I’m looking for a rebuildable alloy head for my 55 Ariel VH500. I’d be happy with a later alloy head, too... I’m really after no broken fins and serviceable valve seats.

Thanks
Chris

Hi Chris,
Rocking horse sh*t :-(

Those heads have been in high demand for quite a few years, due to the popularity of replica trials HT5's being built
Being 55 I think your head will have an exhaust stub rather than a push in pipe ??
Later type new cylinder heads are available from Ariel Specialists in the UK

John

Mine is push-in (it does have “54” stamped in somewhere)... with a cast in iron insert that encompasses both valve seats and the spark plug hole. The valve seats are ground nearly clear through but the head is perfect otherwise. I have a later stub type head but the fins are beat and it’s had some awful weld repair in the past...

I’m slowly working at repairing the later head, but I’m lazy. And busy.

Chris

HI Chris,
I'm not 100% sure which year had push in or over, The later 57(ish) heads are push in exhaust
Mine is like this, The later heads have separate cast in "D" shaped with the flats to the centre, and dovetailed that are cast into the alloy
Difficult to renew the seats? But I had new seats fitted into the cast in inserts by a local shop
Way back when I first rebuilt this engine I got the seats cut outside the old seats and adapted larger head valves to
suit, I got a copy of the pattern makers drawing that showed the shape of the seat inserts
After almost 30 years of use the seats were again in poor shape necessitating further work, It has been fine since I had the inserts fitted
(Touch Wood!!)
Have you enquired about getting inserts fitted into the cast in "skull" I have seen this done on a Norton Head

John

I haven’t looked in to having inserts put in. I was queasy about having seats pressed in to what would end up being part iron and part alloy after boring for new seats. I suppose it’s worth asking a professional.

I was in the process of goig big on the intake valve and down to 5/16” stems on both before I accepted how bad my seats are, and the project stalled.

Thanks for the advice
Chris

I have a couple but one I purchased and extremely happy with was from John Budgen (UK). Very nice bloke to talk and deal with. Easy to find on net. Im down under so probably easier to get direct. They are new and cast in the improved period type you are looking for. Look good enough for the mantle piece I reckon !

I’ve seen them! Gorgeous work but I’m not yet ready to part with the cash. We’ll see what desperation dictates...

Chris