OK guys,

I'm looking into lighting my motor up a little and replacing my reworked GM Spec. Hi-Perf. cast iron rectangular port/closed-chamber heads with a new set of aluminum heads. (they were 358's with larger 2.19 and 1.88 ferrea valves installed, 115 cc, ported/polished/cc'd...)

I'm running the following setup...

408 (0.060 over 396, 4 bolt main)
Speed Pro Power forged (12.5:1 CR)
Crower roller (looking to upgrade to Comp, crane, or Lunati/UD)
Jesel SS shaft rockers (no good on new heads)
Victor Jr. (rect. port)
950 HP
NOS Pro-race fogger
moroso vacuum pump
Milodon 7 quart pan
Billet MSD w/programmable-digital 7
CSI electric pump

5 speed richmond (w/long v-gate shifter)
Ladder-link/coil over rear
wishbone locator

Pulls to 7500+ (rev limitor at 8000)

I was thinking of AFR 305's, 315, 325's or Canfield 310's....

CNC'd ports are quite expensive....CNC'd chambers might be be a good alternative???

Any recommendations?

Thanks!

Rich,
I feel the AFR is the very best out of the box conventional rect port head out there for the price.
For a smaller engine I think the 305 with the CNC chamber would be excellent. It will flow very close to the full CNC 315 for about $700 less. Excellent value for the money.

e mail for pricing. ;)

Anyone else have any aluminum head recommendations?

My 1966/67 858's work pretty good, but I really want to cut the weight down and hopefully get a little better flow and increased velocity with the smaller rectangular runners (305-320 cc range)...

Thanks.

How about some of the 290cc "roval" runner configs out there. Edelbrock and GMPP?

Gene,

I'm not familiar with the "rovals" you mention....

I like my rectangulars and the AFR 305's with CNC'd chambers.... Very high flow numbers without huge runners.....

Tell me more about those rovals...

Hey!

I live in Lewiston... We should get together with our rides this spring/summer... Every go down to Lewiston on Tuesday night. Clark's Burger house... retro 50's hamburger joint that my friend Steve Dominski runs....

Not a lot of cars, but a nice group of people.

Also planning to hit the strip at Lancaster this year to establish/work on my 60 fet times before going to a 1/4 mile track.

Man, I'd love to see that car run.

Rich, I referring specifically to the Edel Chapman ported Vic-Jr. - race ovals. They might be an ideal size. ASSUME you could use the rect port intake you have. Think the CNC'd chambers are at 112cc, a schooch more squeeze ( might be good with alums). I think GM has an analogous head too.

The local bbc guru, McQuillen, LOVES the AFR's. Carl should know with as much flowbench/dyno time he sees. He'd be the local guy to ask since he might have data on both types of head.

Let's plan to meet up at Lancaster soon. I need to go for the same reason. I stopped "testing" at 3500, and need, I think, to move launch rpms another 1000 higher and see if the chassis can hold it. ( stock)

Rich,just curious..what does this car run? 60 ft. ? etc.
What are the cam specs and what size dome are the pistons?

Chris, I've read so many of Rich's psots on that car, I can't wait to see it. Vicious high-rpm stick car!

Not wanting to sound negative, but for the money spent to buy new heads, I think I'd look into a bigger shortblock. You could put together a pretty decent 454-496 for the same money that would actually be able to use the rectangular port heads you have now. Then when the money tree sprouted leaves again, you could add the heads to a "big" shortblock. Just my opinion, but cubes are great!


JIM

Gene,

Yeah, lets plan on doing Lancaster this summer.

Chris,

To be honest the car has yet to hit the track since I assembled the killer 408, added a roll cage, ladder link, fuel cell, etc. etc.

I have been listening and learning from various people here at TC like Ryan Hoskins (66 283), Ed (Racer 1320... when he used to be here), Roger Copeland, Todd Geisler, and others running deep into the 10's on street legal or "streetable" cars. Roger's running a manual and has been very helpful with the gear selection and others have provided lots of information on the suspension setup and tuning.

