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MG MGA - coupe on ebay with crossflow head

For all you fans of crossflow heads,here is a nice installation of one with dual sidedrafts. Gary
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=2497291060&category=80750
gary starr

How does it work and what does it do for the car?

Thanks, Tom
Tom

Tom- This was a aftermarket cylinder head produced in the 1950's and 60's.They are being reproduced today to improve preformance. They are made of aluminium which runs cooler letting you increase compression ratio and mount the carburetors on the opposite side of the engine so the fuel mixture flows thru the engine better. Period magazine tests compared the performance to the Twin Cam. Price was less and at the time reliablity was better.You could get manifolds for 1 1/2 SU's,1 3/4 SU's and like that car on ebay 2 2bbl Webbers.I have one built in 1961 with 1 3/4 SU's and hope to someday install it on my 1600 coupe.I just wanted someone to see this one as I have only seen one on a car.And the fact it's a nice clean installation, I have never found any instructions on how to do it and I was even in contact with the original manufactor,who themselfs did not have any copies. Gary
gary starr

Another advantage: intake gasses aren't heated up by the heat of the exhaust manifold.
(I have one with 2 sidedraught carbs in my MGB, see Chris Betson's site www.octarine-services.co.uk for pictures)

Alex
Alexander M

Original HRG crossflow head with 1622 in Perth Uk (just to the north of me) I'm very tempted.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=72205&item=2497675729&rd=1

Hope the link above works.

Chris
Chris C

Chris

I am not going to bid against you. Just wondered, though, whether it would fit an 1800 block.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Re my last. I have just seen the note that the seller thinks it may fit an 1800. Can anyone confirm?

Steve
Steve Gyles

Steve,

I can confirm: it fits, I have one on a MGB 18V block.

Alex
Alexander M

From the photo, I wonder how interesting it would be to change spark plugs or points with this setup?
Tom Heath

Tom- Originally the head came supplied with a special plug wrench, which if I remember right,looked like a T handle with a universal and then a socket on that. My head tho looks like it would no problem to get to the plugs but then again it's not on an engine yet. The distributor is a diffrent matter, but I thought could be easly solved by going electronic.Alex would be the one able to tell us.

Chris- if you buy it let us know the numbers stamped into the head in front of the thermostat mount. Mine is marked 570/361 and was told by the V.W. Derrington company, the ones who marketed the head, that this was 570th one built in March of 1961. And if anyone comes across the original fitting instructions, several of us would appreciate it if we could get a photo copy. Thanks, Gary
gary starr

Alex- What'd you finally dyno on that hot rod. I installed the Burgess -blessed crossflow about a month ago, but have no dyno yet. I can tell you though, the grunt from 3500-? is remarkable. Seat of pants tells me it is close to the supercharged motor. Vic
vem myers

Vic,

Had it on Peter Burgess' rolling road this summer (went over the canal, drove up to his place). Just before going, we retorqued the head, but I forgot to set the valve clearances afterwards (stupid, I know). So the middle ones were set too tight.
Anyway, at Peter's dyno it produced 124 bhp at the wheels!!! (at 5300 rpm), which Peter reckons is around 151 bhp at the engine. Having the valves set properly would've seen a rise of perhaps of couple of horses.
(running 34 mm chokes now, just for info...)

It is a total blast to drive!
How would you describe the effect of Peter's work on your xflow head? (mine was already modified by him first time it went on the engine)
Glad to hear you're pleased with it!
I'm also very interested in the difference between the xflow and the supercharged car (lucky you! having both!!!)

Gary, Tom,

The spark plugs need to be 16mm ones (not the standard ones, they didn't fit on my Derrington head anyway).
They are not that hard to reach really, bit harder than on a standard head but nothing too mad.
The distributor is a royal pain to reach! When I was at Peter's to have the car set up properly, nobody seemed eager to set the timing :-D. It has an Aldon Ignitor (electronic ignition, but not visible from outside) fitted which makes life a lot easier of course...

Alex
Alexander M

This thread was discussed between 01/11/2004 and 04/11/2004

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