Besides Merlin head flow...

[roverman]

Ok Clan, It's time to fess-up. What's your B.O.R. head flow ? You know like a set of "worked" 340 heads, pumpin through a 4.02" bore ? How about from an Indy/Mickey Thompson head ? Anybody else ? It's time to share . roverman.

[BlownMGB-V8]

I'd like to know what the '64 Buick 300 heads can flow, and how those numbers compare to your Merlin heads. Maybe Dan has posted those numbers somewhere.

Hey Curtis, do you think there is a way we could have a "Tech" section where guys could post stuff like that, engine specifications, and maybe sources for special bits? Just an idea.

JB

[roverman]

Jim and clan, It's all listed by Dan Jones, here, "140 cfm Merlin", dated 11-13-09. Jim and Curtis, I like the idea of catagorized data resource. Much easier to search. Cheers, roverman.

[flitner]

Sorry I dont have those numbers but I resurrected a 300 for a buddys airboat and that beast is still running 10 years after a hard life!!!!!

[roverman]

And I thought this forum was about  "sharing". Looks like I was WRONG ! roverman.

[MGBV8]

Art,

I don't think there are many here with actual flow numbers for their heads to share.  I have a set of late Rover heads that have had the throats cleaned up & bowls blended w/stock valves, but no flow numbers.

[roverman]

Carl, I appreciate your veiwpoint. My veiwpoint is, there are "some", here who choose not share. roverman.

[Greg55_99]

Art, what are these?

http://www.triumphroverspares.com.au/page.asp?parentid=5&parent2id=16&parent3id=20&productid=766

Greg

[hoffbug]

Greg.. Ill bet those are the TA performance heads...

[MGBV8]

Art,

Did you see the flow numbers on those new heads?

http://www.triumphroverspares.com.au/page.asp?parentid=5&parent2id=16&parent3id=20&productid=766#viewimage

[roverman]

Greg,Tony and Carl, WOW ! Impressive ! I think you guys should get "in" on these, right away. I think Fred Key had (2) sets on order ? Fred, how's that going for you ? Anyone got waiting period and cost ? Might be worth getting several sets each ? I'm not capable of building an engine strong enough, to support such heads. Good Luck, roverman.

[hoffbug]

Naa.. Im just doing the 64 Buick 300 with stage 1 valves deal.. If they ever escape from machine shop hell..

[BlownMGB-V8]

I don't think a price has ever been released, and at this point those photos as likely as not represent vaporware. Well, not that bad really, but the last report we got TA had still not completed the first run and they are usually really prompt about announcing new products. Undoubtedly the first several sets will go to TRS (they actually almost had TA persuaded to name the new heads TR1 or TR8 or some such thing until some of us pointed out that might not be the best idea) and it is just possible TRS will get a lead time that will allow them to make the big bucks on the first few sets of heads before the inevitable market correction takes effect. If I had the big bucks to spend I'd probably go ahead and take a chance on that possibility just to be the first on the block. But for the rest of us it'd be prudent to wait a little longer. Ultimately, what with the existing competition, I'd expect the price to be comparable to their other products, which is to say, about the same as a set of big block heads.

Interestingly enough, I see where (TRS?) is getting the first 20 sets of heads, out of an undisclosed number from the first production run. Be the first one on your block....

JB

[Greg55_99]

Ah... So these ARE the TA heads.  I was a bit confused.  TRS seems to be calling them "Motorsport" heads.  Or some such thing....

http://www.triumphroverspares.com.au/page.asp?parentid=8&parent2id=34

Greg

[roverman]

Greg and Clan, Meanwhile, Mike Jr., at TA is claiming TRS did'nt "fund" the project. "All" ? At least from "Steel", I get endless, non-information, lol. I would like to see the Merlin "mystery" head, sanctified as a replacement head for certain classes of racing. Anybody ?  roverman.