I'm currently running a smaller Crower roller cam (01475) (242/250 @ 0.050", .581/.573" lift). The pistons are a TRW power forged with .325" domes and floating pins. The heads have been shaved a bit to lower the cc's from 115 to 110 cc. The car pulls to 7500+ no problem and I haven't hit the fogger yet which is jetted to start out at 150HP, but can easly do 300+HP if I get comfortable with it.

I talked to Mike today (Wolfplace) and he turned me onto Todd at AFR who designed the BBC heads.

We talked quite extensively and he convinced me to go from the 305 to the 325 cc (with CNC's chambers). Its big for my motor, but with a bigger cam, he said it will pull like gangbusters to 8000+ and wants me to get back to him after I run it as he said I'll love those heads and the power they produce at higher rpms...

Todd (and Ryan) want me to run closer to .750 - .800" lift and increase the duration to 260/270+ @ 0.050. I will be running AFR's upgraded "nextek" drag race springs that are 250 seat, 800+ nose and also upgrading to titanium retainers.

Jim,

I like the 396/427 motors and twisting the snot out of them all day long with a manual tranny. just my cup of tea.....

Thanks guys!

Gene, I'll send you an email this week so we can setup something and maybe see each others rides.

Rich

Hi Rich,
It's Tony, not Todd that designed the heads ;)

Rich,sounds like a fun motor/combo graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Hey Rich...

I'm with you on how much fun the 396/427's are. I ran them in many cars and I just pulled my 427 out about 3.5 years ago. I ran it for over 20 years in a '57, a '68 Camaro and a '67 Vette. Used 4 speeds and T-400's, anywhere from 3.31's to 4.88's etc. It used every cam I could lay my hands on over the years, flat tappet and rollers, rectangular port, oval port, open and closed chambers etc etc. I know the 454's made more dyno power, but I could hang with them just fine, just had to twist it a little. It ran very low 11's on pump gas through the mufflers (3600+ lbs). In a more serious form with big cam and heads, it ran 10.60's at Bandimere in Denver with a little spray and high 9's back in TX. Still pump gas though.

Ran a 396/375 with tunnel ram and 4speed in a '68 Pro Street Nova deal. Good for 10.50-10.60's too with great second gear wheelies!

Good luck,, looking forward to seeing it run!


JIM

Originally posted by Richss396:

I like the 396/427 motors and twisting the snot out of them all day long with a manual tranny. just my cup of tea.....

Thanks guys!

Rich AMEN BROTHER! Too much fun. Although I am being a piker by running a 7K rev chip now :rolleyes: Your ride is like, STRATOSPHERIC!

Gene, Chris, Jim,

Thanks for your support and appreciation of a smaller BBC.....

You can twist those bigger cube motors up their to if you have good parts.... Like Ryan's (66283) 632 ci ride which hits 8000 no problem. From talking (and ribbing on him)extensively I feel he's got a great shot at placing top 5 or even 1st in Hot Rods 50 fastest street car event coming up shortly in Memphis.... Ryan a great guy to talk with. Down to earth and very knowledgable. A cool down North of our boarder.... Too bad he uses the word "Whizzie" instead of trick.... (inside joke) ;)

Hey,

I have to correct a few errors on my post last night as it was late and I must have been sleeping.....

1. My TRW dome height... Not .325", closer to 0.5 but don't have the part number... I think they may have discontinued this HP piston.

2. Nextek Drag race valve spring spec.
part no. 221424-16 (250 seat, 800 nose, 647 lbs./in. rate, .880" max lift)

3. Cam lift..... NOT .750 - .800" !!! Only Ryan runs over .900 on his 632.... LOL!
.700 - .750" lift
I'm looking at several grinds now from Comp, Crane, Crower, and Lunati/UD...

Rich