Interesting thing I came across

[BNCHIEF]

[BNCHIEF]

Or this maybe if your building a hotrod there are some rather interesting things to look at here.

[Mickey]

All I can say is......Wow!

[2manycars]

I have not heard great things about the lion flathead, but the riley is well thought of.

[George Miller]

I had number 4 Lion head. I did not like it, Brumfield for me is much better. But that was a few years ago maybe they are better now. One good thing they were so heavy they would stay on with out bolts.

[BNCHIEF]

It looks neat, what was it you did not like just asking since I know nothing about it.

[George Miller]

It just did not run that good. It run like it was retarded. Brumfield head has more power and sounds better. But like I say that was a few years back, maybe better now.

[tbirdtbird]

The Rileys are a mechanical joy for sure. I am thinking many of them are cracked at this point. I did motor work for a guy who wanted to have a Riley on a B motor. I busted my ass on that motor, and to get the oiling just right I followed Brierley's book to a T. I sent the block off to Bill Barlow for a babbitt job, even.

The head had a history of being cracked, so the guy had it welded up. I was skeptical, since in my experience you cannot successfully weld cast unless you can heat the whole thing up near to red. There are only a couple places in the country that can do this properly. I have seen every welded block or head fail. I told the guy to have the head pressure tested, something I do not have the equipment for. He said it didn't need it. I should have stopped right there.

On the day of the test fire on the engine stand, I filled the cooling system with water and hit the starter. It would not budge at all. I had been using the starter already on the block so I knew the starter was OK. I said, crap, the thing can't be hydro-locked already!
Guess what. We pulled the plugs, hit the starter to blast the water out of the cylinders, and I was done

[BNCHIEF]

Old stuff like that makes me nervous and you are right about welding cast iron and heat as well.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Old stuff like that makes me nervous and you are right about welding cast iron and heat as well.

In the 80's I overhauled a diesel Case tractor that had two cracked heads. The farmer said he'd find some good used heads, and later showed up with two welded heads. I said that's not what I would use, but he insisted, and said they were guaranteed. I said OK, but I won't guarantee them nor a rework. A week later I was overhauling the tractor again because the welds leaked and took out the bearings. This time he found good used heads without welds.

[Ed H]

In the 80's I overhauled a diesel Case tractor that had two cracked heads. The farmer said he'd find some good used heads, and later showed up with two welded heads. I said that's not what I would use, but he insisted, and said they were guaranteed. I said OK, but I won't guarantee them nor a rework. A week later I was overhauling the tractor again because the welds leaked and took out the bearings. This time he found good used heads without welds.

Sad, people come to a reputable shop for advice and expert service. Then they totally ignore a professional to save a couple of $$. Prior to being an LEO, I was a service manager for a reputable Chev dealership. So many times the know it all customer told me what was wrong and how to fix it.
Sad really

[Mitch]

It's nice to know that there is at least one reputable dealership out there

[1931 Flamingo]

You mean BESIDES yours??
Paul in CT

[BNCHIEF]

At my local ford dealership there is one mechanic who works on my stuff, I leave it with him and he works it in, have known him for years he also has a vff calendar on the wall in his bay and will put christmas lights around it in december to highlight a certain car.

[Mitch]

Paul
I'm talking NEW car agencies because they all blow pretty much

[BNCHIEF]

Here are a few more interesting things for the model a/b

[Dennis]

Nice stuff, too rich for my poor blood.

[BNCHIEF]

Does not cost to look and drool Huh Dennis.

[BNCHIEF]

Anybody run one of these?