Agent-Gambit Posted March 27, 2011 Report Share Posted March 27, 2011 hey ppl can you guys help me out figure out what kinda cylinder head i have? Quote Link to comment
Rob W. Posted March 27, 2011 Report Share Posted March 27, 2011 it should be stamped somewhere. Ratsum is pretty amazing but they can't identify heads with out pics. I bet it's a single overhead cam though. edit oops didn't see the rest of the title sorry Quote Link to comment
The Dat-side Posted March 27, 2011 Report Share Posted March 27, 2011 A87 came in open and closed. Quote Link to comment
Agent-Gambit Posted March 27, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2011 well i cant take piks of it since its installed in the car already :/ is a a87 usually on an l16 engine? Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted March 27, 2011 Report Share Posted March 27, 2011 The A-87 was used on the L18 and some early L20B motors. They were open chamber but there are some closed chamber ones around that were brought to N Am on imported JDM motors back in the '70 and '80s. They are identified by the A87 cast onto the bottom edge just below and behind the number 1 spark plug and have square exhaust ports. Here is an A-87 closed chamber head. You can just make out the A87 between #1 and #2 cylinders... No the L16 only comes with numbered heads. Letter heads (A 87) were used on L18 and larger motors. This doesn't mean that someone can't swap one on an L16. This is likely a closed chamber A87 as an open chamber head would drop a small L16's compression to 7.85 1 Quote Link to comment
Agent-Gambit Posted March 27, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2011 soo an a87 isnt a l16 right?? Quote Link to comment
Skib Posted March 27, 2011 Report Share Posted March 27, 2011 soo an a87 isnt a l16 right?? all the L16, L18, L20B heads are interchangeable Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted March 27, 2011 Report Share Posted March 27, 2011 soo an a87 isnt a l16 right?? Correct, the A87 head does not come on an L16. However, there are two different size A87 combustion chambers. The larger open chamber is too big and will reduce the smaller L16 engine's compression to 7.8 The much smaller closed chamber A87 head will bring the same L16's compression to 8.3 which is much better. Quote Link to comment
datsunaholic Posted March 27, 2011 Report Share Posted March 27, 2011 That's not true, Mike. The A87 was stock on 1973 L16s. Open chamber. That's what my Mom's '73 620 had the day it rolled off the factory floor. Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted March 27, 2011 Report Share Posted March 27, 2011 I thought you once said only number heads were on the L16. Also the compression would be way under 8 to 1. '73 620s had L18s starting in October. Could it have been an L18? Quote Link to comment
sanitys Posted March 27, 2011 Report Share Posted March 27, 2011 my l16 had a a87 head. i have a 73 620. i would take pictures but i gave the motor/tranny away when i moved from hawaii. Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted March 27, 2011 Report Share Posted March 27, 2011 Well, learn something every day! Maybe they are closed chamber heads? Quote Link to comment
datsunaholic Posted March 28, 2011 Report Share Posted March 28, 2011 I thought you once said only number heads were on the L16. Also the compression would be way under 8 to 1. '73 620s had L18s starting in October. Could it have been an L18? Not I. You could get an L16 with a W53 too- later model (1978-82 ish) L16 crate motors had W53 heads (I have one). The W53 equipped L16s had peanut heads WITHOUT the injector notches that most W53 heads have. The 1973 L16/A87 heads were open chamber. That much I do remember. Dunno what they did about compression, the L16 in my Mom's truck had lightly dished pistons. But since I was all of 18 years old when I had it apart, I didn't exactly think measuring the cc's of the head or piston crowns was useful to anyone. I do know that after the head was milled, running regular (91 octane leaded) made it ping, and running "Unleaded" (87 octane) made it ping REALLY bad. I hated having to run super unleaded (93 octane) in it- 19 years old, on a military E-2 paycheck, 120 miles a day, at an extra 15 cents a gallon... plus the 17MPG it got. But in retrospect part of the problem was likely more the retarded valve timing from the head mill than the raised compression. But as I said, I was 18 when I rebuilt it using nothing but a Chilton's manual for guidance. My Mom's truck definitely has a L16. Block number match the dataplate. It was built ~ 3/73, with a second date 5 or 6/73 (final assembly in the US, when they put the bed on to evade the "Chicken Tax"). Sold 7/73, I have copies of the sales paperwork. My folks are the sole and only owner and still have it. Every '73 (And '72 620) with a number-matching engine and presumptive original head I've ever seen had a A87. Along with the '73 and '74 L18s, they're about the only known original source for open-chamber A87 heads. Quote Link to comment
Agent-Gambit Posted March 31, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2011 should i keep the the l16 engine with the a87 or should i go to a bigger engine?? Quote Link to comment
kmc63 Posted March 31, 2011 Report Share Posted March 31, 2011 should i keep the the l16 engine with the a87 or should i go to a bigger engine?? WAYYYYYYYY-BBBIIGGGGERRRRRR Quote Link to comment
datsunaholic Posted March 31, 2011 Report Share Posted March 31, 2011 should i keep the the l16 engine with the a87 or should i go to a bigger engine?? Should you? What do you want to do? What can you afford do do? If it runs fine and you're happy with it, there's no reason to change. But since you asked, that probably means it either doesn't run fine or you aren't satisfied with it, or both. Quote Link to comment
Agent-Gambit Posted July 28, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 28, 2011 Should you? What do you want to do? What can you afford do do? If it runs fine and you're happy with it, there's no reason to change. But since you asked, that probably means it either doesn't run fine or you aren't satisfied with it, or both. i just want something that runs fine but isnt that slow.. and well i have never driven my car yet its a project car but i was just wondering since i dont wanna just have 95 horse power.. Quote Link to comment
banzai510(hainz) Posted July 28, 2011 Report Share Posted July 28, 2011 since i dont wanna just have 95 horse power.. Youll be lucky to get that 95hp with sidedrafts/cam and a good head Quote Link to comment
DARIN 510 Posted July 28, 2011 Report Share Posted July 28, 2011 The A87 heads came in the 610s and the 620s. I Think for 1 year only. The L16 is block not a head or A87. The SSS bluebirds had L16s with closed chambered heads on the early years and L18 with closed chambered heads on the later years. The A87 is not a SSS head but very similar to a SSS. 17 mpg ah that's not right. I have an L18 bored .40 over, flat top pistons, Isky cam, lightened flywheel, balanced crank, fully ported head, bigger valves and I get close to 30 mpg. 91 octane too and no ping. There is something with your motor Quote Link to comment
Shagy Posted July 28, 2011 Report Share Posted July 28, 2011 where in Montebello are you? I'll stop by and look @ your motor if you'd like. I work in Montebello. Quote Link to comment
Agent-Gambit Posted August 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 2, 2011 where in Montebello are you? I'll stop by and look @ your motor if you'd like. I work in Montebello. thanks man i appreciate it but my car isnt here in montebello i have my car in my dads shop in fontana.. thanks Quote Link to comment
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