Group Buy - TA Performance Rover Heads

minorv8 · Post by **minorv8** » Thu Jan 24, 2013 7:11 am

The heads fit all 215 Rover variants.

Yes the heads do but how about the valves ? 2,02/1,6" valves are a bit tight fit in a 3,5" bore

I have tried to get info about the heads from TA but it has been quite difficult. Seems that they are not that interested in an order of a single pair.

What I would like to know is what are the flow figures for a pair straight out of the box with the smallest pair of valves they sell. I would guess that they are something like 1,90/1,50" ? Also the low lift figures would be interesting. What´s the point in haveing 270 cfm @ 0,7" lift if your cam and valve train only provides 0,55" lift ? Yes they do quote up to 270 cfm intake flow for a ported head but if you retain the Rover intake gasket size what is the realistic figure given the port size ? 200 cfm ?

About the rockers, if you look at the pics in page 13 of TA catalogue the head is machined for stud mounted rockers, not for Rover rocker shaft pedestals. I don´t know if you can specify this when ordering the heads ?

kokkolanpoika · Post by **kokkolanpoika** » Thu Jan 24, 2013 2:29 pm

Just chat with Eales.. I have to orders some small parts.. Also ask if he has got TA-heads..

His replay..

I have 2 pairs of TA heads, but at the moment they are not working well. I am developing them further and should have good results in a couple of months.
I have more ordered but supply is very slow. Price for TA heads cnc ported and fully assembled inc rockers, head studs and pushrods will be circa £3600.00

I also speak our head porter, show pics of those heads. He say they will run too big valves if your engine is only 5.0litre.. You will get mutch better readings slightly smaller valve.. Like 1.8" approx

Post by **Rossco** » Thu Jan 24, 2013 3:08 pm

My understanding is you can specify stud mount or pedestal mount. Certainly the roller rockers are pedestal mount.

Valve sizes can be varied depending on what size engine it is.

Delivery is currently around 12-16 weeks.

Johns price of £3600 includes his profit. I'm not looking to make a penny on this, all I get is the ability to ship some more 455 kit over.

Looking at the baseline flow figures for the V6 heads you're looking at something around 200 and 160 cfm

Hope that helps.

kiwicar · Post by **kiwicar** » Thu Jan 24, 2013 4:09 pm

minorv8 wrote:
The heads fit all 215 Rover variants.
Yes the heads do but how about the valves ? 2,02/1,6" valves are a bit tight fit in a 3,5" bore

Clearly a man who never fitted 1275 "A" series 12G940 heads onto a 998 mini engine. . . you just give up at the first hurdle, just because the valves are bigger than the bore is no reason not to fit them

Best regards
Mike

Wotland · Post by **Wotland** » Thu Jan 24, 2013 5:25 pm

kokkolanpoika wrote:Just chat with Eales.. I have to orders some small parts.. Also ask if he has got TA-heads..

His replay..

I have 2 pairs of TA heads, but at the moment they are not working well. I am developing them further and should have good results in a couple of months.
I have more ordered but supply is very slow. Price for TA heads cnc ported and fully assembled inc rockers, head studs and pushrods will be circa £3600.00

If you listen to Mr. Eales, RS heads worth nothing and TA heads are just a little better ...

CNC Eales heads are damned good, no ?

Seriously, look where is the error

If you want a correct opinion about TA heads and what you can do with them, speak with TRS

http://www.triumphroverspares.com.au/pa ... ductid=766

kiwicar · Post by **kiwicar** » Thu Jan 24, 2013 7:32 pm

Ah so it wasn't just me thinking he seems to be having difficulty porting anything but standard rover castings then. . . .

best regards
Mike

minorv8 · Post by **minorv8** » Thu Jan 24, 2013 8:22 pm

True, I have never fitted 1275 heads to small bore A-series engines. I have only run 1275 versions, mostly 1380 with turbo. I simply don't see any point fitting a good flowing head into a too small a bore. Waste of money in this case. Same thing applies to SBC, big valves in a 305 engines with 3,736 bore don't work as well as in a bigger bore.

There seems to be quite a pissing competition between the Rover specialists and Mr. Eales does not give much credit to the others.

TA has quite a reputation doing nice V6 heads, and basically these new ones are just ones with extra chamber.

