Packard Forum Index » Modification Discussion

I don't think a finned head with the fins milled off would be any good to a restorer, as it would still not look original.

Maybe not but one would have to see what the look turned out to be. They were painted originally so that covers a multitude. If it could be cast both with and without fins but with the typical ID markings using the same basic patterns then so much the better. My point is that there is a lot of work that will be going into making the item and if there could be a way found to make the casting do dual purpose I would think the return on investment might be more favorable.

The casting would just be a swap of the top of the mold. A damaged head in hand would be good to go off of that way everything can be lined up exactly as needed. The foundry is OK doing a "restoration" head and it seems that a market exists. The Factory heads were raw cast and painted. A finer casting would be achievable, the porosity issues with early aluminum casting are all but gone with 60+ years of casting advancement. Like I said the heads as ordered from the foundry will be cast finish (though machined to where you can install it) But I would be open to polishing the heads as requested at my shop in Florida.