Re: 1937 Super Eight aluminum engine head

Posted by BH On 2013/10/7 16:52:12

I'm no expert on these cars, but the use of aluminum cylinder heads on prewar cars caught my attention while composing various installments for this site's online Service Index.

Clearly, there were issues of corrosion/leaks with aluminum cylinder heads - see SL Vol. 12, No. 7.

Apparently enough that, in 1938, they returned to cast-iron heads for the 17th Series (1939) production. They even recommended installing cast-iron heads on cars back through the 12th Series (including 120s), though redrilling was required for the Super Eight block - see SL Vol. 12, No. 19.

However, it wasn't long before they surperseded the aluminum heads for service with cast-iron units that required no rework - see SL Vol. 12, No. 21.

While a 1937 Super Eight left the factory with an aluminum head, it may very well have been replaced with cast-iron one, later.