does anyone have a built up 8v and 16v head that they could weigh for me? (head casting plus valves / followers / cams / cam cover) I am interested to know the weight difference between them as I cannot imagine it is that much The reason is that I have just been told that 16V engines might upset the balance of a formula car that is designed to run with an 8v engine in it Bottom ends are essentially the same. Cheers Rob
i was thinking 18kg, could do a g60 one with either std or g60 cam cover built up head with plugs sprocket and guide tomorrow if no one else comes through, thou my scales cant be considered accurate. I supose more material could be taken off a race 16v head though?
16/17kg with standard cam cover, really unsure of my scales though, just a cheap pair of bathroom ones.
surprising amount I think, someone might come along who has both heads and a decent set of scales to give you better figures but at least it gives you a idea.
I would say a Formula driver , if really "on it" would notice that . Bearing in mind that it's a significant mass , and one of the highest points of the car .
It's got to be worth a call to Jim Morris - he wouldn't have built his with an inherent & unsolvable handling issue. Worst case, he's only had to adjust the suspension settings.
Jim's 'VW' engined cars are 8valve IIRC. The 8v number is about what I remember from shipping an 8v Mk3 head. I'd have said 16-17kg with the alloy cam cover.
Jim Morris is the chap who has brought this to my attention - I am very suprised that this littkle amount of weight would have a very significant effect on a cars handling - this could easily be the difference between two drivers
Interesting. IIRC Jim parked his Ralt up in 2007... It's high up weight for a single seater, I'd agree - force x distance - but I'm surprised a power gain and suspension tweaks don't combine well. Then again, the weight of a driver is a much bigger proportion of overall weight in single seaters. Two different weight components to factor in.
Jim parked up his Ralt to go FF1600 racing. There are loads of Ralts and the like on the hillclimb/sprint circuit with all manner of 16Vs in them - Vaux redtop is common but others also. But Jim know's his onions so I am considering his comments seriously.
FF1600 is sold now, and he's bought something else... older... cooler... with more bodywork for Lifeline stickers. I think the Ralt is still there, and still an 8v Judd/Brabham lump.
I think VW quoted a 7kg increase with the 16v head, unsure if that was the bare casting or built... but in the ballpark of yr estimate Rob.
Had a fair few of each head floating about, just 16v now tho but when lifting them about felt v significant diference in the 2, def in the 10kg area on the forearm weighometer
