It sure is a 194 head.
One of the 194 heads I have, the exhaust ports were not completely divided to the mating surface.
Not sure if it make s a big difference, I just did not like that design.
I would use the 194 head to bump up the compression some, or else purchase pricey aftermarket pistons to get whatever compression ratio you want & use a larger chamber head.
Not sure what you are looking to do as far as a build goes?
MBHD
The project is a little weird. And truthfully any increase in compression probably won't be seen or taken advantage of that much anyway. It is mostly a factor about the two best heads that I have happen to be the one off the 194, which I know I won't use the engine for anything, or the other 250. The two 292 heads that I have are not in great shape and to keep costs down for the project I'd rather just use the good heads, lap the valves and throw in some new seals and be done with it.
But to answer you question (you'll be sorry you asked).... I am starting to build an ultra-low budget speedster as a tribute to the early 1900's Vanderbilt Cup cars, Only using more modern components. The project is based on a 1932 chevy 1.5ton truck chassis. I have converted front and rear to juice brakes, body will be quite light and hand-built of wood and minimal sheet-metal. Engine will be a 292 mated to a NV3500 5spd manual overdrive trans and then to a late model locking rear diff out of a 1/2ton truck. Wheelbase is 131". Rear ratio 3.73, tire height 32". Sounds quite big in size, and it is, but the weight will likely be similar to a nova or S10 by the time it's all done.
As for look think 1910's Locomobile, american-lafrance, alco, etc.
The kicker to the whole deal is that as a personal challenge, I am attempting to spend no additional money. All funding is coming from parting out the original chassis I started with, or selling parts I already had laying around the garage, and I try to fabricate or trade for the rest. It's slow going, but more rewarding as a challenge than the other 20 some odd cars I have built, by just buying parts out of catalogs. At this point I have -$2k into it (yes negative). If you put values on the stuff that I have bought with proceeds of sell-offs, I'm actually about $4k into it (at least as far as the title agency will be concerned). I wonder what they would do if I handed them my spread-sheet with the -$2k.....haha
