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Aluminum cylinder heads.

67coronetman

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So I wanted to find out what everybody is using and why. Of all the aluminum cylinder heads on the market trick flow Edelbrock Indy cylinder heads and so on. Which one do you all prefer are which ones do you all like and have had good results with I have owned both the Edelbrock and the Indy cylinder heads I think they both have good things going for them I've never owned the trick flow I've heard good things about them. I am basically building a street motor not looking too gain every tenth I can get I am looking for dependability yet fun and being able to actually drive my hot rod to the drag strip my Streetcar and drive it home this will not be a trailer Queen. I currently own a set of Indy Sr cylinder heads. I'm just kind of curious what others have used and the results you had the likes and dislikes thanks for any advice or opinions you have on the different cylinder heads.
 
I built a 512 stroker last winter, I used Trick Flow 240's. I have very little engine building experience. That said, the 240's installed with no issues at all. Quality seems to be excellent and the motor runs like a scalded dog!!! I chose the 240's after a lot of research and came to the conclusion that they are probably the best "out of the box head" on the market. Again I only know what I know, I'm sure opinions will vary
 
Moderator, could we do a sticky thread on this subject? Personally speaking I find the topic very interesting and enjoy the different views.
 
I have used Edelbrocks from way back in the early 2000's.Was very pleased.
I have a set of Stealths from 440 Source that needed a bit of valve and seat margin work before using.
I also am running Indy 426-1 on my 65.$$$ but work well.
There are many more on the market in the last few years. I believe the latest cheapie is from SpeedMaster.A few small block guys are happy with them.
I do believe that all should be taken apart and checked over before installation.Cheap insurance.
 
I have had EDE RPM's, they seemed very good quality. I called the engine builder that built the motor, he said they were pretty good, needed a little bit of touch up. My current set of heads is Indy EZ-1. They seem real good so far. My builder also said he did a little touch up.
 
So I wanted to find out what everybody is using and why. Of all the aluminum cylinder heads on the market trick flow Edelbrock Indy cylinder heads and so on. Which one do you all prefer are which ones do you all like and have had good results with I have owned both the Edelbrock and the Indy cylinder heads I think they both have good things going for them I've never owned the trick flow I've heard good things about them. I am basically building a street motor not looking too gain every tenth I can get I am looking for dependability yet fun and being able to actually drive my hot rod to the drag strip my Streetcar and drive it home this will not be a trailer Queen. I currently own a set of Indy Sr cylinder heads. I'm just kind of curious what others have used and the results you had the likes and dislikes thanks for any advice or opinions you have on the different cylinder heads.
I normally tell people to afford the best cylinder head they can for the project at hand. Since you have heads....
Will they fit the build at hand. I don’t suggest race ported heads on a stock cam engine. But a well ported set of heads will certainly make excellent power even with modest cams.
 
I bought the 440 Source Stealth heads when building my 440. Very affordable for aluminum heads and were about 1/2 the price of TF.

I ended up replacing springs, retainers, keepers, seals, and having a cnc port done on them. So the price savings was a wash as I put 2x into them to suit my needs. TF 240's would have been the easier choice but I am happy with the Stealth heads nonetheless.
 
It seems the smartest thing to do with any aluminum head is to take to a reputable shop and have them checked out. Most guys have some porting done. Very few guys use them straight out of the box. Too many horror stories of tight guides and bad valve jobs. I see no reason to spend big money for a pair of heads that need to be straightened out any way. Buy some Speedmasters and have them done. Buy them assembled or bare castings and install your choice of valves and valve train. A bunch of us at FABO bought the small block heads with good results and Pittsburghracer has done some major porting and modifications with good results. Complete big block heads are $1198 a pair. https://speedmaster79.com/Mopar-Chr...dr-FT-Complete-Aluminum-Cylinder-Heads?page=1
Bare heads are $450/each. https://speedmaster79.com/Mopar-Chrysler-BB-383-440-265cc-74cc-As-Cast-Bare-Aluminum-Cylinder-Head

Here's my small block heads:

20191211_154605.jpg 20191211_154713.jpg
 
I'm using a set of Stealths we originally put on a 440 then built a 505" stroker. At that time we had Modern Cylinder Head port them. No issues so far. Around 500 hp unported, 600 hp ported and now we spray 250 on top of that. Zero issues with the heads. They did get new locks, springs and retainers early on. Car has run 10.01 @ 133 mph at 3,700 lbs. through the mufflers on pump gas. I can drive it anywhere with no issues.
 
