Billet Cylinder heads

[LoopDLoop2]

Well I am getting a little bored again and have thought of building a set of Billet heads for a io360. The heads will use the stock style cylinders and will the stock style valve train. Port locations for now will stay in the stock location. Any thoughts or interest. Started this project a few years back and got sidetracked with live. Tell me what you all think.

[Tbone]

Interesting thought....How will you attach them to the cylinders?

[LifeofReiley]

This was discussed a few years back and it was mentioned that cooling billet heads would be an issue... don't know. Give it a shot.

[BillL]

Well this would be a grand opportunity to liquid cool the heads! The barrel attachment might take a little bit of development, air or liquid, but it is an interesting project.

Cooler heads would improve valve cooling, allow some higher compression, and higher operating cylinder pressures to allow turbocharging. One could replace some 360 and 540 with higher blow pressures on something like a 320.

Good luck and keep us posted!!

[SHIPCHIEF]

What is the motivating goal?
At 2700 RPM (or a bit more) the improvements to volumetric efficiency can't be great. Perhaps a more efficient combustion chamber or relocated spark plugs?

[DanH]

Originally Posted by LoopDLoop2

Tell me what you all think.

I think Wisconsin is getting a little too much snow.

[LoopDLoop2]

Yes it ahs been a long winter!!! As far as the attachment to the cylinder. It would be the same for now. Maybe a bolted flange later. Improvements would be a correct chamber. That is where most detonation problems with air cooled engines can be improved on. Valve would be canted for better valve to cylinder wall clearance. A correct short turn radius for better port velocity. I see places like Lycon and Sky Dynamics building some powerful stuff but it could be much better with a little technology. Water cooled out for now. Still wanting simple and light. Cooling will be no problem. Colling fins on my model are more that adequate. There is a bunch of room in cam timing that would help that problem with a correct chamber. So if I put the first set on a Pitts will I be banned for life?

[Tony Spicer]

Originally Posted by BillL

Well this would be a grand opportunity to liquid cool the heads!

You mean like this?

http://www.liquidcooledairpower.com/cj-overview.shtml

Tony

[terrye]

Originally Posted by LoopDLoop2

Maybe a bolted flange later. Improvements would be a correct chamber. That is where most detonation problems with air cooled engines can be improved on.

1. A bolted flange requires a gasket and is just another possible leak path. I'd stay with the shrunken/screwed attachment.
2. Exactly what is wrong with the existing combustion chamber shape? You are limited to 2 valves per cylinder (every air cooled engine that I know about has only 2 valves). So this limits you to a wedge or (semi)hemispherical shape. You also have two spark plugs per cylinder, therefore two flame fronts. Regarding detonation, you're probably aware that a 6" bore is about the limit for control of the flame front, end quenching etc. What are you going to change that will improve the current cruise BSFC of about 0.38?

Originally Posted by Tony Spicer

You mean like this?

http://www.liquidcooledairpower.com/cj-overview.shtml

Tony

Interesting. Are there any flying?