Abarth 16V cyl head assembly - Replica

[SoFlaFiat]

Having experience in 3 and 5 axis CNC programming and machining, I will venture a guess that the programming time alone took a couple hundred hours to perfect that block. I would also love to know if they got it dead right the first time? And, how much does that custom billet block cost? I can only assume that it has to be perfect, with not one imperfection in the casting.
That said, it is amazing!!

[RRoller123]

"I drilled the hole twice and it is STILL too small" Damn.

[bobplyler]

And, how much does that custom billet block cost? I can only assume that it has to be perfect, with not one imperfection in the casting.

Reading in the comments, it's a forged billet of 6061-T6 from an aircraft supplier. The price just for the forging was 1500 bucks.

[geno58]

Still doesn't add up to 60G, Look around at all of the billet Cyl. heads being made today. They spit'em out like sun flower seeds. No only that I have seen lazer scanners that can copy pieces with extrordinary accuacy. And once they have the basic design, then tweeking the program for better flow or better burn is not that big of a deal.

[fiatfactory]

geno58 so glad you left this forum as everytime you opened your mouth all you did was change feet.

[geno58]

Is there nothing your not an expert at?,
They build heads for street engines as well?, if nothing else, rough casting then finished on a CNC machine.

[fiatfactory]

.

[geno58]

What ever Slick

Is there nothing your not an expert at?

Understanding what my teenage daughters want can be pretty sketchy at times... ... so definitely not an expert at that!

rough cast and then machined makes it not a billet... billet implies the part is machined from one solid chunk of material

SteveC

[cos]

Billet cylinder heads... for drag racing engines that have no water jacketing... sure... machining a far more complicated shape with internal water passages is beyond the capabilities of a CNC mill... so they need to be cast. Sure there would be ways around it with a redesign, but then the heads would not be legal for the historic rally and racing classes that are creating the demand for these in the first place...

And comparing a Fiat head to one for a Chevrolet... sure they are both cylinder heads, the Fiat one is quite a bit more complex, as well as the demand just isn't there... for a Chev you could cast a thousand and sell them all in months for a few thousand a piece... the same number of Fiat heads would take decades to shift ... people who drag race Chevs have deep pockets, most people who own Fiats - quite simply - do not.

I have a good friend that has gone thru the design / development and manufacturing process... having cylinder head made to suit V6 GM/Buick heads and also some for a locally produced Ford straight six. Both these are NLA from the manufacturers, and secondhand heads from the recyclers are expensive and unreliable... so he went to the trouble to have casting patterns made and has the heads produced by a reputable manufacturing house in China. He spent close to 100K au for the exercise, and imports (and sells) the heads by the container load...his business is reconditioning cylinder heads.... so casting and moulding costs of 50K would be about right.

If it were so simple, everyone would be doing it...

16k for a complete 16v head is good value, if you need one to compete in an historic class.

SteveC

Totally agree Steve, motosport demands small quantities, and that pushes the price even higher. Some people though with no experiance in the complexity of cyl heads think they know better. Never mind!