Looking for a GTA head-

justcallmefred · #1 (**permalink**) 12-11-2007, 02:34 PM

Mid way through a restoration only to discover the head is N.G. Fully realizing how scarce they are would never the less appreciate any leads, thanks, Fred. Autostrada 360-588-8311.

**sfalfa** · #2 (**permalink**) 12-11-2007, 04:14 PM

Contact Merritt Cardin: (510) 396-7893. I don't know if he has a head, but he advertised a bunch of other GTA bits for sale (like the magnesium cam cover) in the latest "Overheard Cams"

If that phone number doesn't work - let me know - I pulled it off a search on this site, but I can double check with his ad at home if for some reason that # is wrong...

**dan farmer** · #3 (**permalink**) 12-11-2007, 10:53 PM

I've got Merritt's phone number listed as 510-797-2446. That worked last year.....

-df

gta776126 · #4 (**permalink**) 12-12-2007, 02:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by justcallmefred

Mid way through a restoration only to discover the head is N.G. Fully realizing how scarce they are would never the less appreciate any leads, thanks, Fred. Autostrada 360-588-8311.

**George Willet** · #5 (**permalink**) 12-12-2007, 09:51 AM

Fred, If I remember correctly, Ken McBride knew of a head for sale earlier this summer, and he was thinking of buying it as a spare.

**sfalfa** · #6 (**permalink**) 12-12-2007, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dan farmer

I've got Merritt's phone number listed as 510-797-2446. That worked last year.....

-df

alfa2go · #7 (**permalink**) 12-12-2007, 10:54 PM

How about the complete engine on the Classic Alfas site?

Seinista · #8 (**permalink**) 12-13-2007, 12:11 AM

AFRA S.a.s. - Benvenuto / Welcome

new heads available.

Alex · #9 (**permalink**) 12-13-2007, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seinista

AFRA S.a.s. - Benvenuto / Welcome

new heads available.

Seinista · #10 (**permalink**) 12-14-2007, 12:18 AM

Is it?
Didn't know that. How so? I thought they were remanufactured normal heads, welded and redrilled, but what seems to be wrong with them?
Anyone know?

Alex · #11 (**permalink**) 12-14-2007, 07:03 AM

I heard that they are fresh castings, but the quality was sufficiently poor to make a well-known racer here in the UK commission his own castings. I guess that it can get misleading when too many second-hand stories are passed around, so maybe someone with genuine experience of these heads should comment.

Jim Evans (also in the UK) makes those welded-up GTA heads, but he's a very difficult man to contact. I'm not sure he even has an email address! A shame, because he'd have a lot to contribute to this forum ...

Alex.

alfatwincam · #12 (**permalink**) 12-14-2007, 11:55 AM

Hi there.
Can you explain why the head needs replacing? There are alot of clever engineering companies about that can work their magic and rescue so called junk heads.

Mel.

alfazagato · #13 (**permalink**) 12-14-2007, 12:10 PM

A jolly good question, I can only suppose that after numerous machinings the thickness of the head falls below a certain threshold. At that point the compression ratio gets alarmingly high and the valves start to become a little too intimate with the pistons. Why thicker gaskets can't be used is, again, another good question and perhaps someone could explain both to me and Mel. Thanks.

Alex · #14 (**permalink**) 12-14-2007, 12:17 PM

I've seen extra-thick copper gaskets to remedy this problem but I seem to recall someone saying that this is not a viable long-term solution because of electolysis issues between the copper and the aluminium, unless you're only going to build up the engine when you plan on using it ...

justcallmefred · #15 (**permalink**) 12-14-2007, 06:09 PM

This particular head had the valve spring pockets machined down then epoxied when the H20 area was breached. Over-porting may have also compromised this area. I've seen cars running double washers under the head nuts when planed "too much". That particular car ran special pistons w/ deeper valve pockets. Thanks everyone for the leads- have not confirmed anything yet but am pursuing a couple of things, Fred.