Author Topic: Jim French, Mike Rieck, Rick Stetson brought my old race head back to life (Read 8277 times)

gschuld · « **on:** May 29, 2016, 06:18:43 pm »

I brought to Mike a vintage Butch Pace ported head (RC Engineering's midwest distributor and held a national record or two in the mid 70s on single engine cb750 dragbikes) that had some stripped threads, piston indent damage from an apparent broken rod on #4, and tired guides, old Manley valves and old RC red retainers. A pretty worn out old race head.

Jim French repaired the chamber damage, and Rick and especially Mike did the rest. Everything is new, short the "pre owned" titanium retainers I supplied.

I am thrilled with the finished product. It's hard not to appreciate top level work from equal caliber guys.

George

gschuld · « **Reply #1 on:** May 29, 2016, 06:22:09 pm »

It was for an 836 originally, but Mike brought it up to 33.5 intakes and reblended the intake tract along with opening up the chambers to big bore size.

I love it.

George

kmb69 · « **Reply #2 on:** May 29, 2016, 07:00:19 pm »

Those boys all do stellar work. That's almost too purdy to run, ain't it?

grcamna2 · « **Reply #3 on:** May 29, 2016, 07:33:48 pm »

That looks like another beautiful master-piece from the quality workshop of Mike Rieck and others

754 · « **Reply #4 on:** May 29, 2016, 07:54:22 pm »

Are the 33.5s Manley ? I still got a set from back in the day..

HondaMan · « **Reply #5 on:** May 29, 2016, 10:29:23 pm »

Quote from: 754 on May 29, 2016, 07:54:22 pm

Are the 33.5s Manley ? I still got a set from back in the day..

I'll say they are manly!

Mr. Rieck's work is second to no one! Beautiful job, all of it.

MRieck · « **Reply #6 on:** May 30, 2016, 05:30:49 am »

They are actually the valves APE sells guys. they certainly do look like Manley's. Just check the piston to head clearance carefully George. I tried to build a wedge squish area into the chambers to help push charge into the middle of the chamber.

I also wanted to keep compression up (leave as much material in there) as it will be used for racing. Wish I had a before pic of the chamber damage....Jim did a fantastic job repairing it. That man is good!

gschuld · « **Reply #7 on:** May 30, 2016, 07:09:18 am »

Mike,

I have "before" pics to share, but they are in my laptop, which is getting serviced right now. I'll post them as soon as I can. It was a nice serious 360 degree indent. Thanks again Jim

.

Overall, it had enough damage to clearly not be "cost effective" to rebuild. That hasn't stopped me before

, there is just something about rescuing a vintage speed part that interests me. Luckily, Jim, Rick, and especially Mike took pity on the old head and brought her back to fine fighting form.

If you want top shelf work, you can't go wrong with these guys....

George

dusterdude · « **Reply #8 on:** May 30, 2016, 08:46:21 am »

Cool

Sent from my LG-D850 using Tapatalk

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #9 on:** May 30, 2016, 08:51:32 am »

Hot damn, George. What other awesome go fast goodies are also going into this motor?

gschuld · « **Reply #10 on:** May 30, 2016, 09:16:41 am »

Quote from: CB750 Cafe Racer Fan on May 30, 2016, 08:51:32 am

Hot damn, George. What other awesome go fast goodies are also going into this motor?

Well, it's kind of top secret. But you won't tell anyone. ..will ya?

Here is a tease...

George

dragracer · « **Reply #11 on:** May 30, 2016, 09:45:42 am »

The head looks great George/ Mike. Jim did a jam up job on the welding repair. Should be interesting to see how the one runs once the overall package is worked out.

Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er · « **Reply #12 on:** May 30, 2016, 10:08:08 am »

#$%*!!!! Gonna be seriously badass....

