sunbeamtiger.co.uk

Anyone put a set of these heads on there Tiger. They have changed the position of the spark plugs. Headers will need to be used. I was wondering if the headers you can buy will fit ,or altered easily enough. I have bought a set. I maybe the guinea pig here.

Do the header pipes for a Tiger come straight out and down from the heads on both sides. I have found a pic of one side. http://classicmotorsports.net/project-c ... updates/3/
I have also seen a pic of the GT40P a Mustang and as there tubes angle back there can be clearance issues with the plugs.
I think if the header tubes on a Tiger on both sides come straight out and down there should not be a problem.

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Heads arrived today. This is a pic of the stock manifold on. It fits without interfering with the different plug angle. These will kill flow, but I think headers will fit. May need to alter the last port tube as they ( from what I can tell) angle forward.

Hi Mal

What block are you using? if it's a 260 the heads won't work, to large a combustion chamber & wrong rockers to name a few of the prob's. The head's you have are for the roller cam 5.0l 302. Hope that some help, or maybe not, good luck.
Harry.

Hi Harry. The car has a 289 in it, so the heads will work ok. I will probably be putting in a hyd roller cam in the engine as well. Markedly increase performance and economy.
Cheers Mal

Scraped the gunck of the block today and took the 66 289 heads off. I thought I would identify the year of the block. I could not find the numbers above the starter so I had a look and found them at the rear of the block C20E, a 260. I measured the bore which has 40 thou over size pistons at 97mm, with a steel rule.
It was advertised as a 289 when I bought the car. They probably saw the 289 heads and presumed it was a 289 engine.
This could be the original block, I might put it into storage and find another and carry on with my plans.

Mal,

If the motor is a 260 than chances are you have the 5 bolt bellhousing and narrow bolt pattern top loader. If this is the case and you want to retain the existing bellhousing you will have to find te rareish 289 5 bolt block.

The other option is to go get a afternarket bellhousing either something like a lakewood alloy one or shatterproof one and switch to a 6 bolt block 289 or 302.

Thanks Michael. From what you say, a 6 bolt bell housing won't fit the gearbox. I will see what I can find. It would be nice and easy, if I can find a 5 bolt 289 block. If not 302's are easy to get. I don't won't to stress the 260. Always a good thing to have the original block.

Mal,

i think there are aftermarket blocks for the 6 bolt bellhosubng that will accomodate the early narrow pattern toploader. I think the real trouble is using a wide pattern TL with a 5 bolt... wills ee what info i can dig up.. saved a bunch of notes on the different bellhousing/transmission combos. This can also change which throwout and arm you use.

I found a new short block. It's a sweaty.
Ford 5.0 shortblock;
- Roller block
- Balanced internals (50oz)
- Speed Pro coated pistons
- Main girdle
- ARP main cap bolts
- ARP rod bolts
- Balancer

This short block was in a Panoz race car. I went and picked it up on the weekend. He had the main caps and one big end off so I could see the bearings. They looked like new. I got it for a very good price. I also got the flywheel and clutch. Top this off with the GT40P heads and this Tiger is going to wag it's tail.
It's had only 6 hours race time. He is into endurance racing, and now runs a 347. A very decent person. I think he was quite happy that the block was going into a Tiger.
The roller cam I got with the block has GT stamped on it. It is the only marking i can find. I am having trouble finding info on it. Anyone know where to get this info .
Find a bell housing is the next mission.

Mal

Mal,

i think there are aftermarket blocks for the 6 bolt bellhosubng that will accomodate the early narrow pattern toploader. I think the real trouble is using a wide pattern TL with a 5 bolt... will see what info i can dig up.. saved a bunch of notes on the different bellhousing/transmission combos. This can also change which throwout and arm you use

Micheal or anyone.
This change to a 6 bolt block and wanting to use the narrow bolt pattern trans is a problem. I can't believe there aren't any after market castings for this. Everything seems to be geared to 5 speeds. Even the scatter shields. There must be market for them with plenty of early Mustangs and Fairlanes that want change to a 6 bolt and don't want to change to a 5 speed.
If you want to retain a toploader is the only option to change the trans to a later wide bolt bolt pattern .
Any help appreciated.
Thanks Mal

Mal,

Lakewood do a 6 bolt housing with a dual pattern i think.. but if you give me your email address i will scan some info for you on which bell housings to use and which ones you can modify and how.

Mal

There's a 6 bolt casting to narrow toploader currently listed on US eBay Motors (as at 21/07/2010)

For another aftermarket alternative, look at the Quicktime housings. They're spun metal, much lighter than Mcleod and Lakewood, and smaller in OD than OEM. Also SFI rated so they shouldn't attempt to perform any involuntary foot amputations...

Regards

Tom

Thanks for the info Michael. Cheers.

There's a 6 bolt casting to narrow toploader currently listed on US eBay Motors (as at 21/07/2010)

Tom, I could not find it. They are as rear as hens teeth in alloy. Ones in cast iron for a larger flywheel are not but heavy.
Cheers mal

Bell housings:
http://www.summitracing.com/search/Part ... Rank%7cAsc


Lakewood options:
http://www.summitracing.com/search/Part ... d=lakewood