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Canadian Flathead Aluminum Heads

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by ricardo_rocha, Dec 20, 2009.

  1. ricardo_rocha
    Joined: Nov 29, 2008
    Posts: 765

    ricardo_rocha
    Member
    from Brazil

    My fellow Hambers,

    I have a 1951 Mercury Sport Sedan made in Windsor, Canada...Im running its original engine, wich is a 255 8CM Flathead...I heard that the Canadian 8CMs used to bring Aluminum heads...How can I be sure about that?...
     
  2. newjersm3
    Joined: Oct 26, 2005
    Posts: 120

    newjersm3
    Member

  3. Flatman
    Joined: Dec 20, 2005
    Posts: 1,975

    Flatman
    Member

    All the ones I've seen are iron. I've heard there used to be a company back in the day that cast aluminum heads marked "Made in Canada" that the racers in the states ran, referring to them as cheater heads.

    Flatman
     
  4. George G
    Joined: Jun 28, 2005
    Posts: 1,274

    George G
    Member

    Some 1939 fords came with them. but not all engines had them. No factory alum heads in'51
     

  5. FASI
    Joined: May 11, 2001
    Posts: 1,138

    FASI
    Member

    I have a pair of new old stock Made in Canada cheater heads. They are aluminum and I believe are 8.5 compression ratio. They are the early 59A style. I don't believe they made them for the 8BA engine.
     
  6. Jeff Norwell
    Joined: Aug 20, 2003
    Posts: 14,809

    Jeff Norwell
    MODERATOR
    Staff Member

    I have a set, given to me by a old Track racer.All Aluminum,The have 8BA cast on the heads,with made in Canada on each.
    All these heads..early or late were cast at the Alcan factory in Kingston Ontario.
    Mine are late heads.
     
  7. Flatman
    Joined: Dec 20, 2005
    Posts: 1,975

    Flatman
    Member

    People give you the coolest things....:rolleyes::D

    Flatman
     
  8. Rockerhead
    Joined: Nov 16, 2006
    Posts: 321

    Rockerhead
    Member Emeritus

    Back in the 1950s Phil Weiand made and sold aluminum heads for flatheads that said CANADA on them. They were plain appearing with no fins. Phil offered both 7.5 and 8.5 compression ratios. They were especially popular for use with competition where the engines had to be 'stock'. Very often the user painted the heads Ford green.
    Hot rodders rarely bought these heads because they looked stock.
    Don
    www.montgomeryhotrodbooks.cim
     

    Attached Files:

    GearHeadDiver likes this.
  9. jambottle
    Joined: Apr 11, 2003
    Posts: 564

    jambottle
    Member

    the 49 ford and mercury heads are the rare ones.early in fords production of the new 49 ford and mercury engines ,they had trouble with their iron head supply and had to outsource some aluminum heads from alcan canada.they were only used in the first few months of 49.most went on the monarch and meteor engines.once ford caught up in production of their own iron heads ,they were no longer used.i have had a few sets both nos and used.they were very nicely done castings.if i can dig up some old pictures ;i will post them .
     
  10. Jeff Norwell
    Joined: Aug 20, 2003
    Posts: 14,809

    Jeff Norwell
    MODERATOR
    Staff Member

    Here are some pics....
    Sorry they have C8BA.....my bad.
    :)
     

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  11. Candy-Man
    Joined: Mar 21, 2006
    Posts: 1,715

    Candy-Man
    Member

    All the above are correct. These heads were cast at the Alcan Factory in Kingston, Ontario Canada which were manufactured for both the early and late flat heads. However; the late heads, which Jeff shows a picture of above, are very rare compared to the early aluminum heads. The early heads are still floating around out there but as I said, the late heads are becoming extremely sought after.

    How do I know this, well I live just north of Kingston Ontario Canada, as numerous family members were employed by Alcan Kingston Works.

    Cheater heads, well Weiand manufactured heads without the fins, however; these were obviously aftermarket heads as the aluminum heads pictured by Norwell were a gennie Ford item....

    There has been much discussion regarding these original aluminum heads, with a few different opinions, but some very knowledgable dirt circle track racers and antique guru's from my area share the same opinion.....

    "MADE IN CANADA" is embossed on the heads as you can see above picture, just above Norwell's right hand.
     
    Last edited: Dec 20, 2009
  12. Just an added note . As mentioned the earlier heads are in fact easier to find. The later c8ba heads only came on 1949 fords in canada , and only
    the first 3 months of producion in 49 were they used ! They then switched back to steel heads.
    They also made aluminum late heads for canadian mercury
    very rare ! combustion chamber shape was different.
     

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  13. Candy-Man
    Joined: Mar 21, 2006
    Posts: 1,715

    Candy-Man
    Member

    Thats right, on the east coast of Canada, the Merc heads are more common, however; still very rare....
     
  14. hotrodfrank
    Joined: Jul 28, 2009
    Posts: 98

    hotrodfrank
    Member
    from dearing,ga

    i have a 35 flathead engine with aluminum heads, was told that it was a canadian engine, no fins
     
  15. Candy-Man
    Joined: Mar 21, 2006
    Posts: 1,715

    Candy-Man
    Member

    All Canadian aluminum heads had markings...

