New SOHC Heads from Robert Pond

[Barry_R]

Don't know guys. 
I conceived the original "double roller" T&D rocker design for the SOHC. 
Had them made by T&D - took more than a little "push" to convince them to try it. 
Then I sent a rocker to Bill C for testing (Thanks by the way - really helped my confidence on the concept). 
I know Larry Torres himself.
And I don't get any free rockers....
 

I've just gotten used to others taking full personal credit for ideas, industry contacts, and concepts that I either came up with or had significant input on.  They can claim everything that's in my mirrors - they cannot take what's coming up through the windshield...

[feadam]

Jay any new news on pond sohc heads

[jayb]

Nope, I haven't got a set yet; I've been buried in Drag Week preparations and haven't been keeping up to date with what is happening there.  I'll post something as soon as I have some more  information available - Jay

[Bart]

Well I just thought I would let everyone know that Robert Pond has his SOHC heads listed on his website. From looking at the pictures on his website it looks like the heads have done away with the heart shaped chamber and returned to the original style combustion chamber. Does anybody have anymore info on the latest version of his heads?

Here is a link to his webpage: http://www.robertpondmotorsports.com/Ford-sohc-cylinder-head.htm

Thanks in advance for any response.

[jayb]

I think he went back to the standard chamber for a couple of reasons.  One was the availability of pistons; with a custom chamber a non-standard piston would be required, so that would make the engine build a little more difficult and probably more expensive.  Also, Robert's chamber was so small (85cc) that it degraded the flow numbers for the head.  Of course I think it was flowed with the Ferrea valves, which didn't help any.

I'm hoping to get a set of Robert's heads in partially machined condition in the next couple of months, and machine a chamber into them that is around 95-100 cc.  I've done some R&D work on an SOHC head with a chamber like that, and flow really didn't drop off much.  This would save 20-25 cc of chamber volume and make for a better chamber and a lighter piston.

[fe66comet]

HOLY greenbacks BAT MAN, that is about two thirds of what I have in my whole stroker including intake and carburetors, guess if i want a SOHC for my comet some stuff gets sold LOL...Jon

[cdmbill2]

I look at those heads and think that both the intake and exhaust flange e.g. port height could be rasied substantially without getting into anything important in the casting and the flow across the board could be dramatically better. I gather these are made to match the original almost 50 year old locations, but seeing as how people are making sheet metal intakes, originals are unobtainium and that there are no factory installed situations, why not? With dedicated double roller rockers the cam location could be altered to get ratios up to where they need to be with original spec cam blanks and the fun could really start. I suspect I'm missing a bunch of details like the impact on the chain drive but a guy can dream right?

[jayb]

Raised ports are definitely the way to go, and if I ever get some time and CNC port a set of Pond's heads I will be raising the intake port as much as possible.  There is a limit, because you start to impinge on the spring seat if you go up more than a half inch or so.  On the exhaust side, there is a water jacket passage running right over the port, so you can't go too far there either.  Nevertheless the advantages are there; I have two sets of heads that were specially cast with raised ports from a different manufacturer, and they flow about 10% better than the stockers with the same valves and equivalent porting efforts.

[fe66comet]

I saw, an article recently describing the heads. They sound interesting for sure. Not to sound non FE but there is the bang for the buck issue. Seems that even the most exotic FE engine blocks can only handle under 1000 HP. No offence just sayin ya know.....Jon

[jayb]

Actually, I'm pretty sure the Shelby and Pond FE blocks will handle 2000 HP.  I've run 1200 HP with the Shelby block, with a blower and nitrous, and had no issues at all with the block.

[fe66comet]

I get a lot of conflicting info on blocks, some a ford 428 block will handle 1500 others say 700. I have heard Shelby blocks fail is used for endurance applications others say they will hold 8000 RPM all day long. I wish there was a standard to which they could all be rated by. I am considering a Genesis block with the Pond heads but not sure if it would handle big numbers. I prefer iron over aluminum as it is more durable and forgiving.  I am thinking 800 HP but then again I surely could achieve that with a good set of aftermarket CJ  Heads. I imagine most HP limits stated at the lower numbers are based on production blocks and higher numbers are either filled or aftermarket that are also filled but either way I want something street friendly and filled blocks do not meet that criteria.  But I am not looking for 5 second quarters either, maybe mid to lower eights would be about it. Also as I have said before my line of thinking will be for a road racer but a higher red line would be nice to get the juices flowing....Jon

[jayb]

Hmmmm, no way a stock 428 block will handle 1500 horsepower.  My general rules of thumb go like this:  A stock 2 bolt main FE block is good for 600 HP, but will eventually fatigue and fail in a drag race application with slicks and a stick or trans-brake.  In a street application a 2 bolt block will run forever at the 600 HP level.  A 4 bolt main block, including an original 2 bolt block that has been upgraded to 4 bolt mains, is good for 800+ HP, including drag applications.  And I think any of the aftermarket blocks, with the exception of the early Genesis blocks that had the cast iron main caps, are good for 1000+ HP.  The aftermarket blocks are thicker and beefier in all the critical areas.

Rules of thumb being what they are, take mine with a grain of salt...

[fe66comet]

Sounds logical to me, I did not know however a 390 block could be modified to that degree. If I had I would have done it to begin with. Things become clearer in retrospect. I will start with a better block next time for more cubes and probably either use the Pond heads or the felony. I am for all purposes basing everything on a 800 HP platform..... Jon