Hello Fellow Dodge Bros. nuts,
I have finally had good enough weather to dig out this Ricardo head as found in my attached digital images. It is my hope that a few of you guys have had experience with this head and can tell me what to expect as I install it on my 1923 Dodge Bros. touring project. I wish my body was a better one! I await your responses.
Regards,
Alan

Another Ricardo Pic.

I've never seen one of theose, looks to be cast iron? I'm thinking maybe a higher compression ratio than standard? I was hoping for an overhead conversion like a Morten and Brett. That would still be a cool item to use. MAybe someone has experiance with one. HAve you done a google to see what comes up? Now that I look at the picture closer I see the date is Nov. '23. You can't use that on a car built before it was made, better send it to me for my '24.

:-)

I took your advice and did a Google search. I hadn't even thought of that novel idea. One good article suggesting that maybe a bit more compression but the combustion chamber configuration is what the Ricardo head is all about. Any other comments?
Alan

sure is. according to my dykes book. designed by mr harry ricardo. it's all about the turbulence and getting the most out of the petrol, also said you need less advance. also said that will not fit a 23 or 24, best on my 25er. send to me asap. with thanks brian.

Hello Brian,
Thanks for reading a bit about Ricardo heads, in your Dykes manual. Have you seen much original speed or performance stuff in Oz for the early Dodge Bros.?

Alan

not much info on 1920's mods, but when my motor came back from the expert builder the pistons poke out the top of the block about 3mm, not sure if this is how they came or a way of boosting compression. you can change the cam grind and the carby. i fitted a holden stromberg down draught carby to my car, gives a bit more go and get an air cleaner with electric fuel pump. and gets rid of a carby that would always pour petrol out.

Brian,
How about sending a pic. or two of your intake as above described??

Al

My "24 touring is so fast, I'd be afraid of more speed!!

When I restored my car in the mid '80s, the late Jim Mallars (a West Coast DB guru) told me the Roof 16 OHV cylinder head was the hot ticket. I never did find a Roof head, but I found a brochure about it. You can see the brochure here (~600 KB .jpg):

http://users.innercite.com/bcrowell4/other_files/roof_head.jpg

The pictures show the intake and exhaust arrangement that they used.

Looks like a new event for the National Meets,Vintage Drag Racing.

Thanks for the scan of the brochure. I tried to print it, but only the first picture/page printed. How can I print the rest? HAs anyone actually seen a Roof head for a DB?

Maybe the problem arose because you tried to print after you right-clicked on the image?? Try saving the image to disc first, and then examine it under MS Picture Viewer to see if it is complete. If it's complete, it should print under programs such as Microsoft Paint or Irfanview (free download, highly-recommended). If you still have problems printing it, I can send you a separate .jpg of each page.

And yes, Jim Mallars did refer me to a fellow who had a Roof head he wanted to sell, but it lacked the intake sheet metal, so I didn't buy it because I wasn't confident that I would be able to duplicate the intake. Now I wish I had bought it. I've never seen another.

I think it is safe to say 90% of the speed equipment made in the 1920's was for Model T Fords. I'm a Ford guy and I've collected T speed equipment literature for 40 years, seeing anything for a Dodge is RARE. My guess is that the DB overheads were for the pre 1927 blocks. Roof & Laurel are one and the same even though they put out these seperate flyers in 1923. Most of the speed equipment makers used the same illustrations in their catalogs, and I think there was a lot of parts swapping between them. A Roof and Laurel head sitting side by side would be the same. Was the Morton & Brett DB head the same or different?

Amil Gerhke has a Roof head on his 27 DB roadster and Arnold Seiker in Western Oregon has one on his early DB roadster that has been together for years but never started.

I don't know how readable these will be, from the January 1929 Morton & Brett catalog.

I'll take two 400W's. Just bring them along to Hershey next fall.

Yes, I would like to place my order for (3 ea) of these 400W head assemblies also. Don't know if I can wait until Hersey. Just ship out tomorrow! I have three projects waiting in line!

Realistically, I would be happy to share costs if someone would loan a head, as a pattern, to have a run of these heads manufactured, maybe those guys at Riley would look at the project??? It would be a nice addition to the 12 volt cars but what a great addition to the Fast 4 engines. Definitely a Ford killer...hahahaha

Alan

OH....

I almost forgot...how much deposit is required for my order????? :-)

Alan

I'd just like an unfinished pallet of them delivered to Doug's shop.

I could handle that!!

Hello, Brian, from OZ, sent me a few requested pictures of a down draft carb. and custom intake built to fit the 12 volt Dodge Bros. Brian was also gracious enough to allow me to post the pictures here. I do this posting to give everyone an idea of carburetor possibilities for our cars, should we not enjoy the original intake setup. Please post your comments as well as ideas of a decent and available down draft carb. available here in the USA. Has anyone had experience installing a side draft SU on one of our 12 volt Dodge Bros.?
Regards,
Alan Dewsnup
(Utah)
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb290/alsfarms/PIC00126-1.jpg

Additional Images from Brian, our friend from OZ
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb290/alsfarms/PIC00125-1.jpg

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb290/alsfarms/PIC00122-1.jpg

Last Picture from Brian