The Ford Barn

BNewman · 12-24-2015, 01:29 PM

I have a head on my '31 I am told is a Brumfield.
It has a small B just forward of the distributor and viewed correctly from the manifold side of the engine.
Does anyone know what compression ratio it might be?
Thanks

JohnLaVoy · 12-24-2015, 02:36 PM

Brumfields were 5.9, but they usually had a BF marking. There were early heads with a B only on them.

Houdini · 12-24-2015, 08:29 PM

Thanks for starting this thread.
The previous owner told me he had installed a Brumfield head. I was also wondering what the compression ratio was. I thought I had read that there were different ones, starting at 5.5, then 5.9 etc.

I went out and looked at my head and on the top of the casting there is a marking with B - R, with the dash in-between the two letters.

I thought these were just heads that were machined down, but it seems like they were cast this way, based on the marking on the head being raised letters, versus stamped.

So were there different compression head ratings or just 5.9 for all the Brumfields, or were the different ratings offered by other manufacturers?

Benson · 12-24-2015, 08:42 PM

B-F

Brumfield-Finney

Just mention his partner Finney to Larry and he has been known to get all "wound up".

5.2 (Bill Kenz told me 50 years ago that this was the compression on the "head with the large B" aka Police head, which I am still running on the Coupe.)

5.9

6.5

7.1

And almost any custom CR within reason ...

Houdini · 12-24-2015, 09:52 PM

I'll have to take a closer look to see if it what I thought was an R is an F.

1931 flamingo · 12-25-2015, 10:04 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Larry posts regularly on the AHOOGA message board. FWIW
Paul in CT

Benson · 12-25-2015, 11:36 AM

Larry posted recently on Ahooga, a procedure of how to measure the head and then he could tell the compression ...

5window · 12-25-2015, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benson

B-F

Brumfield-Finney

Just mention his partner Finney to Larry and he has been known to get all "wound up".

5.2

5.9

6.5

7.1

And almost any custom CR within reason ...

I don't know the man, but from previous postings here on the FB before he left, or perhaps, was asked to leave, it didn't take much to get him "wound up". Hope it's happier over on Ahooha.

Mike V. Florida · 12-26-2015, 12:19 AM

He is talking about producing the heads again.

CarlG · 12-26-2015, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike V. Florida

He is talking about producing the heads again.

That's what he said 5 years ago when I inquired.

Giles · 12-26-2015, 04:58 PM

Hi Bnewman - If what you are describing is a raised capital B cast into the head just north of the distributor, and nothing else, then what you have is not a Brumfield but a so-called "police" head. These were an in-period Ford option and raised the CR to, if I remember rightly, 5.6. I've used one for 15 years and it just makes my A a little livelier.

kenparker · 12-27-2015, 09:50 AM

here is the B-F on a Brumfield head. This head was bought in mid '90's. Currently on my 1928 pickup.

Joop · 12-27-2015, 10:04 AM

Police Head

...

FrankWest · 12-27-2015, 12:25 PM

Roughly speaking how much additional HP can you get out of a 6:1 head. From a standard model A Head? Can this increased compression damage the engine?

Tom Wesenberg · 12-27-2015, 01:19 PM

Some years ago there were dyno tests done and posted on Fordbarn. The 5.5 head added about 10 H.P. and was the best bang for the buck to increase horsepower. There wasn't too much gain using the 6.0 over the 5.5 head, as I recall.

You also need a good cam, and not one with worn lobes and tappets.

FrankWest · 12-27-2015, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

Some years ago there were dyno tests done and posted on Fordbarn. The 5.5 head added about 10 H.P. and was the best bang for the buck to increase horsepower. There wasn't too much gain using the 6.0 over the 5.5 head, as I recall.

You also need a good cam, and not one with worn lobes and tappets.

Thanks

Does anyone know how The compression of a model B head compares with a Model A head. Is a model A 4.5:1?

Tom Wesenberg · 12-27-2015, 01:47 PM

Model A head is 4.2 and the B head I think is 5.2, but I hope someone correct me if I'm wrong on the B head.

Bob C · 12-27-2015, 02:42 PM

According to Vince's site the A head is 4.22 the police head is 5.2 and the
B head is 4.6.

Bob

Tom Wesenberg · 12-27-2015, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob C

According to Vince's site the A head is 4.22 the police head is 5.2 and the
B head is 4.6.

Bob

Yes, the "B" head is the police head for the Model A, and the Model B Ford has a large "C" on the head, and as you posted is 4.6 ratio.

Houdini · 12-27-2015, 07:54 PM

I took a second look at mine and what I thought was a B-R is in fact a
B-F. It must be the glasses. (actually, it was more likely the time from reading the letters and walking back into the house to type my earlier post that changed it from an F to a R). Should have done like I do when we go to bed at night and check 4 or 5 times to make sure the house doors are locked. Now going into a room and forgetting why you did is another problem.

