We just received 16 pair of Aussie heads.

It is looking like starting pirce on the heads will be $950 a pair

This will include: Heads baked & blasted, magnafluxed & pressure checked, new cast guides installed and honed to size, hard exhaust seat, seat angle cut using Serdi cutting system, resurfaced using CBN cutting inserts.

Heads will be assembled using positive seals, new stock size & type single groove intake & exhaust valves, & stock springs.

We plan on setting up a shopping cart on our web site with the ability to select options and price accordingly.

Options will be: Bronze guides, Stainless Steel valves, different springs, retainers, valve size & port work.

We also plan on showing different flow charts comparing the assuie heads, 2-bdl head, different valves, & valve size.

 

when will you have the piston combo deal worked out and solid on price?

 

I spent that much on mine by time i got them built. nice. A few months too late but nice. I'll need another set unless i go with the alloy. still undecided. BTW...i got those other roller lifter horseshoe replacement things from ford- ordered 8 intead of 4 so i have another set. Will try them out this weekend- got some studs to replace the bolts that hold the web so I'll play with it all.

?: Is the locktite enough to hold the bolts/studs that hold the web? It seems weak.

thanks..and i hope they sell fast but not too fast....i'm building funds.

also...know anything about the 2v 4bbl intakes that came off the oz 302c? and how about the 6" rods they used to destroke to 3"?

later

 

Are they machined for studs and guide plates ?

 

Machining for studs & guide plates will be an option, anyone ordering heads & piston can deduct $100.

 

Tim,

Back when I was still bring in containers, I brought in a lot of these heads. I hope you have a better source than me because I had a very high cull rate. 2 out of 3 heads were either cracked or had the exhaust seats completely wipped out. I was told by some of my Aussie contacts that this was due to the wide use of LPG back in the 80's. Not sure myself as I've never dealt with LPG. But I gave up trying to just break even. Good luck, sounds like you have a winning set up there. BTW, when I priced the rebuild on a set of my 2Vs, it was $1000 for the same mods you listed.

--J

 

Tim...those replacement lifter guides fit pretty tight and seeing how the lifters would be moving (a lot) inside the plastic parts how would it be at all reasonable to use those unless it's a race or short duration motor or something. I like the idea but obviously don't understand it's use or intent. Mybe they arn't meant to be that snug but still...moving parts and all?

Any idea where i can get more info on those things? An what do yu know about them..horeshoes are looking better again. Can't believe comp doesn't have a better plan than that!

 

G'day All.
OK, I can add my 2 cents worth on the OZ302 Cleveland 4bbl manifolds, although I'm far from an Aussie Ford expert.

The Aussie intake manifolds were used on the 302's and 351's from arround 1975-76 up to end of production in 1984. I beleive there is no difference between 302 and 351 4bbl manifolds. They use the Thermoquad Carby with an EGR plate. The EGR plates are usually corroded. The usual performance change here (in Australia) is a Thermoquad/Holley adaptor plate. I reckon the Thermoquad is the "ducks guts".......excellent compromise carb for performance and economy. Prior to 1975 the 4bbl manifolds were only used on 351's and I beleive are US manufactured and used the Autolite carby. Performance 351's like on GT's and GTHO's used a Holley 780 vacuum carb. on an Aluminium Intake. The 302C's prior to 1975 were 2bbl Strombergs.

The manifolds had an internal change with the Aussie production 4 bbl versions, with a reduction in the venturi size on the secondary's. If you like, I can post a photo as I have a manifold awaiting installation.

Here in Australia these manifolds are a "dime a dozen" as they are replaced regularly with Edelbrock or Weiand manifolds. Take a look on Feebay Australia, they are regularly listed. Freight to the USA would be a killa as they weigh a ton !.

As far as the Aussie heads are concerned, yes the "dud" rate is high with cracked heads, but it is a symptom of age more than anything else. Most heads by now have been rebuilt at least once and if hardened seats haven't been installed in the "last" rebuild then you better keep your fingers crossed they are not cracked or valves pockets recessed.

Now this is a true story. About two weeks ago while on my "Tool round" I dropped in on a client, Ron. He said take a look at this. So I took a look down the bore of No'1 Piston on his 302C (in a 1980 XD Falcon Ute). I said....."bugger me, who'd drill a 7/16" size hole in the middle of a piston ?." "Take a look at this", Ron said, pointing to the head. I looked at the head and there was the intake valve. It had broken off about a 1/2" from the valve head, turned over and punched a hole in the piston then turned sideways and got jammed back in the Intake valve pocket.

