor. Flanged liners, of-course, block filler? Dry sump with priority oiling through oversize main cross bolts(hollow).Girdle.  Belt drive on cam ? Mech roller cam/rockers. Oil through ends of rocker shafts ?  Ideas ? roverman.

[roverman]

Their Shipping ! Yeah ! Why am I so excited about a conservative replacement head ? Because their "available" and you don't have to sell an "organ", to buy a set. I try to look at stuff, for it's potential, ie. "dreamer" but "we" shall probe their REAL steel-value. Hey TA, too bad your missin the boat,(literally). Stay tuned clan, were gonna "roll with the flow", roverman.

[roverman]

Well Maybe......not.

[roverman]

We'll see what the flow bench says. Oh boy-oh boy !

[roverman]

"IT came from across the pond". You build a "strong/physically", after-market head, because it will "need" a blower. Kinda explains the 6 bolt per bore, "potential". You design the chamber for a 3.5" bore, and THEN find out the head doesn't WORK on a 3.5 L ! Now your 3.56" wide chamber is perched on top of a 3.7-3.76"+ bore. Intake"peaks at .433" lift.   Do we follow here?  In theory only, one might want the head to do well, so "others" might want to buy ?, but since your only willing to build,insufficient numbers, at a time, why bother ? "OZ", on the other hand, believes strong enough in the Rover, to pay "TA" of America to develop, a "serious" head.What is wrong with this picture ? 2 cents+, roverman.

[phongshader]

Hi Art,
What was the upshot of these heads? I have a set of 300 heads that I'm going back and forth on wether I should throw big valves in and port them or go with a set of Merlin heads. The cost is about the same between the 2 options.
Thanks,
Justin

[roverman]

Justin, I would follow the "TA heads" threads. If your considering spending approx $1.5k on your 300 heads, you could get TA's "bare", for same amount. I suspect the TA heads will have much better resale value and hp. potential.This depends also on what level of build ? The TA heads will add approx. 18 lbs. of weight over 300 heads. Deal breaker ? As you might guess, much stronger, and they'll take oem buick rockers/shafts OR sbc. shaft mounted aftermarket rocker assembies. Cheers, roverman.

[roverman]

Anybody using these/ vintage racing ?To refresh, Merlin heads, ported by Todd McKenzie, Intake flow , 28" with 1.770" valve lifted .100"=60 cfm., .200=121.8, .300 =180, .400=210, .500=216.5 and .600=219.2. As I interpret SCCA rules, this "should" be a legal replacement head,(standard valve centerlines @ 1.660"). These haeds shine at low and mid-lifts.  Onward, roverman.

[phongshader]

Hi Art,
Thanks for the reply, I'm just trying to figure out which is more cost effective. I've gotten quotes between $1.5-2k for larger valves and bowl porting on the 300 heads and around $2k for the merlin heads shipped. Are the bare TA heads buildable for $2k? The question really is what would flow better in the $1.5-2k price range, stock unported Merlin heads or worked 300 heads?
Thanks,
Justin

[BlownMGB-V8]

What do the complete TAheads cost?

Jim

[phongshader]

I think they're round about $2795...too rich for me

[roverman]

Justin, $2k for bowl ported, larger valved 300 head work, seems like a lesser value, IMHO. TA heads take sbc parts= save $'s. I have all three brand heads, and would choose TA for their standard flow and  potential, with porting.  Onward, roverman.

[Greg55_99]

Side by side pics Art?

Greg

[roverman]

The advantage of breaking free of a 50 year old design,(215 Buick) is taking advantage of five decades of  cylinder head advancement.By doing this ,TA used better flowing  valve inclination angles and centerlines. SBC valvetrain components, like valves, springs and shaft mounted rocker assembles, cut cost and produce good value.Buick style rocker assemblies are also applicable, but why would you ?The downside is what intake manifold ? Huffaker will fit the un-ported TA head, maybe Wilpower ? What to use on the ported head, sheet metal  or custom cast ?  Onward, roverman.

[MGB-FV8]

I'd say, if it's all that bad with the induction side of an old design then just force feed it like Jim B did.