Before the TF head for the small block was out, I went with the ProMaxx CNC’d chink copied Edelbrock head. Flows very well, the job was done right. They stand behind there work. The flow rates are on there site.
IMO, it is a good bang for the buck without the need for expensive rockers.
 
Trick flow 270's on a 493 with Indy dual plane port matched. Wanted a combo that would fit under my hood for now with some room to grow.Haven't run it yet but dyno'd 629 hp / 652 torque , i should be more than happy with it in my street car.
 
Recently for street & more mild build
up-to about the 500 - 700+hp range
I've used several sets of the Edelbrocks RPM in 84cc Comb Cham.,
2.19 in./1.81 ex. out of the box non-ported, flow very well 290+cfm
good quality parts USA sourced/produced
mildly ported mostly pocket stuff, picked up quite a bit more
I'm really satisfied
I have them on my current build too
(supposed to be able to get the RPM's in 75cc now too, according to their site)

allegedly the Edelbrock E-street has the same port design as the RPM's
& can get a 75cc Comb. Chamber, but have less expensive parts
valves springs retainers locks etc.,
for a street beast, 450-500hp
I see no reason why they wouldn't be fine
for all-out race stuff, not so much

both are a great bang for the buck

I had several of the Stealth heads long before the Edelbrocks
they did OK, I had very mixed experiences with them
440source made it good everytime too
BUT;
out the box they needed a lot of clean up
parts weren't the best either, valves springs retainers etc.
quailty control of the castings or delivered parts
wasn't the best either
there wasn't a lot of support for building BB MoPars
(you can order them differently now too, way better than org.'s)
when they 1st came out, except for very expensive other brands
with very sketchy dealings & less than desirable customer service
(I won't mention name here)
but;
they didn't flow anywhere near as well
Out of The Box as the RPM's did,
stealths were like mid 240-250cfm best
(plenty of room for improvement)
the Edel. RPM was what they advertised 290cfm @ 600" lift

I had B1's (by Brodix) in the mid 90's (?)
made lots of power but need lots of special parts too
very pricey

The INDY stuff is good too, depending on what type of build
& how much power
it's FAR more $$$, like dbl, but some sware by them too
to get something for a BB MoPar wedge that flows 440+cfm
for big bore 572cid & bigger cid builds,
INDY is the main choice
But;
I've had good & bad experiences with INDY Cylinder head
I won't go into that here, they are allegedly better today

the new Trick Flow BB MoPar in 240 or 270 seem to be great
from what many people have been reporting
I have no 1st hand experience, but they look very promising for
more stock valve location & more stock type/location valvetrain designs
a few trusted engine guys have said great things
they have their limitation too

I don't personally know anyone that used the
Speedmaster heads yet, in either SBM or BBM

SBM alum. heads are a different story for a different day
 
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there are literally 100's if not a thousand threads here about
Aluminum heads pros & cons
 
there are literally 100's if not a thousand threads here about
Aluminum heads pros & cons
—-
Whatever heads a fellow chooses, the smart move is to get them checked out because more times than not, something needs additional work.
 
Is it fair to eliminate choosing ones not made in the USA?
 
Is it fair to eliminate choosing ones not made in the USA?
—-
That’s the route I’d go. Recently I bought new Victor aluminum hemi heads. When they were being checked there was one intake valve with the slightest wobble. Could barely spot the wobble when in the grinder but regardless, had to replace it. The thing about that was that there was no listing for those valves, had to go right to Edelbrock to get one. Glad it was in the USA.
 
Is it fair to eliminate choosing ones not made in the USA?
Perhaps. It depends on where you want to spend your money, your call. How is the quality of the off shore part.
If the US company OK’s inferior metals, bad or poor castings, sub standard materials like valves, springs, etc... then it’s a garbage head made in China, Mexico, or where ever. You can actually get a quality part made off shore but it has to be given the OK by the parent company.

We have seen really good head castings from Australia & China. We have excellent parts out of Canada & Mexico.
So living in and the made in the U.S.A. badge is what I would want to see, it is also possible to get garbage out of the USA if the management agrees to the level of quality of the part going into production.

I made a mention to the ProMaxx heads. There are a good quality China head with the finishing of the bare head done here in America, by Americans with American parts.
 
I guess I agree, it's not really the origin of the part, it's the quality that's built in.
 
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