janspeed head

[dogfather]

got my camera sorted on these pics. this is the block i took out of the mini yesterday, it was in a state but 5 or 6 hrs of graft and its looking new. ive also stripped to the metal and repainted the janspeed that i picked up from a fellow piston head, right.... my question is, its been worked on by janspeed and stamped with a serial number along with some other numbers. Duz anyone know if these numbers represent the work that has been done to it. I got a price today on a rebore to 1293cc @ £50 so thats nxt wks task. thank in advance..again..neale

[Snake the Sniper]

At a guess, head number 6379, or employee number of the bloke that cut it, skimmed by 10 thou, and chamber cc. Not sure about the first, fairly sure about the other two!

[Chuggaboom]

All correct.

The H was for Hoopers...was an auto performance shop in Hanham Bristol.

[FWDRacer]

I hope you aren't intending running unleaded in your new motor Neale? That Janspeed head hasn't got hardened valve inserts on the exhausts.

[dogfather]

thanks fwdracer well spotted (cuz i would never have known the difference). is this a problem for me or is it a simple case of changing them (please say i can change them...please) That would have really pissed me off good job you spotted it fwd thanks again. neale.. id be lost without you lot i realy appreciate your advice.

FWDRacer said:

I hope you aren't intending running unleaded in your new motor Neale? That Janspeed head hasn't got hardened valve inserts on the exhausts.

[Chuggaboom]

Oh true, but inserts obviously take up space and restrict the size of valves that a head can have.

I've never bothered TBH...nobody I know has ever built/installed a performance engine with a view to driving it all meek and mild like and expecting it to last 10 yrs plus !

More like 2-3 before "oh I need more power"....new cam etc...engine out !!!

[Snake the Sniper]

Chuggaboom said:

Oh true, but inserts obviously take up space and restrict the size of valves that a head can have.

I've never bothered TBH...nobody I know has ever built/installed a performance engine with a view to driving it all meek and mild like and expecting it to last 10 yrs plus !

More like 2-3 before "oh I need more power"....new cam etc...engine out !!!

Whilst this is true, since it doesn't sound like he's planning on fitting bigger valves, I can't see it being a problem, and as such having the hardened seats, would IMO, be worth the expense.

[dogfather]

so will it run unleaded then after time get problems. it has bigger valves i think. how much will it cost to fit the insets?

[guru_1071]

it will depend on the valve sizes, that head looks as if the valves are fairly big, in which case it would be unwise to try and fit them - id just use it with out and stick the adative in.

the seats have a nasty habit of dropping out, particually on big valves and throats.

[Snake the Sniper]

In which case then, what additive would you suggest that actually works? I've tried a few in the past, but nothing has had an effect other than just burning the valve seats out!

[Cooperman]

I use Castrol 'Valvemaster Plus'. Seems to work OK.

[Snake the Sniper]

Bugger. That's what I was using before! Would it be worth upping the dosage at all, or is there something a little better about? I don't expect my engine to last long, but it only did 3,000 miles before the head needed a rebuild. And it won't withstand another one!

[guru_1071]

ive no idea which is best tbh.

both my cars use unleaded heads.

sorry!

[FWDRacer]

I've never known a factory inserted head drop an insert - irrespective of the size of valves fitted. I race on an unleaded head too (though my regs don't allow bigger than a 35.7mminlet/29mm exhaust) so can't advise on additives.

Neale - If you intend using this car as a daily driver rather than a weekend roadburner (that you don't mind oiking the the engine out every once in a while to see what's gone wrong ) then an unleaded head casting, suitably reworked is the way forward for your performance head requirements.

[guru_1071]

me neither, the problem is when seats are fitted to heads with 31mm exhausts, and big inlets. the other problem is when the throats are opened out so that the inserts become under cut. ive seen a few heads wrecked through this.

[dogfather]

my mini will be my weekend fun thats all, somthing to look forward to on the weekend. I think i might go ahead and use the additive and see how it goes. a few people now have said they have never had a problem so..... ive got 3 or 4 more heads so no shortage there.

FWDRacer said:

I've never known a factory inserted head drop an insert - irrespective of the size of valves fitted. I race on an unleaded head too (though my regs don't allow bigger than a 35.7mminlet/29mm exhaust) so can't advise on additives.

Neale - If you intend using this car as a daily driver rather than a weekend roadburner (that you don't mind oiking the the engine out every once in a while to see what's gone wrong ) then an unleaded head casting, suitably reworked is the way forward for your performance head requirements.