Looking for info on Ford experimental Fe heads, SKS casting #

[d_ford]

I'm looking for information on Ford experimental heads for the 427 TP. I've been trying to find a set of headers to fit my 68 mustang with a 427 Tunnel Port. I assumed the aluminum heads were manufactured by Dove like the block. I called Dove trying to figure out what I have and they said they have never made a head with the exhaust port configuration that my heads have. When I talked to FPA about making headers for it they told me that Ford had a program with Holman-Moody where they would cast aluminum heads with different exhaust ports and have H-M try them out. They said that all these heads had a casting number between the center two spark plug holes that started with SKS. My heads have this casting number. No one has a listing for heads measuring what mine do between the head mounting surface and the center line of the top exhaust bolt hole. When I bought this engine in my first ERA Cobra the guy who sold it to me told me that it had some one-off GT40 parts on it but I just figured he was trying to justify the high price he was putting on the engine. If anyone has any info on these heads I would appreciate hearing from you.
Thanks.

[Byots]

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[Excaliber]

If there Dove heads you would think Dove would acknowledge the strange exhaust bolt pattern, that not being the case, hmmmmm

[d_ford]

Yeah I figured they were Dove too but after talking to them they said almost all of the heads they manufactured were one exhaust port configuration shorter than mine except for a few sets they tried out many years ago that didn't fly...but those had an exhaust port much higher even than the ones I have. They told me that they have NEVER manufactured heads with ports like mine. I'm just scratching my head trying to figure out what I have.

[Rick Parker]

Call Holman & Moody.

Phone (704)583-2888

[d_ford]

There's an idea. Guess I shoulda gone straight to the source in the first place.

[Anthony]

Post a picture of the exhaust ports.

[olddog]

Can you still contact the fellow you bought this engine/car from? He may be able to tell you in 5 minutes, what will take you weeks to track down on your own.

Sounded like he knew what he had.

[d_ford]

http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/s...ds&name=d_ford
I don't have any good pics of the exhaust ports and the engine is already installed. I'm not sure if the pic I had uploaded to this post or not, but the only pics I have of it are in my gallery.
I've lost the phone# for the guy I bought it from but I'll try doing a search to see if I can come up with it. Thanks for all the replies.

[Ron61]

Your engine.

Ron

[Tom Kirkham]

Wow a light weight dampner. Very rare. Here is a picture of an aluminum TP head.

[d_ford]

Update:
Ok, I was wrong on the casting number. It's not SKS, it's SK37080 just like in Tom's picure above. I called the fellow back that I bought the engine from and he said he talked to his engine builder who told him they got the heads from Dove. Funny, when I asked Dove about them, they said they have never cast heads with the exhaust port height mine have. I guess at this point it doesn't really matter who cast them, Ford or Dove but I still have to find headers or modify the ones I have. I think I'm going to try tweaking the ones I have and if I ruin them I'll try something else. I am still curious though as to whether these are Ford or not. If anyone else has a set of Dove heads would you check to see if they have a similar casting number? I tried to get a pic of mine showing the casting number but with the engine installed I can't get the camera to focus on it.

[lineslinger]

d ford,
If you can't get your camera to focus on the numbers try using a mirror, holding it at a proper angle, you may need some help, then photographing the reflected image of the casting numbers directly from the mirror.
Once you load it into your computer you should be able to zoom into the casting numbers within the picture and then post them, it might help by allowing someone to actually see the numbers.

[Ron61]

I know this won't help answer your question, but I had a 427 tunnel port back in the late 60s and I kept some of the papers on it where I had written down numbers. I have the same SK number written down as shown in the picture but I have no clue as to who built the heads as the engine was built back East by an outfit that has long been out of business. And mine and the block were cast iron, not aluminum. Only the intake was aluminum. About the only thing I remember was when I sold it to a drag racer, he pulled the cam and said it looked like a stick with footballs mounted every few inches.

Ron

[SFfiredog]

your heads look just like my SK tunnel port castings.
Your exhaust ports look to be in the standard location.
What kind of fit problems are you having?
installing headers on a big block Mustang is a *****
Could that just be the problem?

--Mike

[d_ford]

SFFiredog, I know installing headers on a mustang with an FE is a bear, I've had several but this animal is different. I was told the port should be the same height as a 428CJ but I have a CJ in my cobra and the distance from the bottom head surface to the top exhaust bolt hole is considerably higher on the 427 thereby making the front header tube on each side closer to the shock towers. All of the previous FE's I've had in mustangs had SOME clearance, but this is tight against the towers.

[Rick Parker]

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The Le-Mans Winning S.K.-37080 Tunnel Port Head





Made from the original tooling & fixture. The Original FORD Aluminum Tunnel Port Head used to win Le-Mans in the GT-40's. This part was also used in the CAN AM Competition in the late 60's. Also available in modified form with 3 chamber sizes 88cc,76cc, and 58cc for those builders who wish to form their own chambers. Also with 3 different exhaust ports.

From Doves website.

[map]

Perogie mite have a set.
http://www.perogie.com/

[Byots]

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