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CNC headwork vs. by hand

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Tabcon

Tabcon

Jedi Warrior
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I'd like to have several performance modifications made to a TR4 head such as porting, shaving, etc. and I was wondering if you guys have a preference insofar as how the head work is performed, i.e. CNC or by hand.

I'm sure much of it has to do with the skill of the guy at the other end of the CNC or the grinder, but all things being equal, which is your preference?

Based on your answer, could you please recommend someone that you would recommend for this service?

I've been looking around for some CNC shops online, but it seems that unless you have a Chevy, Ford or Dodge hemi that does wheelies, the shops that do Triumph type stuff are few and far between.

Thanks!

Tab
 
Go to www.scca.com and find a local region near you. Then email the site. This club still has one of the largest group of LBCs racing all over the country. You should be able to locate a shop thru them. They'll know who to go to or even give you a helping hand.
 
Here in the St. Louis Region we have quite a few TR4s, Spits, TR6s, Midgets, Sprites, Tigers, running in Racing. They have no problem finding head work. Also, another option is your nearest Marina. Boat repair is still in the iron head catagory on bigger vessels and the shops do porting for race and generator set-ups. Not so much for performance, but in fuel economy and pull/push power. Iron work is still out there, depends on location and area. Speed shops will CC and do flow tests, might have to go back and forth.
 
Tab, as mentioned, not that much volume as in numbers of jobs, in our heads, so no big desire to write a CNC program for one. I can port your head, give me a shout.
 
One of the problems I see in CNC porting old head castings is the accuracy of the wall thickness. It would be too easy to blow through the intake/exhaust wall into the water jacket or whatever if the cores of the casting were slightly off from one head to the next...
 
Small world...lol

Thanks Hap.

I sent you an email yesterday and you responded today. I also left a message for you and just sent you another email.

Some of the guys here had a great idea that instead of messing with the pristine stock engine now in place, that I should just build a second one and swap them out. This way, I can convert the car back to dead stock at any time.

Today I bought a used short block and head we can use for the rebuild. I'd like to have them shipped directly to your shop so I don't have to pay for shipping here and then again to you.

I left you my phone number in the email I sent you, so please give me a shout tomorrow when you have time. I'd like to talk about what I'd like to do as well as sending you a list of internals, carb's, etc. I'd like to use in the build.

Oh, my name is not really "Tab", it's Tommy. "Tabcon" is an abbreviation for my construction company here in Louisiana.

Thanks and I look forward to talking with you about it. I'm psyched!

T.
 
Good talking to you Tab, look forward to working with you. I know another Tab from down your way, you may have of heard him, Tab Benoit. Don't get too crazy partying down there on Fat Tuesday:smile:
 
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