Haha, this is great! You beat me to it! My criteria were slightly different to yours though (small bore). Mine were
- Has to be compatible with standard manifolds
- Has to be compatible with standard cam layout
- Has to out-perform a standard 12G295 casting by a minimum 25%
- Has to be cost effective (where it fell on its knees)
(Pictures Deleted as everyone's just seen them!!!)
I applied modern port design data to it, used modern standards for CSA and port taper. The prototype did outflow the 295 substantially above 0.060" (below that it was too hard to tell because of the valve seat... subsequent designs I've done I've actually inserted a steel seat into it so that I can use proper seat angles).
When I worked out the cost to produce I realised that people probably weren't going to want to pay for it.
Interesting that we both ended up with a chamber not too dissimilar from the stock one, with the space available and other constraints it was hard to beat that basic love heart shape!
Love your work mate!
Really lovely work, not seen anything like this before, really clever original thinking. I find it really interesting to see how different people come up with so many different solutions to what is basically the same starting point: "I want better performance from the cylinder head" like you say you started with some very different criteria so you have come up with a very different and ingenious solution.
Can I ask; with the exhaust ports, are they water cooled over the top or are you relying on oil cooling? When I looked at up-drafting the exhausts, like you have, I couldn't get any water jacket over the top. Also before someone else asks are you going Iron or ally on this?
I understand what you mean about production costs, I am not sure whether I can make a cost effective product either, and I think costs out here are cheaper than the UK. It all depends what people are prepaired to pay of course!
So are you going to take this further (You really should!)? Will it be cast or machined from solid? If you are casting do look into 3D printing, at least for your first prototypes as It can get you a very accurate part quickly and at a very reasonable cost.
But far more importantly; you can go into your workshop without shoes on? If I did that I would end up in A&E having my paws stitched up...
Good luck and keep going! (and don't forget to add some spark plugs...)
Thanks for the feedback... And no, I definitely wouldn't get away with walking around barefoot in a work shop either that photo was taken in my garage at home.
As you can probably see from the prototype when I was printing it, I hadn't yet added water jackets, but I don't believe it would have been a big issue as my design was a lot taller than the original which would have provided ample room.
The plan was to cast them in aluminium. Its not cost effective to do a billet head unless its a prototype or a limited production run. I think a lot of people shy away from casting because pattern making is something that can seem overwhelming for a lot of people and if you're relying on a third party it can become cost prohibitive (though not as bad as some people think). I bought my Printer with the intent of using it to print patterns, I have a background in toolmaking so its not really something that scares me
I'm surprised by your comments that the cost of manufacturing is cheaper in Australia than the UK, half the reason I'm no longer working as a toolmaker was the lack of work (and reasonable wages) out here, we struggle to compete with the Asian market.
If there was serious interest I'd probably pick it back up again. The problem is that for every 10 people who say they're interested probably only 2 of them are serious