Roof head

[Michael Peternell]

Did this head ever have valve covers? I can't see any provision for holding them. Any other insight on the head would be appreciated!
Thanks!
Mike Peternell

[Wayne Sheldon]

Boy you know how to hurt people! Make them crazy with desire.
Certainly one of the most wanted high performance heads for a model T ever!

However. DO NOT go crazy making it something it was NOT! Do not mill the thing any more than absolutely necessary to make it fit properly! Do not enlarge the valve spaces! Do not use heavier than correct springs on the valves! And do (if it is yours or you are considering it?) check it over carefully to make sure (hopefully!) none of that stuff has been done to it already!
Too many overhead valve heads of all kinds have been ruined by hobbyists thinking they "could" and "should" make them be more than they were. Most overhead castings were of marginal quality to begin with. Cutting them way too often results in cutting through, or thin spots that later break. Heavier valve springs are done to handle higher rpm than you should really want and often result in broken rocker arms or towers! Why ruin something like this? And for what? Another 5 mph you will never need?

The 16 valve Roof heads are excellent pieces of history! Among the first and fastest of true model T speed equipment! But they do have breakage issues. If someone has already cut into it too much? Maybe you can treat it gently and have some fun with it. Maybe not?
Most 16 valve Roof heads did not have valve covers. Like most early overhead valve engines, they needed to be oil manually, and often.

[Les Schubert]

I have a pair of shiny new valve covers for that head!

[got10carz]

I have to disagree with Wayne and valve covers. I've read factory literature that at 1 time 16 valve heads could be purchased for $90 and valve covers were a $15 option. The original covers only had lettering on the front cover. The repo's of 20 years ago had lettering on both.

[got10carz]

Only picture of mine. Maybe you can see the tops of the covers

[Dan McEachern]

I believe Mike Bender in Tulsa has a source for covers for the 16 valve heads.

[Michael Peternell]

Boy you know how to hurt people! Make them crazy with desire.
Certainly one of the most wanted high performance heads for a model T ever!

However. DO NOT go crazy making it something it was NOT! Do not mill the thing any more than absolutely necessary to make it fit properly! Do not enlarge the valve spaces! Do not use heavier than correct springs on the valves! And do (if it is yours or you are considering it?) check it over carefully to make sure (hopefully!) none of that stuff has been done to it already!
Too many overhead valve heads of all kinds have been ruined by hobbyists thinking they "could" and "should" make them be more than they were. Most overhead castings were of marginal quality to begin with. Cutting them way too often results in cutting through, or thin spots that later break. Heavier valve springs are done to handle higher rpm than you should really want and often result in broken rocker arms or towers! Why ruin something like this? And for what? Another 5 mph you will never need?

The 16 valve Roof heads are excellent pieces of history! Among the first and fastest of true model T speed equipment! But they do have breakage issues. If someone has already cut into it too much? Maybe you can treat it gently and have some fun with it. Maybe not?
Most 16 valve Roof heads did not have valve covers. Like most early overhead valve engines, they needed to be oil manually, and often.

I'm feeling a lot better about my cocktail induced purchase! LOL! Thanks for all the responses!
Mike Peternell

[J1MGOLDEN]

I was given one of those once and declined the offer, as there seemed to be a COMPLETE LACT OF LUBRICATION FOR THE TOP ROCKERS, OTHER THAN AN OIL SOAKED PAD IN THE TOP OF THAT HEAD COVER.

[walber]

Lubrication was like that for most if not all of the overheads built for a T. The felt pad has worked fine for me on both a 4 valve Rajo and a Fronty. It is nice to have a valve cover for those of us who mainly use them for touring. The early racers may not have been as concerned about keeping out the dust, rocks and birds.

[TXGOAT2]

A hopped up T engine running hard would generate a lot of heavy oil mist, which would help lubricate the rocker assembly where valve covers were used. Valve covers with internal ribs would collect oil mist and allow oil to drip onto the mechanism or a felt pad. Would it be enough to oil the rockers and valve stems under all conditions? I doubt it. But it would help.

[RajoRacer]

I hand oil all my rockers & shafts on my BB RAJO prior to lighting her off as well as keeping the oil pad soaked - a little smoke - no biggie !

[DaveBarker]

My Rajo Model 30 did not come with valve rocker covers, at least according to the literature I've seen. Like Steve, I always oil it up pretty well before I fire it up. The attached PDF has some details about the various overheads that were made for Model Ts.