Ron indicated it started to run a bit rough so he gave it a bit of a rev to clear it. Then it ran on seven.........no wonder. What had Ron "wacked" was before he pulled the head after the "incident", it started using coolant......like as you poured coolant into the radiator, it disappeared almost as quickly. When he drained the sump about 5 litres of water came out with the 4Litres of Oil !. When the valve got jammed back in the head it cracked the water jacket adjacent to the valve pocket opening up a void of about 1/16" inch. Then the coolant would pour down the bore, and through the hole in the piston and into the sump !. This motor had done over 540,000 K's (approx. 337,000 miles) and at least the last half on LP Gas. These were original heads no hardened valve seats but it is unknown if they are the original heads on this motor. Ron has owned and used the ute for approx. 12 years.

One of the reasons the Cleveland was dropped from production in Australia is it couldn't meet our smog requirements of that era and Ford Australia wasn't interested in spending millions on converting it to an EFI when it could import Windsors already EFI'd. The other bonus with the Windsor is much lighter weight.

So there we are. Supplies of good used heads here are drying up. The market has inflated because of it and then there's the export market. 6" 302 Conrods are also a "dime a dozen". Converting a 351 to 6" Rods although attractive brings a whole raft of compression ratio issues when used with Aussie heads. Dished Pistons are real thin on the ground in Australia unless you're prepared to pay $800-$900 for a set of some forged 22cc dish types. I've been there just recently.

I've probably created more questions than answers, but if you guys want anymore info on the Aussie motors drop a post or an e-mail and I'll try an answer them.

Cheers............Barry.

 

"Dished Pistons are real thin on the ground in Australia unless you're prepared to pay $800-$900 for a set of some forged 22cc dish types"

sound's like maybe Tim might have a market down under for his zero-deck pistons (or some variant thereof for 351/302C's) :-)

 

Hey Barry,

The Carter Thermoquad arrived on the 351 and 302 in late 1976 with the release of the XC Falcon. Before that, the XA/XB Falcon GT ran the US Motorcraft 4300 spreadbore carb. The only GTs that got a Holley were the Phase I/II/III and RPO 83 cars. Yep, the 302 did have the WW series Stromberg 2bbl while the 351C 2V motors had the Motorcraft 2100 2bbl. All US crate motors where used up by Jan 1973 at which point, the Geelong cast Aussie 351 with open chamber small port heads, Aussie cast small port 4bbl intake manifold and US supplied 4300's became the standard "4V" GT motor. This small port 4V motor had been used since mid 1972 on all FMX equipped Falcon GTs. Ford ceased official production of the Clevo in 1982 but motors were still dropped into the early 1983 build XE Fairmonts and police cars. There was a "back door" supply line up till 1985 for Pantera production. Most info on this was that it was just to use up the last of Ford AU bench stock of motors. And to think, most "Yanks" think the Clevo died off in 1974 when infact it was produced for 3 years longer than the 400.

Cheers,

--J

 

G'day 73XA,

Thanks for the additional information. I'm pleased I got most of it right. Don't want to lead you blokes astray with incorrect info.. I have posted a photo of an Aussie 302-351C Cast Iron 4bbl Intake manifold for anybody interested. Here is the link:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...142186&width=0

As 73XAFalcon indicated, these manifolds are 2V or small port size.

The 4V "GT" motors with FMX were also used in the Aussie LTD's from '73-'75 prior to the Thermoquad equiped motors. I beleive the only change was slightly lower compression and consequently slightly lower HP rating.

My father had a late 1974 build LTD from new, wish I had it now. It was a great Hwy cruiser and it saw lots of long range country trips at "speed".

Cheers...........Barry.

 

Tim..I installed the plastic lifter retainers..had to file the feet down at the (valley)corners to make them lay flat but it looks good- seems a lot sturdier than the horseshoes.

Also - will send those 9.25 pushrods back..don't know what i was thinking- had a few numbers and remembered the wrong one. I need 9 1/16 or 9.065... made some 060 shims out of med sized hardened washers- took some time but found some consistent ones that i ground down- matches the base of the rocker seat perf. still a little inside but not going to stress. It's a heck of a lot more solid feeling than those studs i have in the wheezer. The cam and lifters call for studs though and i'll likely do that next time.

I'll call.

 

I forget the subject here,,, Oh yea, Hi Tim, Hows the weather out there????

Nice job on the Aussie heads, Price is right and I know the work is great! Also like the options on heads,, Another Tim Meyers custom customer gets what he wants!!! Plus he gets your knowledge! Good Job Tim!

 

yea, back to subject i guess. looking into building a 302c for a '75 mustang II...oops..car...

Are you getting the short 302 rods as well? I know they are a dime/dozen.