28-12-2020, 03:04 PM
(This post was last modified: 28-12-2020, 03:09 PM by Steve Jones.)
The combustion chamber design on the later HC Austin head is pretty good but the head has one, fundamental, flaw as noted, above, by Bruce. That is the position of the plugs over the edge of the cylinder bore. If you have any oil coming up the bores than these heads have a tendency to oil plugs. If you've built your engine correctly then oil shouldn't come up the bores and past the rings but even on a well built engine, over time there inevitably will be wear. The Ricardo heads also have a good combustion chamber design but have the plugs positioned over the inlet valves well away from the bores. Other advantages of the Ricardo head include it being a late 1920's design (important in some applications) and the integral top hose connection means one less potential leak point.
Putting my money where my mouth is, I've five Austin 7 engines and four of them have Ricardo heads (the fifth is a bog standard engine in a very standard car). You pays your money and you makes your choice but have a look round the paddock at any event with a number of competing Sevens and these days, you'll find the majority have Ricardo heads.
Steve
Putting my money where my mouth is, I've five Austin 7 engines and four of them have Ricardo heads (the fifth is a bog standard engine in a very standard car). You pays your money and you makes your choice but have a look round the paddock at any event with a number of competing Sevens and these days, you'll find the majority have Ricardo heads.
Steve