2.3L DOHC head

[izzy]

I know this is a strictly SVOs forum but i was looking at TurboFord.org the other day and saw the dohc head "prototype" i guess you can call it. www.turboford.org/faq/images/svodohc.jpg My question is...IS THIOS THING AVAILABLE OR WHAT?! I mean four valves per cylinder on a turbo 2.3 would probaly put out tremendous power right? Also, once when i was searching ebay for SVO stuff, i came across somebody who was selling a volvo or something dohc head for their 2.3L and it was said to fit the SVO with a little modification. Do you think this was true and if so, would it be a big gain? I never did see the end of the auction so i didn't get to ask the seller where he got the idea that it would fit an SVO.

I hope i didn't ask too much stuff.

[svobud]

That pic is from a Merkur. Here's one from a 87' prototype SVO (see below - will take 16sec to DL on a 28.8). There were ONLY three of those heads produced by Ford. One has been destroyed - Ford has one - and a Member of this club has the 3rd.

The Volvo head - I've heard several people talk about it (Merkur owners only). From whjat I gather, it's VERY much more than a simple bolt on modification and HP gains are not that significant in relations to a PORTED stock Iron head. In other words - the Volvo head swap is a waste of time.

Esslinger has reported that they will be offering an Alum Street Head - that should be on the market soon. I will be curious to know what kind of gains will or can be had with this new alum head.

[Turbopit]

I dunno who said the Volvo conversion wouldn't make much power, but they are WRONG. It is suppose to "flow" in the 240's at stockish lift numbers before any porting has been done. Only one guy I know is claiming those kind of numbers from an iron head but at a much higher lift.
"Worth" is dependant on the individual. They might just "flow" as well as an ARCA head at street lift numbers and not cost any more to set up.

I haven't heard of any descent dyno tuning being made public on a Volvo conversion.

[svocudd]

Ford Motor Company

I think Ford owes it to the Mustang SVO to release that DOHC head thru Ford Motorsport or Ford Racing Power Parts (or whatever they are calling it this year). That would be a SWEET upgrade kit.



Cudd

[svocudd]

DOHC Head

Bud,

How did L.C. obtain that head. Has he ever used it? Does he plan on doing anything with it or is it just a cool piece of memorobilia?


Cudd

[izzy]

As far as the DOHC head goes, i don't really know all the technical things as far as how much different heads flow or whatever but i will tell you guys something, Volumetric Efficiency (however its spelled) is the key, the ability for the engine to breath. No matter what size valves you may have, i believe that it is way better to have more of anything than nothing. Two valves are always going to flow a whole lot better than one big valve. Then, what does that big ol' intake valve do? Takes up more room that the exhaust needs and then your turbo kinda spools at not its full potential because of smaller exhaust. I hope this stuff makes sense, this is just as i see things--i may not be all technical about it but you get the pic. Anyways, the volvo head, i would sure like to actually know what it will take to put that sucker on my 2.3 Lima. I wonder if anyone has any instructions or at least knows someone whos done it? How was it accomplished?

That would be pretty damn sweet if there were the DOHC heads available through Ford SVO. Someone should try and make these heads and sell them in magazines such as MM&FF. They would be pretty popular among most 2.3 owners both SVOers and N/A'ers especially now with this rice rocket craze. I wouldn't be surprised if the 2.3 N/As became real popular all of a sudden with no turbo doing 13's, i've seen one.

Anyhow, let me know what or where i can possibly turn to about possibly finding or machining a DOHC for my engine of you guys know anything about it.

thanx

[svobud]

Re: DOHC Head

Originally posted by svocudd
Bud,

How did L.C. obtain that head. Has he ever used it? Does he plan on doing anything with it or is it just a cool piece of memorobilia?


Cudd

Cudd - I really can't remember the details on how he got it other than some guy from Michigan put it up for sale and he bought it. Maybe some day I'll sit down with Lee and do a story for the newsletter on the mysterious nature surrounding that DOHC head he has. He has never installed it. There's alot of the necessary parts missing (brackets, etc) for a true bolt on swap. But, I think the main problem conflicting with L.C. and that DOHC head being used is lack of proper modivation on his part

[KevinK]

I'm usually not one to to be up to date on SVO details but I recall reading about the Volvo head upgrade. It sounded like relocating a water/oil passage and welding a chunk on the back of the the head to make it work. The Volvo head is shorter. I couldn't believe the bolt pattern would be the same. By the way, doesn't Ford own Volvo?

[kennycoulter]

where the heck is the site that the guy had detailing the machining and welding of the volvo head? and also, if an svo owner has the ford 4 valve head, why isnt he letting some cnc'ers check it out to recreate it?

[bob tweedy]

head

i did some research with ford thru a guy i know there. that dohc was a roush deal with ford. my information was that there were 4 made. 2 were put in mustangs and presented to ford. apparently they were destroyed as they have never surfaced. roush has one in his museum and the other one is privately owned.
in response to the question "why not", the answer lays in one word.MONEY. the tooling and set up would make the price of a head astronomical.
bob

[kennycoulter]

thats why i said cnc instead of casting. wouldnt you then just need someone to set up the machine with measurements off of the original head and a block of aluminum?

[kennycoulter]

http://www.turboford.org/ubb/ultimat...3;t=014371;p=1 well here is something i found on turboford, hope some of you are interested. but i still cant seem to find the pages thgat detailed the process of making the volvo head work. just www.fourbanger.com that has some pictures and that he is going to do it.

[svoman2300]

Holy thread resurection Batman.This topic has been beaten to death. The head was a prototype not intended for production. It still needs a lot of refinement. Not to mention it is a almost 20 year old design. The one private owmner that has it is an SVO nut. If anyone would be able to make it work it would be him. However it is not on a car and I'm sure for a reason. If I'm not mistaken he had it at this years reunion.

[Joe P]

Originally posted by svoman2300
Holy thread resurection Batman.This topic has been beaten to death. The head was a prototype not intended for production. It still needs a lot of refinement. Not to mention it is a almost 20 year old design. The one private owmner that has it is an SVO nut. If anyone would be able to make it work it would be him. However it is not on a car and I'm sure for a reason. If I'm not mistaken he had it at this years reunion.

Rick has pretty much nailed it on the head ( pun intended ).

There was an observation made by Jon Huber SR. about some specific design changes he felt were needed to be worthy, let alone all the ancillary (SP?), components to make it a complete "bolt on" swap. I`m afraid it is a fate sealed in stone unless the right amount of funds come along to correct, fund, and have the fortitude to see the original design progress forward.

IMO, the best rendition that I saw was the one from DR. Haulsee.

Joe P.

[turbizzy]

kennycouler, is( http://www.4bangerturbo.com/volvodohc.htm )this the site? Seems to be another XR4TI site too. http://www.merkurtech.com/merkurtech...es/item045.php