4.6 head doesn't work/(duratec zetec discussion)

xr4tiguy · Post by **xr4tiguy** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 12:33 pm

ok, i've had this in my head for months, however after seeing how you guys scream at, and humiliate all those who think of alternative 2.3 head possibilities, i've been hesitant to ask. But oh well, here goes. What about the head off a 4.6l triton?? obviously half of that is 2.3L, it's a ford (I realize that doesn't help), it's aluminum, and it has three valves per cylinder which I can only assume would flow better than our head.

Now before you go yelling at me...

I've done searches and found no mention of this before.

I realize that there are many 2.3l heads

I realize that every dimension on a head of equal displacement can be different.

I realize that someone has probably thought of this before.

I realize that this probably won't work.

I realize that bringing this up is possibly the worst thing you can do on this forum.

Thank you for your time

Here's an example of a guy getting strung up for a head idea. He still walks with a limp.
http://www.merkurclub.com/forum/viewtop ... t=head+two

Post by **DPDISXR4Ti** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 12:51 pm

Aside from everything you mention (yes, it has been considered before), how would you propose that a head designed for a chain-driven cam be used with a motor designed for a belt drive?

xr4tiguy · Post by **xr4tiguy** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 12:55 pm

I figured that if guys can make entire new coolant and oil passages, that taking off the chain gear and mounting a belt "gear" onto it wouldn't be that difficult. Obviously this is just an assumption, and I had thought of it, but I didn't figure it would be that big of a problem, honestly I thought I would have been hanged long before the chain vs. belt problem would have come up.

Boost'd Blue · Post by **Boost'd Blue** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 1:07 pm

My question would be is the bore spacing the same?

Post by **DPDISXR4Ti** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 1:08 pm

What's funny is that TODAY, some guy on the Volvo head conversion list posted about discovering this "new" DOHC head on the Ranger. Well, yea, I suppose in geologic terms a five year old head is "new".

I'm pretty sure every existing I4 head has been considered for a swap on the Lima. The only two that line up right are the Toyota and Volvo heads.

Colin · Post by **Colin** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 2:12 pm

There's a Toyota head that lines up?

DPDISXR4Ti wrote:What's funny is that TODAY, some guy on the Volvo head conversion list posted about discovering this "new" DOHC head on the Ranger.

Yeeeeah... I don't know about that guy. He emailed me a while ago and wanted to buy my intake manifold... I sold it to him under the premise that it was not complete, would need more fabrication work, and would probably be useless (since the small, long runners contradict the high-strung nature of the 16V head...) and he still seemed eager to throw money at me! Whatever...

Colin

Post by **DPDISXR4Ti** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 2:25 pm

Colin wrote:There's a Toyota head that lines up?

Yep, and apparently it was made operational with a Lima block years ago by someone at Esslinger. But from what I understand, it's even less "plug-n-play" than the Volvo head, so it really never gets discussed any more.

Spaldino · Post by **Spaldino** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 2:48 pm

if you arent that skilled at fabbing... just buy an esslinger head

wesvailco · Post by **wesvailco** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 11:35 pm

toyota, volvo both 16v heads........how about more flow than either using half the valves, guess what this is? anyone?

SVO4PWR2 · Post by **SVO4PWR2** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 1:24 am

guess what this is? anyone?

chevy big block ?

-RICH-

Khobin~ · Post by **Khobin~** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 1:44 am

Perhaps an equally stupid idea, but what about swapping the 2.3L turbo for a 2.3L Turbo?

...confused yet?

The new Mazdaspeed 6 has a 2.3L turob/intercooled engine, looks pretty nice puts out 272hp, and 270 toque(roughly) and has better gas mileage...however the cost probably isn't worth doing when there's so many other things that could be done to the exsisting engine to get that power...or the seemingly common 5.0L swap.

but still, something in me says it'd be sweet because it would be something different.

Spaldino · Post by **Spaldino** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 10:50 am

i personally would wait and see how the aftermarket treats that engine before swapping it... although that engine is pretty nice out of the box.

Turbopit · Post by **Turbopit** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 12:13 pm

Spaldino wrote:i personally would wait and see how the aftermarket treats that engine before swapping it... although that engine is pretty nice out of the box.

You do realize it's been around for 5 or 6 years now right? Lot's of aftermarket support.

I never get why someone makes a post that they feel the need to say "No Yelling" or "I know this has been asked plenty of times before, but..."

Generally, I just do my own searching instead of making a post like that.

xr4tiguy · Post by **xr4tiguy** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 12:54 pm

I DID MANY SEARCHES I only said NO YELLING because everytime someone brings up different head options (besides volvo) they get yelled at. I have NEVER seen this mentioned before. If you would have read my original post I said that I had looked for this and found nothing. I have never seen THIS head mentioned before. I clearly stated that I new that it PROBABLY wouldn't work, however since I've seen no mention of it, and since it seems that it could possibly (on some distant planet) work, I would ask.

wesvailco · Post by **wesvailco** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 1:20 pm

that's why i posted up a pic of a boat motor. i thought this was a gag post, sorry you were serious.

BTW, the head is from a mercruiser 470 or 180, can't remember. anyway, the valves are sized 2.010in 1.710ex. wanna say 11/32 stem, i have them at home. i'll check again later. just info for anyone wanting really big valves off the shelve.