I wanted to get an opinion on the pros cons of 23 vs 18 degree heads. What application would be more benificial to the flow characteristics of the heads. Which are more hard to retrofit to an Lt1 block (reverse cooling, etc...) cost? All replies are welcome...
-Tony

 

18 degrees need new pistons, whole new vavletrain, solid roller, new headers, etc etc

18 degree will make more power but its a hell of alot more expensive and time consuming. brodix makes a nice 18 degree head that uses 23 degree valvetrain

 

well, i am probably going to be building a whole new engine from scratch so buying all different parts is no biggie to me.. but will the parts for 18 degree heads cost more than the normal 23 degree heads? part for part?

 

Tony,

the 23 and 18 cost about the same to convert.

Theres is only one low cost alternative to with the 18's and that's the bordix one. You might was well run a AFR 215RR then, they use standard chevy pistons and the valve train is not the cheapest but there is botl on stuff. The Brodix heads winner is talking about need to be converted, need the other parts but can use a standard rocker arm like a Pro Mag or Hi Tech.

Basically you need alot of cubes or RPM to really look into the 18 or big 23 deg heads like a Pro Top Line.

Bret

 

keep in mind that the larger cc 18 degree heads will need lots of cubes, and big tube custom ($$) headers

Im fairly sure that even with the brodix heads, you must use offset lifters still right?

 

When you say i will need big cubes to take advantage of 18 degree heads, you think 396 or 408ish or so would be enough with a high lift solid roleler? Can you explain to me what offset lifters are... i know a good amount about heas and porting and all that but not alot about valvetrain... please school me thanks, Tony

 

TTT

 

The Brodix 18x heads do NOT require offset lifters. And they now offer them with the standard exhaust bolt pattern as well.

Kyle

 

Big cubes beacause a 250cc port with a stock cube motor would not be the best combination, unless it was a 8000rpm motor.

A 383 or 396 with a regular lift .600-.650 cam would work really well with these heads. If it was a SBC rather than a LT1 a 400+ cube motor, like a 427, 434, 440 would be a really fun car to drive.

Offset lifters have the cup for the pushrod offset to one side or the other in the lifter. So it is not directly in the center of the lifter. There are also offset rocker arms, most are shaft mounts but Isky offers some stud mount ones.

Yeah the 18X come with standard exhaust ports as well as you don't need any offset rockers or lifters so YOU CAN RUN A HYD ROLLER WITH THEM!

The AFR RR215's need a offset rocker arm to run them.

Either of these heads could be the basis of a 700hp big cube small block.

Bret

 

My fault on the offset rockers. Why would you run a hyr roller with these heads? I would only go a solid.

I dont think these heads would take you to 700hp. the Sb2.2 are the cream of the crop SBC heads and they are only there

 

Hey Bret, what would be wrong with using the offset push rod socket from the solid with the hydralic body and guts? Think there would too much offset pressure on the hydralic components?

 

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