There is something not quite right here. I will take some pictures of the old cylinder head from my 1969 E-Type, which I believe to be original, as well as one of spare Series III XJ6 cylinder heads and Series III block to document the configuration of the cooling passages. Unfortunately I don’t have any pictures handy of the top of my E-Type’s block to compare that to Bram’s.
Hopefully I can sort out exactly how this cylinder head swap worked for me so that Bram can determine if it can work for him.
I was quite certain that this was the original engine block. I’ve seen quite some stamped engine numbers and this one looks very original. But of course I can be mistaken. Maybe noteworthy to say is that this car still has some Series 1 features. Like the old brakes on the IRS.
Unless I’ve lost track, it appears you were running a ‘long’ cylinder head on a ‘short’ block without the two later extra holes. The conventional wisdom is that the extra holes in the long head must blocked off. I looked once with a composite gasket and it looked like it might be possible to seal the head without plugging but I didn’t dare to risk it. Maybe leakage is only an issue with steel gaskets?
Quite simple, really. There is the outer coolant channels in both heads, then there is the head stud drilling and then: two further holes on the carboned head and his block!
So while the welder is repairing the corrosion in the areas hecansee, here area couple of pics of a n SS head we sectioned. The square outlines a small hole starting where the head stud traverses. Not only does it provide a route to loose coolant abut weaken the pillar that transmits pressure onto the head gasket.
And of course weld is soft , A bit like cheese to machine where-as thehead has been heat treated to harden it.
Paul Only a minor deity
The heads are for 16 HP and 20 HP SS1s. Sidevalves. AS to the cost . if you can afford the car , you can afford a new head casting. There’s currently a very nice 1936 tourer for sale in USA , US$525,000.
With one of our heads on it. Making heads is easy, making the RAG carburretters from scratch wasa real trick.
Well seeing you are cashed up , There’s a company in UK casting wide angle twin cam heads… and blocks. And new 3 1/2 litre SS blocks, They told me they’d do an alloy 3 1/2 litre SS blocks.
Oh and they do LW E Type alloy blocks. Let us know what they are like when you get one.
Pffft to flat heads, How many Xks are asking $ 525,000 ? or heaven knows how much Jaguar paid for Jenny’s SS90