    Remember, old time circle track racers in Ontario, Canada and upstate N.Y. would cut the fins off of aftermarket heads as the rules for dirt circle track racing once stated: "No finned heads". Hence, the racers taking this rule to the letter of the word, would mill the fins off of the heads.

    The rules then stated; "No aftermarket heads", however; Canadian heads would still be permitted under this rule.

    The third rule change, finally read; "No aluminum heads" as the majority of racers and rule makers were unaware of factory aluminum heads. This is quoted from an old time circle track racer, the gentleman I introduced Jeff Norwell to who Jeff purchased his heads from.
     
  16. ricardo_rocha
    Joined: Nov 29, 2008
    Posts: 765

    ricardo_rocha
    Member
    from Brazil

    Thank you all for the information...Great stuff...I will try to learn more based on this...
     
  17. Doc.
    Joined: Jul 16, 2005
    Posts: 3,558

    Doc.
    Member Emeritus

     
  18. R Pope
    Joined: Jan 23, 2006
    Posts: 3,309

    R Pope
    Member

    I have a set of 59A aluminum heads, never seen or knew about the 8BA's. Love to find a set!
     
  19. Bruce Lancaster
    Joined: Oct 9, 2001
    Posts: 21,681

    Bruce Lancaster
    Member Emeritus

    Does yours have the aluminum manifold? I have two types, both C1CM marked, likely auto and standard trans differences.
    Joblot sold off the last big batch of real C7RA early heads around 1970, and at that time they also sold Canadian late heads...I do not remember prefix on those.
    The Canadian cheater heads all ended up in New York/Connecticut supporting the last flathead stock car circuit in the '70's...
    Slightly before this time, the old Honest Charley speed shop had both the real and fake Canadians.
     
  20. jambottle
    Joined: Apr 11, 2003
    Posts: 564

    jambottle
    Member

    here are mine. they were nos and i ran them for one summer before selling the car and the guy wanted the finned heads i had ,so i gladly changed them.i am looking for 32 3w doors in any condition? chris
     

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  21. tommy
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 14,757

    tommy
    Member Emeritus

    [​IMG]

    The 59A style Canadian head. The Weiand cheater heads were marked on the intake side of the hose connection where it could not be seen during tech inspection.

    [​IMG]

    It looks like Fenton made a cheater head also.




    Did all the Canadian corvettes have 9 fin valve covers too?:D
     
  22. jambottle
    Joined: Apr 11, 2003
    Posts: 564

    jambottle
    Member

    that`s is true all the canadian built corvettes had 9 fin valve covers until they ran out of stock in 1972.of course they used a lot of the 9 fin valve covers on the canadian built beaumonts and acadians up until the supply ran out in 1972.you can tell the canadian 9 fin cover by the grouve that is cut out of the top fin.apparently it was for clearance for the windshield snow clearing option.
     

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  23. StrickV8
    Joined: Dec 20, 2005
    Posts: 1,146

    StrickV8
    Member

    [​IMG].


    I've got a set of late model Merc heads (and a single to replace the one that's been welded). Also have a couple of the aluminum Canadian Merc 4-bolt intake manifolds. Gonna polish the Canadian heads to run on my AV8 I'm building.
     
  24. holeshot
    Joined: Sep 18, 2009
    Posts: 1,519

    holeshot
    BANNED
    from Waxahachie

    RECARDO...man i was braught up in the 50s, and i can tell you clearly, when the O.H.V. engines came along we never looked back at a flathead. i'am amased at the amount of people TODAY who have flatheads. i just don't get the appeal...POP.
     
  25. fordcpe
    Joined: Nov 4, 2005
    Posts: 646

    fordcpe
    Member

    I have a mint right side C8ba alum. head but still need the left side if anyone would like to sell one to me. I think they will look great all buffed up or just stock. Darrell
     
  26. bobbooth
    Joined: Mar 8, 2006
    Posts: 383

    bobbooth
    Member
    from limeyland

    Hey dont forget the "37" ones:)
    [​IMG]
     
  27. ricardo_rocha
    Joined: Nov 29, 2008
    Posts: 765

    ricardo_rocha
    Member
    from Brazil

    wow, looks great!
     
  28. tinmann
    Joined: Nov 11, 2005
    Posts: 1,588

    tinmann
    Member

    I just put a pair of these bad boys in the classifieds if anyone is interested.......... shameless plug.
     
  29. fonti
    Joined: Nov 28, 2006
    Posts: 494

    fonti
    Member

    Could buy an engine with these heads on. It's a 48-59L Canadian truck block with these Weiand cheater heads. They say with 8.5:1 compression. The block is bored to 3 5/16 with a 4" Merc crank and a 3/4 regound race cam...
    well - what you think, you Flathead guru's?

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
  30. Flat Ernie
    Joined: Jun 5, 2002
    Posts: 8,406

    Flat Ernie
    Tech Editor

    C7RA heads are fine stock heads.
     

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