MTFCA Forum

Still manufacturing cast iron p-heads? Anything change during evolution since first run regards to aluminum and cast?

P head???????????? Did I miss something during the last few years?

P Head known as Prus Head

Still making Aluminum only in T plug and 14mm plug. After 12 years still no success in a quality iron casting at a reasonable cost.

My brother in law worked in a foundry since Vietnam until his demise contacting black lung. He would give me casting which were beautiful. I still have a few. I gave away most of them.

No quality of workmanship now and in the future as once was. Not to mention the price of doing business.

There used to be a foundry in El Paso, Texas that could cast heads for V-12 Ferarris and just about anything else. The did antique parts casting in alumium and iron. Very expensive for a one-off, I'm sure. I don't know if it still exists, or what a run of iron T heads might cost. I'd think such a foundry could produce high grade T head castings.

It looks as if the El Paso foundry is gone. Another possible choice: Taylor Foundry, Wichita Falls, Texas. They do a lot of gray iron casting, and have done so for nearly a century. Pricing? I have no idea.

Racer_22 wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 17, 2022 7:16 pm

Still making Aluminum only in T plug and 14mm plug. After 12 years still no success in a quality iron casting at a reasonable cost.

Kevin, you have a great product. I have 2 very happy customers & more to come.
Toot your own horn!.
Explain the quality, casting combustion chamber consistency & vacuum sealing process that makes your heads superior.

I understand you may not be able to do this in the general discussion forum, but, you could place a notice/ad in the for sale section.

I believe that I'm running the last Prus iron T head on our Fordor. I called Kevin, and he told me to call Don Lang. There was a head on a shelf that Don didn't even know about. It's a been a great product. I estimate that I've driven 10,000 miles in the ten years since the restoration.

We do everything locally. We have a foundry that has been in business for near 100 years with fourth generation family running it and they are full service. Our machinist is close and very prompt about getting the quality machining at a reasonable price. If the Texas foundry was local it would be great except its over 1200 miles away. You get what you pay for. Shipping if they were still in business would drive the price of product to where nobody could afford it. Our heads are heat treated before machining and then we send them out for vacuum impregnation and then pressure test every head for quality control. We'll just keep everything local in our little town and support local business.

Kevin

I have always been very impressed with your product, but mentioning Vacuum Impregnation and knowing what that means, puts it over the top as far as quality and care are concerned in my opinion. VERY impressed, indeed.

A brief description of vacuum impregnation would be appreciated.

Pat

the following link provides a complete explanation which saves a lot of typing (and cut/paste wouldn't give sufficient credit to the author)

https://finishingandcoating.com/index.p ... ation-work

The value added by that process to an aluminum cylinder head is obvious.

Can one use stock head bolts with p-heads?

I suggest a new set of the proper head bolts and the correct type washers. I'd also suggest following Mr. Prus's suggestions as to gasket type, block surface and thread preparation, torque, and re-torquing procedures.

hah wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 08, 2022 7:18 pm

Can one use stock head bolts with p-heads?

Yes, new high head bolts are best IMO, Kevin supplies w/ each P head the proper s.s. thin washers to put under each bolt head. Washers are needed to prevent galling the surface of the aluminum head around the bolt holes. Thin washers of course to allow sufficient depth of the bolt into the block.