Glad to see you are making progress. I found myself in a similar banger situation last year... and wound up machining mine from round bar. Cool stuff is never easy... That’s what makes bangers special
Hey Mark, You are dedicated…and did good ! That racer of yours is a beauty and original patina looking… love it !! Any racing history you know of to share ? Rick.
Hi Rick, I've been busy researching and building with gusto. This is the closest I've gotten to on the history front, Joie Ray in what looks very like the car I have. Rockers and shafts now machined, remaining work includes drilling the oil galleries etc. Getting there one step at a time. Mark.
Just to clarify a point- the postwar 4 ports used a small cup over the valve spring that the rocker arm made contact with rather than the rocker arm tip bearing directly on the valve stem. This took all the side load off of the valve stem. I'm not sure if the Vesco or Butler heads were set up this way or not, but it would be great if someone could confirm this.
I am piggybacking on this very informative thread about Riley OHV's. I am the lucky owner of a 31 Ford roadster fitted with a Riley 4-port head. It was built and raced in vintage groups on the USWC 15 years ago. I've run it as a street car past 5 years, competing in Hot Rod hill climbs and (dirt) drags here in Colorado. The engine is a B-block with pressurized oil; it used twin Winfield cards and a Wico mag. I emphasize that I bought the car complete and have only made cosmetic changes and routine servicing-my technical knowledge is limited!! Reason for this post. The head gasket has blown; at least I'm hoping that's the extent of the problem. I've stripped off the ancillaries-magneto, fuel and external oil lines; throttle linkage; alternator/pump belt. Plugs are removed and all the head nuts removed in a progressive sequence. All that remains attached to the head is the water pump, which I believe is a V8 pump, and the valve gear. What of this needs to be removed-if any-before the head should lift off? At the moment the head isn't loose, but I haven't applied any pressure yet to lift it before I know what else might be securing it to the block. Hoping that this group can advise me. Thanks all.
Valve gear needs to be removed. There is a head bolt under it. I would also remove the pump. When it goes back together torque all head bolts then assemble valve train. After first and second warmup run head bolts will need retorqued. Valve train needs to be removed to do this. Big pain in the ass but it needs done. A cast iron head weighs around 80 pounds. I would also remove intake manifold . Can I ask what size Winfields. Good luck.
I remember this car I was at the starting line at the HRHC. Such rad car! 62 pan is right. Call Steve Serr Miller Hi Speed head and buy a Best gasket and use copper coat and torque 3 times. I have one and I never “lug” it and I learned the torque curve. My Winfield’ C’s run best in a box I put them in. Still much to learn about such a simple carb. High elevation is my excuse. Brieley makes a cam for this head that will wind past 5k my friend will attest this rpm will loosen the flywheel. my excuse
Thanks for the advice. That job will wait til next week and I'm sure there'll be an update to post here-hopefully a positive one. I cant see any markings on the carbs to confirm the size so I'll measure them when i take the manifold off. Here's photos of them in situ.
The spare gasket I'll be fitting comes from H Speed, and I'll need couple of spares so be ordering again. Thanks for the advice and kind words. Sorry we're missing the HRHC again this year, but the only blessing is that i can take my time repairing the head
Over the weekend at the RPM Drags I talked to Max Jr from H&H Antique Engine Rebuilding. He acquired all George Butlers Riley Patterns,Heads ( In various in Stages) and parts. He is probably going to sell complete kits next year.
Hi my name is Tom and I am putting together the same head. Do you know what king of carburetors you are running? I have two, 2" Flynn's I my run on mine. Depending on which way you turn your manifold, you can run side draft, or down draft. Do you know anything about Flynn's?
Look it over carefully. My concern would be that every good casting would have been machined. I think I would check Charlie Price of Vintage Speed as I remember him making some 4 port Riley's in the past. Check out Charlie Price on the various forums I could be wrong but I think I remember a few negative comments about him. Charlie Stephens
It might be worth a try to contact Rick Vesco. George Riley owed John Vesco(Rick's father) money when he passed. John got the patterns and tooling as payment. He had the raw casings done and his friend and one time partner, Fred Lobello did all the finish machining on everything. Rick and I talked about his dad, Fred, and the Rileys when we attended the Dry Lakes Hall of Fame, and Rick was inducted. I didn't know John, but Fred was a dear friend of mine for over 40 years. If you contact the SCTA, they might be able to help locate Rick. I know he owns a large motorcycle dealership in Brigham City Utah.
Thanks for the history lesson deucemac ! The Riley 4Port powered Vesco tank was featured in one of the very early issues of Hot Rod I bought back in 1961-62.
Gee, that roadster looks familiar. I typeset and composed (real type!) the first Antique Ford Parts "catalog" for Rick James decades ago. Pre this one. We listed . . . Vulcan Part #201, Stromberg Carburetor to Winfield Manifold Vulcan Part #102, Winfield Carburetor to Stromberg Manifold or something along those lines. Just turn it around when you show the customer -- you get the idea. This was pre-1972 when I was a hot metal newspaper printer.
Old cast iron Riley 4Port vs. a later OR reproduction, are there major differences, or is it just easier to cast aluminum?
You're probably right! Not sure of the differences? Also easier to find a reproduction than original.
I remember my original cast iron Riley 4Port was really heavy for its size, must have been a good blend of material.
In this picture it shows pressurized oil inlets. Where dose the oil return. My 4 port does not have returns. Where are yours? [email protected]
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