I believe this was also purchased in the mid 90s, around 1997, so should I assume its a 5.9. Just wondering.

12-24-2015, 01:29 PM	#1
BNewman Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Posts: 30	Brumfield I have a head on my '31 I am told is a Brumfield. It has a small B just forward of the distributor and viewed correctly from the manifold side of the engine. Does anyone know what compression ratio it might be? Thanks

12-24-2015, 02:36 PM	#2
JohnLaVoy Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Rocklin, CA Posts: 779	Re: Brumfield Brumfields were 5.9, but they usually had a BF marking. There were early heads with a B only on them.

12-24-2015, 08:29 PM	#3
Houdini Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Central Texas Posts: 113	Re: Brumfield Thanks for starting this thread. The previous owner told me he had installed a Brumfield head. I was also wondering what the compression ratio was. I thought I had read that there were different ones, starting at 5.5, then 5.9 etc. I went out and looked at my head and on the top of the casting there is a marking with B - R, with the dash in-between the two letters. I thought these were just heads that were machined down, but it seems like they were cast this way, based on the marking on the head being raised letters, versus stamped. So were there different compression head ratings or just 5.9 for all the Brumfields, or were the different ratings offered by other manufacturers?

12-24-2015, 08:42 PM	#4
Benson Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Cen~Col - Central Highlands Posts: 2,757	Re: Brumfield B-F Brumfield-Finney Just mention his partner Finney to Larry and he has been known to get all "wound up". 5.2 (Bill Kenz told me 50 years ago that this was the compression on the "head with the large B" aka Police head, which I am still running on the Coupe.) 5.9 6.5 7.1 And almost any custom CR within reason ... Last edited by Benson; 12-27-2015 at 11:47 AM. Reason: blue text

12-24-2015, 09:52 PM	#5
Houdini Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Central Texas Posts: 113	Re: Brumfield I'll have to take a closer look to see if it what I thought was an R is an F.

12-25-2015, 10:04 AM	#6
1931 flamingo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: new britain,ct 06052 Posts: 9,428	Re: Brumfield Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Larry posts regularly on the AHOOGA message board. FWIW Paul in CT

12-25-2015, 11:36 AM	#7
Benson Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Cen~Col - Central Highlands Posts: 2,757	Re: Brumfield Larry posted recently on Ahooga, a procedure of how to measure the head and then he could tell the compression ...

12-26-2015, 12:19 AM	#9
Mike V. Florida Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Florida between Sarasota and TampaSouth Florida Posts: 14,054	Re: Brumfield He is talking about producing the heads again. __________________ What's right about America is that although we have a mess of problems, we have great capacity - intellect and resources - to do some thing about them. - Henry Ford II

12-26-2015, 04:58 PM	#11
Giles Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Leighton Buzzard, UK Posts: 23	Re: Brumfield Hi Bnewman - If what you are describing is a raised capital B cast into the head just north of the distributor, and nothing else, then what you have is not a Brumfield but a so-called "police" head. These were an in-period Ford option and raised the CR to, if I remember rightly, 5.6. I've used one for 15 years and it just makes my A a little livelier.

12-27-2015, 12:25 PM	#14
FrankWest Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 3,157	Re: Brumfield Roughly speaking how much additional HP can you get out of a 6:1 head. From a standard model A Head? Can this increased compression damage the engine?

12-27-2015, 01:19 PM	#15
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Brumfield Some years ago there were dyno tests done and posted on Fordbarn. The 5.5 head added about 10 H.P. and was the best bang for the buck to increase horsepower. There wasn't too much gain using the 6.0 over the 5.5 head, as I recall. You also need a good cam, and not one with worn lobes and tappets.

12-27-2015, 01:47 PM	#17
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Brumfield Model A head is 4.2 and the B head I think is 5.2, but I hope someone correct me if I'm wrong on the B head.

12-27-2015, 02:42 PM	#18
Bob C Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: So Cal Posts: 9,359	Re: Brumfield According to Vince's site the A head is 4.22 the police head is 5.2 and the B head is 4.6. Bob

12-27-2015, 07:54 PM	#20
Houdini Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Central Texas Posts: 113	Re: Brumfield I took a second look at mine and what I thought was a B-R is in fact a B-F. It must be the glasses. (actually, it was more likely the time from reading the letters and walking back into the house to type my earlier post that changed it from an F to a R). Should have done like I do when we go to bed at night and check 4 or 5 times to make sure the house doors are locked. Now going into a room and forgetting why you did is another problem. I believe this was also purchased in the mid 90s, around 1997, so should I assume its a 5.9. Just wondering.