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*Just how difficult will the unshrouding and valve work be? Easy, doable or "oh my god insane". More work and $ than the results obtained are worth? Or would this be close (power increase wise) to a 1.9L with flat top pistons and a stock head?
Any machine shop could install the 1.9 valves into a 1.5 head. Better yet would be to use 2.0 intake valves, but those would likely have to be ordered new from OGTS. You could also put
Chevy valves into the head, but that requires new guides, new valves, new springs, new retainers, and a lot more machine work. Unshrouding for the 1.9 or even 2.0 intake valves is easilly accomplished by the machinist, but if you step up to larger valves than that, then hand grinder work is required.
*Could a 1.5L head be worked up to flow better than a stock 1.9L head?
Absolutely. I have a 1.5 head that flows 119 cfm on the intake ports. A stock 1.9 head flows 88 cfm. But it has much larger intake valves and extensive porting.
*Installing a OGTS torquer camshaft and 38 DGAS was in my "high compression" plans. How will these play in this mix?
It's all good. Better if you port the intake too with the DGAS, in fact it's more important than the DGAS itself.
*I haven't pull the head yet, so I don't appreciate the 10 bolt comment. Will a 1.5L head fit on a stock '73 1.9L block?
Yes. But be aware that the 1965-to-late 1972 shortblocks had one type of timing cover, and newer shortblocks have another type of timing cover, the latter with two extra holes for 8 mm bolts (naturally the later heads have the two extra bolt holes as well). Helps to reduce oil leaks. But, when Opel did this they changed the height of the timing covers too relative to the block, so you MUST use the same year head gasket as the year of the timing cover/block.
*Will I have to make a deal with the devil to find a head gasket for this? Just which head gasket would I use?
Use a 1973-1975 Felpro gasket.
As oldopelguy mentioned, he recently gave me a 1.5 Opel head (complete engine actually). BTW, thanks again Stephen! Now, I just got a call from my European contact and he just came across a 1.6 head. A 1.6 head is nearly identical to a 1.5 head, but as it's a later casting it has 4 cam bearings instead of 3 like a 1.5's. So if I can get that head from Europe, I would be freed up from needing the 1.5 head I recently aquired. We'll find out soon.
Photo: 1.5 head with Chevy valves, 1.85" intake and 1.50" exhaust, and extensive unshrouding.
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