Knockoff GT40 heads? Pics added!

[dmoses42]

Did anybody make an aftermarket/knockoff 3 Bar GT40 cast iron head? I have a set of 3 Bar heads I got from a friend, but they have absolutely no Ford markings, no GT40 markings, no part number markings, no tooling date/time markings, just the 3 bars. There are XE numbers on the bottom of them, but I have a very hard time believing I have some experimental GT40 heads. No other manufacturer markings. I can't find anything where anyone used the 3 bar designation other than Ford, and there is nothing on these heads that says Ford. I know, "post some pics". Tell me exactly where you want pictures of, and I'll take them and post them. Might be a few days though, I'm going out of town for a few days, less than a week though. Thanks, guys!

 

[dmoses42]

So, I forgot to follow up on this... I've taken pics of the known locations of GT40 markings, where they should be on these heads but aren't, except for the 3 bars front and rear. I only took pics of one head, but both are the same. I also took pics of the bottom of the head showing the XE and 256 markings. Anybody have any ideas?

 

[ared77]

XE sure looks like a factory experimental item. I don't know what year Ford quit using XE or if they still do? I may ask over on the Boss 302 site to see what those guys say.

 

[dmoses42]

Please do. I just created an account on Corral.net and I'm asking there too... I don't have the luck to stumble across experimental anything. Except "is this bat gonna make me sick", that's the only type experimental I find...

 

[ared77]

Couple of guys on the Boss site said they have seen XE parts up into the 80's. Here's one guys response -

"I've seen some ex parts early 80s
XE-244963 alum cylinder head. Maybe early SVO stuff."

 

[dmoses42]

Couple of guys on the Boss site said they have seen XE parts up into the 80's. Here's one guys response -

"I've seen some ex parts early 80s
XE-244963 alum cylinder head. Maybe early SVO stuff."

Let me know if anybody else pops up with details. Most people on corral.net were bashing the condition, "been sitting out in the weather" or "bottom of the ocean" comments. Obviously they don't live near the coast or they keep all their parts in a safe with a dehumidifier... One guy with 9000+ posts said they aren't anything special "not worth much" "tons of 'experimental' heads were produced and pop up from time to time." Odd I haven't seen anything on them in my searches. Archived or not, I'd think something would show up. But I just want to know what they are. And whether to restore them and sell to someone with an interest in "experimental" parts, or go through them and put them on my Bronco... I have very little in them at this point.

 

[jckkys]

I'm surprised they have internal air injection. My '96 Explorer GT 40 heads weren't drilled for air injection. I was lucky enough to get pressed in valve guides and seats. Ford did this for a common SUV engine but not for experimental high performance heads. I built my 351 as a clone of the '69 Mustang 351. They were close but not quite GT40.