101 cylinder head critique

[multicam]

What's wrong with this head?
It was from a race car that went over 8,000 rpm.

My question is....... Can it be reused with some machine work??
The exhaust valve guides look OK. Number two exhaust valve guide is missing.

Note the corrosion around the water passages. Can that be filled in , or just planned down.
Head thickness is 3.39 inches.

The top side looks fine, will post a photo of the other side soon. Cam bearing surfaces look fine. Some gouging around the top of the valve recesses took place .
Will post a photo of that tomorrow.

[BlpltGTV]

Looking at the pictures, I'd guess the valve broke and bounced around a little bit. I bet if the chamber were carefully redone it would be good to go, however you would want to remove the same amount of material from the other 3 so everything stays equal. The head on my track car was given the good to go with some small nicks in the combustion chamber on one of the cylinders. (Its not an Alfa head, but it did set me back $3k to have built. Everything was cc'd and it works great.)

Take the head to a good shop and see what they say.

Will

[Andrew]

That stated thickness is way too thin; you might want to measure again. Should be 4.410" when new if a Normale.
Yes, broken valve, broken spark plug, broken ring, or washer or something that fell down the intake. The edges is where there is the least room between the piston and the head, so that's where you see the most damage.
This corrosion is not bad for a 45 year old head compared to some I've seen. The area around the combustion chambers is the most critical for head gasket sealing. It can be welded and surfaced, the less taken off the better.

Andrew

[multicam]

Sorry, I meant to write 4.39 inches.
Thanks for the comments. Will bring it to a local speed shop that does Alfa machine work.

[alfazagato]

You mention "some gouging around the top of the valve recesses". Do you mean the valve seats? If it is the valve seats, it is possible to have these taken out and replaced but then I would suspect, with all this proposed engineering work, a second-hand head might be financially viable.

[Gordon Raymond]

Aluminum heads, depending on value or uniqueness can almost always be repaired by a shop that specializes in this type of work. An engine builder that does this type of work for me (and many others) is Motorkraft Ltd, in Noblesville, Indiana. John Hajduk is the owner, and master machinist, and has been doing this type of work on vintage Ferrari race engines for 50+ years. If John cannot fix it, ready to race, he will advise you. There are financial limits as to what work might be advisable, particularly if a undamaged head is available at a reasonable price. John's work is priced right, he is one of the most honest individuals I know. I have been doing business with his shop for 40+ years, and have never had a problem. He can be reached at Motorkraft at 317-575-8411. Tell him I sent you!

[multicam]

Raymond, thanks for the referral. I will give him a call.

Here are the other issues with the top side of the head. Looks like the cams wandered a bit and/or they were oversized. The cam shaft bearing surfaces look OK, remarkable also, the tappet slide in without binding.

All in all , it looks like a few bucks is needed to rebuild this head.

Frank

[Gordon Raymond]

Hi Frank,
If they are all like that on one side, it is probably because a cam of more than 10.7 lift was tried. These sometimes require notching the follower towers for clearance. This job is usually done with a mill and the notches are nice and even, though it can also be done with a die grinder, or some other cutting tool, and depending on the users skill, or resolve, may be neat, or ... umm... messed up. The notches are of no concern as long as the bore does not rub the follower.

[multicam]

The notches are on both sides , the side [with valves ] is the intake side and [without] the exhaust side.
Are over sized cams use on both sides or just the intake.
Thanks
Frank

[Gordon Raymond]

Either or both, depending on application. A common Alfa head modification, though usually done more .... neatly. Contact Alfar7, Richard Jemison, "The CAMMASTER" for a photo of what the modification IS supposed to look like!

[Alfar7]

With the damage around the combustion chamber I would have concerns over seats & such. Guide bore in that head where missing might be messed up as well. Head most likely is not really worth cost of repairs.

Pics below are of cam clearancing, one head done back in the 60`s or 70`s by hand.

The entire top of the cam follower casting can be milled away , to the bottom of the taper cut as well to make notches all that is needed. Nothing lost but excess aluminium...

[Gordon Raymond]

There you go! Richards second photo is what this job is supposed to look like! Thanks RJ! His opening paragraph is more confirmation that IF this head is repaired, it needs be done by someone familiar with this type of restoration. It is NOT just a welders repair.

[101/105guy]

Hmmm......
Anybody notice that the notches on Franks head are 90 deg away from the cam lobe ?
If someone was making clearance for the lobe, they blew it.

[Gordon Raymond]

Hmmmm Indeed! Went RIGHT PAST ME! They were probably making room for one 'o them solid liftin' Chevy camz w/ some lobes filed 'offa it!
Geez! What do you suppose they were doing? Great catch!

[velocedoc]

I have seen heads worse than this being used on the street. One had the inside of the dome all beat up from a sucked valve but it didn't leak, so someone tossed it back on. I agree with all that is said here. A competent machinist can make all of this back like new. Install new seats, guides and seals while your at it. Richard sure does beautiful work.