Kaiser Frazer Owners Club Forum

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Fid on June 29, 2009, 01:29:51 PM

Title: Installing a 161 F-head 6 cylinder engine in a Henry J
Post by: Fid on June 29, 2009, 01:29:51 PM

I have seen at least one photo of a Henry J with the 161 F-head engine in it. Does anyone know if this is a direct replacement or if you have to have a different exhaust header pipe/throttle linkage etc.?  I'd like to hear from anyone who knows if this is possible or impossible.  The Darrin used a similar frame so it should bolt in but  I'd really like to hear from someone who has or knows of someone who has actually done this.
Thanks

Title: Re: Installing a 161 F-head 6 cylinder engine in a Henry J
Post by: ben-tex on June 29, 2009, 01:55:30 PM

If memory serves (and these days is sometimes does not), we have a member here in Texas who had an F head in his Allstate long before he had heard of the club. Email me at the address on my web page at www.kfnut.com and I will send his email to you.

ben

Title: Re: Installing a 161 F-head 6 cylinder engine in a Henry J
Post by: Terry T on June 30, 2009, 08:41:55 PM

I did exactly that last year and my HJ is much more enjoyable to drive.
Mimic the Darrin or Willys Aero installation.  You will be able to use the same manifold oulet pipe--it fits to the new exhaust manifold in the same spot.  The F-head uses a different carb and linkage than the L-head.

Title: Re: Installing a 161 F-head 6 cylinder engine in a Henry J
Post by: Fid on July 01, 2009, 10:20:08 AM

Thanks Terry, this is a big help to this guy. He wants to install the F-head temporarily while he rebuilds the L. Sounds like a simple conversion. He said the engine he's getting has the throttle linkage and fuel line already on it so it should just plop right in! The only other concerns I can think of are the starter circuit could be different if the F-head has a Delco-Remy starter. The Autolite starter spins when you ground the solenoid whereas a Delco starter spins when you apply 6 volts to the solenoid. Easy conversion, I've done it.  Also, the Delco voltage reg is different than Autolite but he can swap the Autolite generator and he's good to go.  To swap an Autolite starter with Delco and vis-a-versa you need to change the clutch housing.  That can be done when the engine's out if that's what he needs to do, otherwise using the Delco and rewiring the starter button circuit is much easier.
Thanks again - I'll let you know how it works for him, he may want to leave it that way.

Title: Re: Installing a 161 F-head 6 cylinder engine in a Henry J
Post by: HJ-ETEX on July 07, 2009, 06:18:43 PM

The situation Ben was thinking about was a 134 L-head vs a 134 F-head. The 134 block is already tall (the rods are like turkey legs) so the F-head conversion put the carb so high that the owner couldn't use an air cleaner on top of the carb. A 161 is not a 134 with 2 extra cylinders - it is a more modern design and the deck was lower. My guess is that an F-head 161 will fit in a HJ but the air cleaner will have to be a thin one like on Darrins or an offset on like CJ3A Jeeps.

Title: Re: Installing a 161 F-head 6 cylinder engine in a Henry J
Post by: ben-tex on July 08, 2009, 01:57:13 PM

He told me he used an air cleaner from a Falcon--are they offset or what?

Title: Re: Installing a 161 F-head 6 cylinder engine in a Henry J
Post by: Fid on July 08, 2009, 04:41:02 PM

Probably just shorter.  I saw some pictures of one on www.henryjcars.com