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New DW alloy head
- Thread starter JAV
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Legal Bill
Jedi Knight
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I think most of the dislike you hear is cost related. As I see it, they are filling a need and if you have the need, you pay the price. I have no performance need that requires a $4,000 cylinder head, but I don't begrudge them the right to make money on the huge investment they have made in the development of major engine components. I'm glad they are doing this.
For a street motor, I would stick with a good ole cast iron head. I have been told that using anti-freeze with a cast iron block and aluminum head, the chemical reaction caused the aluminum head to eventually become corroded.
For a race Healey, in my opinion an aluminum is the way to go.
I have the older version, installed a couple of years ago (just before the new version came out) on my race Healey, stock CC combustion chamber. We use water with water wetter as the coolant.
They still need tweeking before installation. I had to have the push rod holes opened up slightly, disassembled and checked and then the head flowed.
For a race Healey, in my opinion an aluminum is the way to go.
I have the older version, installed a couple of years ago (just before the new version came out) on my race Healey, stock CC combustion chamber. We use water with water wetter as the coolant.
They still need tweeking before installation. I had to have the push rod holes opened up slightly, disassembled and checked and then the head flowed.
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I installed a DW AL head on my 100 in 2001 after the original iron head developed a number of cracks. At the time there were three stages of tune and I opted for the middle one--I believe it was called "Fast Road" or "Fast Rallye". At the same time I also installed a set of DW's tubular headers and steel head gasket along with some other upgraded internals from other suppliers. I use antifreeze, at least in the cold months, and have had no problems with electrolysis/corrosion.
As RA reports some tweaking was involved and while some may charge this off to poor quality control I think that the idiosyncratic nature of our cars, especially the early ones, is definitely a factor and fitting is usually necessary for many items from other suppliers as well.
As to cost I'll agree that DW is certainly expensive but think about this: There are at least three or four outfits producing alloy heads for 100's against a total production run of around 15,000 units for BN 1's and 2's. I don't know how many 100's are still on the road--let's say 50%--so each seller must amortize development, tooling, etc. costs over a relatively small number of potential customers. Given all that I doubt that anyone is making a fortune in selling this item and in any case I am glad that I was able to purchase a reliable replacement head rather than having to source and fit another crack-prone iron head.
As RA reports some tweaking was involved and while some may charge this off to poor quality control I think that the idiosyncratic nature of our cars, especially the early ones, is definitely a factor and fitting is usually necessary for many items from other suppliers as well.
As to cost I'll agree that DW is certainly expensive but think about this: There are at least three or four outfits producing alloy heads for 100's against a total production run of around 15,000 units for BN 1's and 2's. I don't know how many 100's are still on the road--let's say 50%--so each seller must amortize development, tooling, etc. costs over a relatively small number of potential customers. Given all that I doubt that anyone is making a fortune in selling this item and in any case I am glad that I was able to purchase a reliable replacement head rather than having to source and fit another crack-prone iron head.
Keoke
Great Pumpkin
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Well yeah but Australia has had a complete AL engine for years and I just wonder why DW didn't"t import their heads????
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My understanding is: the DMD head is a performance-maximized modern-design head and the DW head is an aluminum version of the Healey head. DW is required to do it this way because of the tighter racing rules in Europe vs the anything-goes rules in Australia. Also I think DW has been selling heads longer than DMD has been around. Also the DMD head is $5286 USD vs $4411 USD for the DW. I remember when DMD were getting started they stated they were dissatisfied with the speed equipment available from Europe and that was one of their reasons for going into the business.
This is my understanding, am open to corrections.
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This certainly makes sense and remember that since Australian racers probably rarely if ever race anywhere "off-island" they do not have to be concerned about complying with anything except their own race rules.
Randy Forbes
Yoda
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If you're worried about corrosion, I recommend that you use BMW-branded anti-freeze (pt no 82 14 1 467 704) which is PH-balanced for use in aluminum/cast-iron engines.
BMW's recommended coolant-flush interval is three (3) years, and the stuff I drain out of my ///M Rdstrs is still so pretty and clear__like ZERO TURBIDITY__that I use it in a Healey until the next one is drained. Recycling, right!
I've heard far worse about water-wetterand its lack of corrosion-inhibitors than I have about it benefiting coolant temps (search some Viper forums sometimes). All water-wetter does is reduce the surface tension of the coolant.
BMW's recommended coolant-flush interval is three (3) years, and the stuff I drain out of my ///M Rdstrs is still so pretty and clear__like ZERO TURBIDITY__that I use it in a Healey until the next one is drained. Recycling, right!
I've heard far worse about water-wetterand its lack of corrosion-inhibitors than I have about it benefiting coolant temps (search some Viper forums sometimes). All water-wetter does is reduce the surface tension of the coolant.
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Randy - Your photos aren't showing.
John - I have a DW 6-cyl aluminum head that I bought and installed 13 - 14 years ago. It's been fine. The head didn't require any tweaking, but the DW8 cam caused my machine shop fits because they had to cut intake valve pockets into the block.
John - I have a DW 6-cyl aluminum head that I bought and installed 13 - 14 years ago. It's been fine. The head didn't require any tweaking, but the DW8 cam caused my machine shop fits because they had to cut intake valve pockets into the block.
Randy Forbes
Yoda
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Still? I can see them, anybody else?
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If we're talking about the pictures of coolant containers, I see them without logging in.
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That's why I had the shop cut them in. It just wasn't easy for them.
Randy - The photos show this morning.
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OP
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Good idea, will do