Extremely Rare Winfield Head for A/B/C

[sjsca]

I own an extremely rare Winfield overhead valve (ohv) conversion for models A/B/C. I obtained it from my sister after the passing of my brother-in-law, Glen Duncan of San Jose, Ca., who died Jan 2010 @ age 72 yrs. Glen was one of the most honest men I've known, and a hotrodder in San Jose, Ca during the 1950s.

I'd like to find the sidedraft carbs that would fit it, AND contact Gene Winfield. I'm told he's still alive & living in the Bakersfield area. Any help greatly appreciated.

The head itself was cast by Oakland Tool & Die (OTD) about 1960; they were contracted by Winfield to produce 10 sets. This is the 11th set! Gene Winfiled examined it himself from Glen about Nov 1960 in San Jose & gave Glen the specs: valve type, etc. Glen said Gene Winfiled was surprised to see that OT&D actuallly made an 11th & unauthorized copy! Glen wrote these specs down on paper, but this info paper cannot be found by my sister, Glen's widow; but she's still looking but I'm not optimistic.

I also have the intake & exhaust manifolds for this head.

Any assistance greatly appreciated.

[Zombiescustoms]

I believe he is in Mojave, CA and his shop is at 8201 Sierra Hwy, Mojave, CA TEL: (661) 824-4728

That is a very cool find, my father has an original Riley 2 port head on his 32 5w, they really make huge gains over the old stock 24hp!

[rotorwrench]

Ed Winfield worked with Harry Miller back in the early days of racing. He parted ways with Miller early on and started the carburetor manufacturing business. He also ground cams among other things. I've heard he was very reclusive. Folks that could get him to do work for them would have to go to his shop & knock on the front door. Ed would open the door about six inches and hand out the part wrapped in paper.

I'm not sure if he is related to Gene Winfield or not but it would be interesting to hear more about him. I guess he died back in 1982 or somewhere there abouts.

Here is Genes web-site address. http://genewinfield.org/

Kerby

Added this for a little more history on Ed http://www.mshf.com/hof/ed_winfield.htm

[Fordors]

Gene Winfield has been a noted customizer/custom painter for over 50 years. No relation to Ed Winfield. Ed was an early hot rodder and sprint car racer, and when he gave up driving turned to making speed equipment, carbs, and his specialty, camshafts. Ed was married, never had any kids to my knowledge. He started grinding cams in the '20's and was still doing them into the late '50's at least. Notable customers were Meyer-Drake of Offenhauser/Indy 500 fame.

[barryfromvictoria]

legendary gene windfield and is alive and well. he was and is a customizor. i saw him at the g.n.r.s 2 weeks ago. i have never heard of him making speed equipment. legend ed winfield made lots of speed equipment and was also very famous. he died about 30 yrs ago. i don`t think they are related.--- barry

[Ol' Ron]

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What does the combustion chamber look like?

[rotorwrench]

That would be intersting to see. Ed was known to have made one of the fastest, if not the fastest, model T Ford ever modified.

[Tim Ayers]

Originally Posted by rotorwrench

That would be intersting to see. Ed was known to have made one of the fastest, if not the fastest, model T Ford ever modified.

Yep, his modified crank to have two pistons up and two down (like a in-line boxer engine of sorts) ran like stink!

From what I've read, the mill shook like a mother, but ran like a raped ape.

This rig using his own specially ground cam to take advantage of the new firing order and his own updraft intake and carb set-up put a lot of the exotic racers to shame.

Ed Winfield was a true genius in the purest definition of the word.

That head was more than likely made by him and not Gene.

[Ol' Ron]

He was also responsible for the NOVI.

[OHV DeLuxe]

That head is an Ed Winfield head.
As far as is know the brother Bud Winfield did the Novi.
Gene is the other guy, pretty sure he never made heads.

[rotorwrench]

That article answers a few questions. Not only did he patent the chamber design but he set it up for his own design carburetors. Those carbs in the picture don't look like the more common Winfield carbs either. Now I'd really like to see that chamber design!

[Flatout]

I used to own an original Winfield overhead valve head. The side draft carbs were specially made Winfield carbs with 3 mounting bolts instead of four. I was told that there were only 2 sets of carbs made, but 5 or 6 heads were made. I did not have a set of the original carbs. There seems to be some significant differences between the one I owned and the one you have. I sold mine to a man in California who has since passed on. The head is now in Speedy Bill's collection. I don't have any pictues in my possesion to post, but a picture of it can be seen in the book "The American Hot Rod" by Dean Batchelor, page 54, or "Hot Rodder, form lakes to street" by Albert Drake, page 175. Mine used a home made intake manifold made of tubing with 2, 1 5/8 " downdraft SR's. Both the manifold and carbs were chorme plated. The head and manifold are pictured on the museum's (Speedway Motors ) web page.
Stan

[Gary]

Demetri Elgin ( Elgin Cams , Santa Rosa Ca ) use to work for EW, did a lot of cam and machine work for Ed. In fact has some of his machinery still in use at his cam shop. Contact him for information he is a great guy; and produces a quality made in the USA product !
A fellow I know in Oakland has one of those carbs you speak of; saw it last week.

[PC/SR]

Dema Elgin asked me to post this

Gene Winfield was a custom car guy, not an engine guy. I did not work for Ed Winfield but I went to his office in San Francisco, Ca. and later on at his home in Las Vegas for many years to learn about engines and camshaft grinding. Dimitri"Dema"Elgin

[Hitchhiker]

Gene's last name is still Winfield not Windfield

[SUHRsc]

Is this going to be for sale possibly? I may be interested if so.

Originally Posted by sjsca

I own an extremely rare Winfield overhead valve (ohv) conversion for models A/B/C.

[jim1932]

Originally Posted by SUHRsc

Is this going to be for sale possibly? I may be interested if so.

You and the rest of the guys on here.....

[Ol' Ron]

Boy, that would work just fine in the roadster.

[62pan]

You guys do know this thread is four years old. One of these sold in upper Calif about the time this one surfaced. The owner sold a Winfield OHV and a Riley two port for six grand. I tried for two days to contact the seller but the phone just rang off the hook.

[Bored&Stroked]

Duh . . . I didn't even notice the post date . . . dumb, dumb, dumb . . .