Don Coatney Posted March 27, 2013 Report Posted March 27, 2013 That is the question? Today I rearranged the garage furnature to get my car out of the corner and into working position. Car started well and ran terrific having not been started for a couple of months. My plan was to install my SPITFIRE head along with new plug wires and a new thermostat. I have had all these parts sitting on the shelf for a lot of years. I pulled the head out of mothballs and dusted it off. This head is freshly milled and painted so it should be ready to go. I then elected to do a compression check prior to disassembly. Compression is 120 across the board and the plugs look good. As much as I would like to install this head I just cannot bring myself to disassemble my engine as good as it runs. It is not broke so why fix it? I did notice a bit of steam leaking from the front of my radiator but I think a can of bars stop leak will cure that. Quote
Don Coatney Posted March 27, 2013 Author Report Posted March 27, 2013 (edited) Whoops did a double whammy Edited March 27, 2013 by Don Coatney Quote
greg g Posted March 27, 2013 Report Posted March 27, 2013 Unless the red head will give you substantially more compression than the one that's there, why bother??? Unless you are absolutely itching to twist wrenches. Quote
desoto1939 Posted March 27, 2013 Report Posted March 27, 2013 Don, I am from the old school of if it is not broke then do not fixit or try to chnage something that can go wrong. If the engine is running strong and you have great compression and the car is not backfiring or any other problems then I would leave it alone until you have to chnage the head. I know that making it look perrrty is nice but why messing with something that is good. If the thermostat is bad then chnage it but I would leave it alone. Just my 3 cents. Rich Hartung Quote
bamfordsgarage Posted March 27, 2013 Report Posted March 27, 2013 A friendly word of advice there Coatney... there are regulars on this forum who take exception with multiple threads on basically the same topic. Try and keep it all on one thread, OK? 2 Quote
Don Coatney Posted March 27, 2013 Author Report Posted March 27, 2013 Give me a break. I thought youns liked to read all my words twice. Or maybe you have to read them twice to understand what I am saying. Guess I was so excited I hit the "post" button twice. I fixed it as best as I could. On the old forum the poster was able to delete his posting completely unless that posting was the thread starter. Quote
DCurrent Posted March 27, 2013 Report Posted March 27, 2013 I wouldn't mess with it myself. If it's all good leave it alone. You might find yourself in another position once the new intake is on, and could be chasing a few problems. That's what usually happens to me. Darren Quote
William Davey Posted March 27, 2013 Report Posted March 27, 2013 Don, I'm guessing that when you got the Spitfire head, you thought it would really look cool on your engine, and I agree. I say go ahead and install the head. Even if it doesn't affect performance at all, it'll really look cool with the 2 carbs and dual exhaust. Just imagine how much fun it'll be to open the hood! If it all goes to h*ll, it's an easy swap back to the known condition. One memory from my youth was my home town volunteer fire department racing team (called "firematics" here in New York). In the 60's when all the other departments has SBC or better engines, all we could afford was a stripped 48 Plymouth with a transplanted Chrysler Spitfire 6. We had the most unique truck, and were actually quite competitive on the shorter races! Quote
RobertKB Posted March 27, 2013 Report Posted March 27, 2013 Don, you got the head because it looked cool, especially the way you have painted it. It is only a head, no moving parts. What can go wrong? I vote to change it! Quote
dezeldoc Posted March 27, 2013 Report Posted March 27, 2013 Stop being a wimp coatney, put the head on...you have nothing better to do anyway! Out with the old in with the new! Quote
Alshere59 Posted March 27, 2013 Report Posted March 27, 2013 I would be interested in how much carbon build up you have if you decide to go for it. I have heard of old timers taking the head off just to clean the carbon. Quote
