21 replies to this topic

[Udo]

Was down my relatives garage today using their lathe and got chatting over tea and food as you do when they mentioned they had a couple of speedwell alloy cylinder heads from back in the 60's / 70's when they used to race them.

Basically they have one head that has been machined and used and one bare casting as it came out the mould

The heads are 7 seven port but not in the usual way of the inlets at the front and exhaust at the back making them into a crossflow head but all ports are at the rear.

The 3 exhaust ports are in the normal positions and between them the inlets each split into 2 ports so making the 4 inlets which then had inlets which mated upto twin weber carbs but using all 4 barrells, not split webers as on a 5 port head.

Both castings are cast with the speedwell logo by the thermostat housing end

Has anybody any information on these heads at all please?

Photos should be below

Cheers

Ian

[Udo]

I've just found it on here

http://mk1-performan...l_documents.htm

on page 15 of the "final catalogue 1970" the big picture on the right of the page but no info on it at all, in the pictures you can see the 4 inlets

[mk1mark]

The Speedwell 7 port was made for racing only, most used 4 amal GP's converted for use as a primitive FI system. They were fairly successful in their day, but in comparison to a well sorted 5 porter nowadays they are pants.

Do you have the manifolds for them? I have never seen Weber manifolds for these heads.

Contact me direct through my site, I may be able to find a bit more info if you are interested.

They are more of a curiosity than a performance part nowadays, but interesting none the less.

Mark F
(MK1-performance-conversions.co.uk)

Edited by mk1mark, 05 February 2009 - 08:37 AM.

[Udo]

Thanks for the info Mark, have sent you an email last night when I posted this.

The weber manifolds were made by my relatives (who own the heads) and yes they still have them, apparently in their day the car with this head in and the webers went very well, going to have to ask and see if I can get a bit more info.

Understand the curosity rather than performance in mpdern times but di you think there is any value in them (other than weighing them in lol!)

cheers

Ian

[Rosslin Racing]

prone to cracking as well, so check that if buy one.

[Pie]

Thanks for the info Mark, have sent you an email last night when I posted this.

The weber manifolds were made by my relatives (who own the heads) and yes they still have them, apparently in their day the car with this head in and the webers went very well, going to have to ask and see if I can get a bit more info.

Understand the curosity rather than performance in mpdern times but do you think there is any value in them (other than weighing them in lol!)

cheers

Ian

If you decide to weigh them in, ill have one. Even if its just to look at!!

[ANON]

just showed the pics to a mate of mine, he has heard they were used on the A40.
if you can get a pic of the manifold that would be groovy to see.

the ironic thing is he's got a speedwell 7 port and 2 A series heads that may well be otwo of only a couple in the world.
one of them is built up and the other is an unmachined casting as well. bit of a coincinence !!
if you can guess what it is i'll see if he will let me get a pic of it for you, it may well interest you

Edited by ANON, 05 February 2009 - 03:27 PM.

[Udo]

prone to cracking as well, so check that if buy one.

I think from what I have read on mk1 performance it is more a porosity issue than cracking

Pie-if they were mine I would rather keep also wouldn't actually weigh them in

Anon and Mark - I'll try to remember to get some pictures of the manifolds for the webers

I think its odd that they even have an unmachined casting, can't understand why speedwell would sell them like that?

[tedmcedd]

can i have one!?

[Udo]

can i have one!?

How much do you want to pay the owner of them? I'll pass the message on

[ANON]

I think its odd that they even have an unmachined casting, can't understand why speedwell would sell them like that?

did they buy the unmachined one new from speedwell ?
it wouldn't suprise me if they were available if anyone wanted to do their own work on it, or it may of come out of the back door

[Udo]

I think its odd that they even have an unmachined casting, can't understand why speedwell would sell them like that?

did they buy the unmachined one new from speedwell ?
it wouldn't suprise me if they were available if anyone wanted to do their own work on it, or it may of come out of the back door

They can't remember where they got them from in the first place.

They do do head work etc and have the machinery so wouldn't surprise me if they bought a blank casting...or if it came fromshall we say another source

[ANON]

...or if it came fromshall we say another source

even colin chapman was known for sneaking engines etc out of backdoors !!

[tedmcedd]

no idea how much they are worth... but i really wouldnt mind one at all!!

[Udo]

no idea how much they are worth... but i really wouldnt mind one at all!!

Neither have I but make an offer and I'll pass it on

I'm going to post the pictures over on mk1 performance also to see what people reckon on there