[minorv8]

I sent an enquiry to TRS and asked for the price... only 8500 aussie dollars :-)

[BlownMGB-V8]

So what's that in real money? (  (-;   Flame suit ON!  (-;  )

JB

[roverman]

Why that almost seems like an Aussie Aboriginal Abomination !  I hope both "Mikes", are sleeping well, with this deal of "all about the $'s".Good news is, their "less" in U.S. dollars, ONLY $8,341.9 ! This rings of $1,700 rocker assemblies from Oz. I think a "Tea Party", is in order. roverman.

[roverman]

It's YOUR money ! Is it worth approximately $5k more for 11% average flow gain over Merlin ? The classic battle of budget vs. the dyno.  roverman.

[BlownMGB-V8]

TA will never be able to sell enough of them at that price to recover the development costs. However, TRS seems to think they can, so much so in fact that they have ponied up a big chunk of cash to guarantee an initial purchase of 20 sets. That's going to be in the ballpark of eighty large if they are buying the heads complete. If bare castings, about half that. The only thing that makes that feasible is if they are convinced these heads will pass tech in some high dollar racing class, or possibly if they are building the heads themselves, which is what I'd bet on. They only have to sell five sets to recover most of their investment costs, maybe another five to get back the labor and cost of associated parts, another set or two to cover overhead, leaving a decent profit margin and an ongoing product line. Are there 8-12 Australian and British racers who will pay any price to win? Possibly.

That leaves TA with the domestic market. Have they made a marketing agreement? I'd bet on it. For the domestic market, where buyers are accustomed to buying BBB heads for $2500 or so and consider that a premium, a $3500 SBB head isn't going to sell well, even to Rover owners. Not given the competition. Buick enthusiasts will just go to the BBB or the V6 instead. TA has a proven formula for success in this market, they should stick with it, and I suspect, a year or two from now they will recognize that.

JB

[roverman]

Unless there's a wizzing contest for Roverites, with $'s to burn, why buy ? I'm thinking those on the V8 Buick sign-up list for TA heads, might be having second thoughts. "Rick Crawford" ported iron 350sbb. heads are reported to flow 266/199 cfm with 1.92/155 valves. 280 cfm has been "alluded" to. The iron 300/340 has "terrible" #'s stock. Some day, that "Rally Guy" might tell us what his ported 340's flow. This spells of just one more Rover, "could have been's". like the cost prohibitive Wildcat heads, TA's seem to be a slightly improved version with a deal breaker price. Meanwhile, I'll just "make-do" with a replacement head designed for street use. "Steel" never ported these, because of this.  roverman.

[DiDueColpi]

Hey Art,

I haven't been contacted by anyone after being told that "I'll just have to wait".
So from my perspective my money is better spent elsewhere.
The excitement has passed and maybe someday I'll use those heads on something.
But for now I'll just swallow the dissapointment and use something else.
It would be nice to see those heads run on an engine, it just won't be mine.

Cheers
Fred

[roverman]

Fred, if you want excitement, finish your "Rotus 32V" !  U-no, 300 CFM.? Where's the pic's ? Where's the cams ? Send me some spec's and I'll get them "bid". Cheers, roverman.

[DiDueColpi]

Art,
The Lo-ver is a long term project.
I've been at it off and on for several years now.
I will finish it at some point but won't even look at it again until winter.
When the time comes I'll just machine some blanks and have Geoff grind them.
Before that the crank needs to be nailed down. I do have that 4cyl crank in the works still, but this is a spare time project for him as well. So it happens when it happens.
As far as pic's go, the only one I've ever sent is the one in my bio of the lovely Lynne's Rangey and my TGB. I had to get my daughter to do that for me because I don't know how. Someday I will learn but it's pretty low on the list.
Cheers
Fred

[roverman]

Fred, As I understand it, if you make cams, you use Rover crank. Use 4 cylinder crank, you use 907 cams ? Good Luck,roverman.