sweetbeats
Reel deep thoughts...
I don't think JFR has any more of those heads and if he did my guess is that the price of admission would be more (including the other stuff you'd need) than just getting a complete 440-8.
Places like Flux Magnetics could make the heads, but same deal there as far as cost. You'd need the 1/2 8-track heads, 4 more electronics modules, another 39VDC supply, special cabling to get the 120VAC to the second supply and to carry the bias tone from the first to the second (may have to mod the second supply to rid it of the bias oscillator unless you find one already that way), and the head connnectors and cabling, and of course the cabling to connect the second set of 4 electronics to their power supply. I just *happen* to have the power supply and ALL the cabling including the head connector box for 8-track operation (basically everything you'd need but the heads and the electronics) IF you were thinking of doing that , but again the heads would be $$$.
If you were to convert your transport to 1" operation you'd need the above stuff and of course the 1" heads and the 1" headblock or "nest", 1" flutter idler and center guide, reel idler roller/tensioner/flywheel, 1" takeup tension arm guide, 1" reel adapters, and to avoid having to help out your reel motors every time you FFWD or REW you'd need to mod your transport control box or find a 440-8 box in order to utilize the torque delay module and power boost assembly (and you'd have to find those too). Plus there's the first rotary guide in the center of the transport plate above the headblock...find the guide and drill the hole to mount it. Lifters...annnnnd the capstan motor.
I'll stop there. I'm sure you quit thinking about it somewhere in the second paragraph.
Obviously converting a 1/4" ~ 1/2" transport to 1/2" 8-track is a lot easier, but still a *project*.
Places like Flux Magnetics could make the heads, but same deal there as far as cost. You'd need the 1/2 8-track heads, 4 more electronics modules, another 39VDC supply, special cabling to get the 120VAC to the second supply and to carry the bias tone from the first to the second (may have to mod the second supply to rid it of the bias oscillator unless you find one already that way), and the head connnectors and cabling, and of course the cabling to connect the second set of 4 electronics to their power supply. I just *happen* to have the power supply and ALL the cabling including the head connector box for 8-track operation (basically everything you'd need but the heads and the electronics) IF you were thinking of doing that , but again the heads would be $$$.
If you were to convert your transport to 1" operation you'd need the above stuff and of course the 1" heads and the 1" headblock or "nest", 1" flutter idler and center guide, reel idler roller/tensioner/flywheel, 1" takeup tension arm guide, 1" reel adapters, and to avoid having to help out your reel motors every time you FFWD or REW you'd need to mod your transport control box or find a 440-8 box in order to utilize the torque delay module and power boost assembly (and you'd have to find those too). Plus there's the first rotary guide in the center of the transport plate above the headblock...find the guide and drill the hole to mount it. Lifters...annnnnd the capstan motor.
I'll stop there. I'm sure you quit thinking about it somewhere in the second paragraph.
Obviously converting a 1/4" ~ 1/2" transport to 1/2" 8-track is a lot easier, but still a *project*.