55 Fargo Posted March 27, 2013 Report Posted March 27, 2013 Very Cool Head, JoelOkie has 1 of those saved for me, someday I will retreive it. I vote for you to do the swap now, before the driving season. You of all Guys I have no trouble voting for the swap, should be a piece of cake, afternoon fun job.... Hey Get Tim Pym up, and make a day of it. Quote
P15-D24 Posted March 27, 2013 Report Posted March 27, 2013 Don't do it, Murphy is quietly waiting to bite you in the butt! Quote
DonaldSmith Posted March 27, 2013 Report Posted March 27, 2013 Maybe you can paint the old head red, and hand-letter the Spitfire logo. Nah, I'm kidding. If I did something like that, it would not turn out as well as I anticipated. Quote
Don Coatney Posted March 27, 2013 Author Report Posted March 27, 2013 Maybe you can paint the old head red, and hand-letter the Spitfire logo. Nah, I'm kidding. If I did something like that, it would not turn out as well as I anticipated. Donald; Great to see you posting on the new forum. I just posted a photo of your car a few days ago. http://mopar.pairserver.com/p15d24ph_forum/index.php?/topic/32609-desoto-plymouth-picture-slide-show/?hl=%2Bslide+%2Bshow A bunch of us plan on attending a show in MtVictory, Ohio on Memorial Day. Sure would be great if you could attend. Quote
_shel_ny Posted March 27, 2013 Report Posted March 27, 2013 Maybe you can paint the old head red, and hand-letter the Spitfire logo. Nah, I'm kidding. If I did something like that, it would not turn out as well as I anticipated. Too late, been done, and Don is not a copycat. http://mopar.pairserver.com/p15d24ph_forum/index.php?/topic/13381-spitfire-25-head/?hl=%26quot%3Bspitsfire%26quot%3B#entry122347 need to scroll down the thread to post 7 Quote
mrwrstory Posted March 28, 2013 Report Posted March 28, 2013 Why not use that head to be the rationale for building a new engine? Build one separate, on the bench. It's fun and clean work. Enjoy the scavenger hunt for new parts, the research and fussin and wrenching, and have a brand new engine to install next Spring. ...... and enjoy driving your car in the meantime. Quote
55 Fargo Posted March 28, 2013 Report Posted March 28, 2013 Why not use that head to be the rationale for building a new engine? Build one separate, on the bench. It's fun and clean work. Enjoy the scavenger hunt for new parts, the research and fussin and wrenching, and have a brand new engine to install next Spring. ...... and enjoy driving your car in the meantime. Don't think Don C, needs a new engine by any means........ Quote
Dodgeb4ya Posted March 28, 2013 Report Posted March 28, 2013 You got that head all fixed up... You have been thinking of it for a long time. You have been thinking when am I ever going to get that head installed. It sure looks purdy you think to your self. People will say it sure is a cool looking SPITFIRE head. You will see all the bad carbon build up that should be cleaned up while the old boring head is off. I think.... Don it's time to be a man and buck up-install that SPITFIRE head! The red head will look awesome. Bob Quote
Don Coatney Posted March 28, 2013 Author Report Posted March 28, 2013 I have been thinking about joining the procrastinators club but I keep putting it off. Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted March 28, 2013 Report Posted March 28, 2013 well Don..I can tell you the club dues are a bit on the high side..but you can stall them off by not paying..they never follow up on slackers.... Quote
martybose Posted March 28, 2013 Report Posted March 28, 2013 Oh come on Don, that head is too cool to let it sit in the garage much longer! Marty Quote
48Dodger Posted March 28, 2013 Report Posted March 28, 2013 I dare you!...I double dare you!...I DOUBLE DOG DARE YOU!!!.... Its a matter of pride. You have this performance part sitting on a shelf. WHY? Why do you have this car? It's a hobby, it's a challenge, it's what keeps our minds sharp.... It needs to be done. Not because its broke, not because its slow, not cuz its needs beautification..... Its needs to be done because that's who you are....a car guy! Now get your "no frills, common sense tools out" and give us a tear down report on a great running engine. 48D Quote
TodFitch Posted March 28, 2013 Report Posted March 28, 2013 Oh come on Don, that head is too cool to let it sit in the garage much longer! Marty He can always screw some rods into the spark plug holes, bring the head into the house, mount it on a wall and use it as a coat rack. . . Quote
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