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"16" Head

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"16" Head #1
copernicus Nick Kopernik Western, CT, USA Sign in to contact 1962 MG MGA MkII	Topic Creator (OP) Sep 17, 2014 09:18 AM Top Contributor Joined 10 years ago 6,906 Posts

I have a a MKII with the number "16" cast onto the head. I've recently seen some Craigslist ads where sellers were hawking these heads as being very rare. Is there something, besides the build specs, that make it unique and rare?

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Re: "16" Head #2
Gary E Gary Edwards Kernersville, NC, USA Sign in to contact 1962 MG MGA MkII	Sep 17, 2014 09:45 AM Top Contributor Joined 17 years ago 16,300 Posts

The "16" head was only available on the 1622 MGA MKII engine. Rare indeed.

Gary

Murphy's law

Tell a man there are 300 billion stars in the universe, and he'll believe you. Tell him a bench has wet paint on it, and he'll have to touch it to be sure.

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Re: "16" Head #3
dipstick Kenny Snyder (RIP) La Center, WA, USA Sign in to contact 1941 Ford N-Series 1958 MG MGA 1500 Coupe "Rosie" 1970 MG MGB GT "Pat's GT" 1971 MG MGB "Gifted To Me" & more	Sep 17, 2014 06:21 PM Top Contributor Joined 15 years ago 7,564 Posts

"The "16" head was only available on the 1622 MGA MKII engine. Rare i

I have a "16" head, 12H432 – Known MGA MKII 1622cc – cast 5/61, MOWOG AF1, Raised “16” cast at the rear of the cylinder head on the spark plug side, 43cc Combustion chamber, Combustion Chamber Depth .425", Intake Valve Dia. 1.565", Exhaust Valve Dia. 1.345". Very rare.

I also have a 1622 head 1H967 - 1967 Austin Cambridge 1622 - cast 3/8/64 - no # on back.

The "16" heads respond to larger intake valves, and are very collectable stock.

Be safe out there.
Kenny

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Re: "16" Head #4
copernicus Nick Kopernik Western, CT, USA Sign in to contact 1962 MG MGA MkII	Topic Creator (OP) Sep 18, 2014 06:54 AM Top Contributor Joined 10 years ago 6,906 Posts

I had work done last year and the shop wanted to swap my existing head for one they had already reworked and was ready for install (not sure if the bench head was a "16" winking smiley

; glad I insisted that they rebuild my unit.

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Re: "16" Head #5
bills Bill Spohn W. Vancouver, , BC, Canada Sign in to contact 1956 MG MGA 1958 MG MGA Twin-Cam 1962 MG MGA MkII Coupe 1965 Jensen CV8 & more	Sep 19, 2014 07:30 AM Top Contributor Joined 19 years ago 17,982 Posts

The rare bit is the '16' on the back of it (and some apparently came with big valves but a 15 on them - see Barney). Other than that they are about identical to the early MGB heads and one could always grind a little, TIG a little and turn an 18 into a 16 if your head went missing.

Bill Spohn www.rhodo.citymax.com/carstuff.html
Current: 1958 MGA Twincam (race car (170 bhp)),1962 MGA Deluxe Coupe (98 bhp)
1957 Jamaican MGA (200 bhp)1965 1971 Jensen Interceptor (350 bhp)
2009 Pontiac Solstice GXP Coupe (375 bhp)
2007 BMW Z4M coupe (340 bhp)
Recent: 1969 MGC roadster (175 bhp),Jensen CV8 (375 bhp),
1969 Lamborghini Islero S (350 bhp), 1988 Fiero GT turbo (300 bhp)
North Vancouver BC

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Re: "16" Head #6
wyatt Wyatt W penguin point, Michigan...drift ice, Antarctica Sign in to contact 1957 Porsche 356 1958 Alfa Romeo Giulietta 1958 Alfa Romeo Giulietta 1960 MG MGA & more	Sep 19, 2014 09:22 AM Joined 18 years ago 44,198 Posts

Uhh......bills good advice eye popping smiley

, but hope you don't mind a pat down when leaving my shop.... smoking smiley

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