Post by **Coops** » Thu Jan 24, 2013 10:04 pm

TA Performance Heads and roller rockers.

minorv8 · Post by **minorv8** » Fri Jan 25, 2013 5:01 am

These roller rockers are stud mounted in a typical GM style.

Post by **Rossco** » Fri Jan 25, 2013 9:10 am

minorv8 wrote:These roller rockers are stud mounted in a typical GM style.

Well at least it means you can take advantage of the cheaper Chevy kit.......see always a bright side.

To use the pedestal mount you need the conversion kit as shown in this link. This is for the V6 but the V8 is obviously the same basis

http://www.taperformance.com/proddetail ... 309SI-1.55

kiwicar · Post by **kiwicar** » Fri Jan 25, 2013 10:14 am

minorv8 wrote:True, I have never fitted 1275 heads to small bore A-series engines. I have only run 1275 versions, mostly 1380 with turbo. I simply don't see any point fitting a good flowing head into a too small a bore. Waste of money in this case. Same thing applies to SBC, big valves in a 305 engines with 3,736 bore don't work as well as in a bigger bore.

There seems to be quite a pissing competition between the Rover specialists and Mr. Eales does not give much credit to the others.

TA has quite a reputation doing nice V6 heads, and basically these new ones are just ones with extra chamber.

Generally the restriction on flow for most heads is not the valves but the ports, and yes a small bore makes the situation of valve shrouding worse big valves are not a "cure all". . My point about the 1275 head onto a 998 was that people used to fit them to take advantage of the better port on the '940 casting and get aroung the differing bore centre and bore diamiter by cutting a big chunk out of the deck face of the block and using a piston with a very low first ring to avoid dammage and blow by. . .

I must confess that I was suprised to hear anyone would have issues getting enough flow out of the TA heads, as far as I know the V6 heads were originally developed for INDYCAR racing and I do not think they would be short in flow as cast, and certainly they would have enough metal around the ports to allow alot of development.
I don't understand why he is slagging off the merlin castings when they clearly give very good results on engines built by enthusiastic but amature engine builders. There are so few TA heads about that I think the jury will be out for quite while, but the V6 version has a very good reputation for delivering alot of power.
There is always a problem with a P155ing contest. . splash-back

Those look like run of the mill chevy extruded body ally roller rockers. . about $150 to $250 for 8 and will take mechanical roller rocker springs A tad cheeper tham £650 for a set of rover equivilent ones that in turn will mean you can use chevy tappets and chevy push rods, which are available in .05" incriments so no need for ajustable push rods!
Best regards
Mike

Post by **Rossco** » Fri Jan 25, 2013 10:39 am

I think I need to clarify something for some of the people here......

I'm not saying these heads will give you 1000bhp, not saying they will ensure you have a long and prosperous life, or that they'll attract a 19 year old long legged Swedish blonde who will want to do all sort of unspeakable things to you........they wont even make John Eales change his view of his competitors......or convince me that Chris Crane at RPi offers value for money.

I'm offering to use my contacts to bring some over......after that it's up to you to make of them what you will. If you dont think they're any good......simple, dont buy them.

I'll throw a set at Coops for his 4.6 and we'll see if they work or not.

......and breathe again

kiwicar · Post by **kiwicar** » Fri Jan 25, 2013 10:48 am

Hi Rosco
Sorry I was not intending to give any impression to that effect either. . .

Didn't mean to stress you.
What I was trying to say is that pretty well any aftermarket head has got to be better than the standard rover casting otherwise you would not spend the money developing it. . . and slagging other peoples product can backfire on you my opinions on RPI are well documented.
Best regards
Mike

Post by **Rossco** » Fri Jan 25, 2013 11:03 am

Mike you fall firmly outside of the people I was aiming at

I have always considered you to be one of the good guys around here.

.....hell this could stray into Bro Love

kiwicar · Post by **kiwicar** » Fri Jan 25, 2013 11:46 am

Hi Rosco
If you let Tony have a set of those heads he will have the fastest most highly specked rover powered garage decoration in the UK bar none. . .the spec is amazing but it don't move! ! !

Oh it ain't a Friday if I don't get to do some Tony baiting

(lets not mention over running slingshot projects please)
Best regrads
Mike