Bill/BentON Racing · « **Reply #13 on:** May 30, 2016, 10:27:39 am »

Yeh, badass we like. Don't forget there's a certain bike/engine named Samauto that's also being built, last time I checked the guy doing it could turn a wrench pretty well! Pretty good at enlarging holes too! It might be even mo badass, there's around 3-5 big bore badasses being built as we speak, all 4 digit bore sizes and some will be in action this year! Stay tuned and G'luck with em guys....you know who you are! Bill

BPellerine · « **Reply #14 on:** May 30, 2016, 12:24:36 pm »

beautiful stuff,great work to keep this stuff alive!bill

Medyo Bastos · « **Reply #15 on:** May 30, 2016, 01:16:49 pm »

copper o-rings?

...Save a tree, eat a beaver...

Bill/BentON Racing · « **Reply #16 on:** May 30, 2016, 01:18:28 pm »

Stainless steel probably.

gschuld · « **Reply #17 on:** May 30, 2016, 01:58:03 pm »

Quote from: Medyo Bastos on May 30, 2016, 01:16:49 pm

copper o-rings?

...Save a tree, eat a beaver...

Copper was used by RC originally. SS o-rings have been used with success along with fresh Cometic copper base and head gaskets, but I will probably stick with copper o-rings unless a compelling argument for SS is made.

George

gschuld · « **Reply #18 on:** May 30, 2016, 02:22:51 pm »

And maybe some massaged 12:1 RC Arias 73s...

George

Jim F · « **Reply #19 on:** May 30, 2016, 02:52:20 pm »

It's always a pleasure to get these old dogs to hunt again and I am
Thrilled to be a part of it. Thanks so much guys
Can't wait to see this one run
Jim

grcamna2 · « **Reply #20 on:** May 30, 2016, 03:51:06 pm »

Those pistons should make that engine 'dance forward' nicely George.

gschuld · « **Reply #21 on:** May 30, 2016, 05:04:30 pm »

Quote from: grcamna2 on May 30, 2016, 03:51:06 pm

Those pistons should make that engine 'dance forward' nicely George.

Jim,

Your my hero.

Grcamna2,

Let's hope so. They got treated to a Swaintech PC9 anti friction skirt coating, new rings, pins, buttons.

George

dragracer · « **Reply #22 on:** May 30, 2016, 07:20:56 pm »

Quote from: Bill/BentON Racing on May 30, 2016, 10:27:39 am

Yeh, badass we like. Don't forget there's a certain bike/engine named Samauto that's also being built, last time I checked the guy doing it could turn a wrench pretty well! Pretty good at enlarging holes too! It might be even mo badass, there's around 3-5 big bore badasses being built as we speak, all 4 digit bore sizes and some will be in action this year! Stay tuned and G'luck with em guys....you know who you are! Bill

Sure do hope all those bikes/ motors you mentioned will be able to get done and make at least the last race. I've got two I really want to get done myself in addition to freshening up my current F model.

Lets do this fellas!!!

gschuld · « **Reply #23 on:** January 25, 2017, 10:35:30 am »

Unfortunately my "before" photos on the Pace head were lost for good

. But I do have an example of an even more "ambitious" repair Jim French did to a historically significant Byron Hines ported (in early 1973) RC race head(broke a few records in 1973)

All 4 chambers had surface damage, fins were broken, threads hurt, etc. Total carnage

. I started with the chamber and deck damage through Jim, then repaired all the fins once home. Still to go is some tricky thread repairs and the usual stellar JMR valve and seat, springs, and assembly work.

But anyway, check out the impossibly small beads of weld in the chamber. Laser welding, very impressive.

George

MRieck · « **Reply #24 on:** January 25, 2017, 02:31:20 pm »

I never get tired of seeing Jim's work. Russ Collins Jr was up my way today. We stopped by and saw Rick stetson as well as the work on the "new" cases for the triple. Things are proceeding.

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Author Topic: Jim French, Mike Rieck, Rick Stetson brought my old race head back to life (Read 8277 times)