On a side note I'll take good flowing heads over a bigger cam any day of the week.

 

werd

lol

 

That only works to a point though. Following that logic I dare you to put a set of AFR 227s on with a stock cam, hell a Comp 501 even and let us know how it works.

Balance is the key to everything.

Some b-body guys have tried "upgrading" heads with stock cams and come away with pretty poor results ported LT1 aluminums and AFR 195s come to mind as specific heads tried like this.

That said I do believe in the "buy it once" mod theory. If in the future you are that certain you will be building a stroker that would warrant heads like this then you could live with the fact that for now they are not ideal. Guys are getting spectacular results from ported stock castings on strokers though so why the big hurry to buy bigger castings?

 

exactly 96caprice! I have a stroker, and I am going with ported stockers. The only reason you need aftermarket ones would be NOS or atmospheric modifiers! I have been talking with AI for about 2 months now, and I am getting my stockers ported. Not only is it way cheaper in the long run, it gets you right where you need to be! They have their stock casting porting down to a science! Team up their race ported head with their custom cam, Jeff Creech tuning, and they just pumped out a car that did 444rwhp, 43X RWTQ, and 26 MPG on the freeway! Now, who doesn't want that? Come on, 2500 for AFRS only half ported, or stockers ported for 1700 bucks. Plus, the cumbustion chamber isnt huge so you have to deck the crap out of your block, shave the sh*t out of the heads, and get big domed pistons. Mine is a 383 and this is the route I am going. Of course Trick Flows are a little cheaper, but then you have to do all the machining anyway...

here is that dyno graph, used with permission of A.I. of course!

But, you can't preach to the deaf. I have been talking with hundereds of people about this, and I seem to run into arguments over aftermarket head castings all the time. It just seems from all the RESEARCH that for most street cars the aftermarkets are overkill. Now, go to the track only, and hell yeah bring on the aftermarkets! (if you are sponsored and don't have to pay for it!) )

So, I hope this helps, and I am not looking to get into an arguement! Like Ron from AI told me, "People are going to do what they want, and the customer is always right. But, if they would just listen then I could build them a better top end cheaper." Well, it was something like that, cuz I kept calling him and asking him about AFR and TFS. LOL he has put up with soo much crap from me, its amazing he still answers my phonecalls and emails!
~Cody

 

hey guys. its sounding more like i should stick with porting stock castings for now. the reason i was asking about those heads, is that i just wanted some input. i think im gunna go with a lloyd elliot LE2 package for now. im not sure what exactly im going to be doing with this engine build up im talking about, forced ind, or NA. i guess ill just step up to the aftermarket casts after i decide what direction i want to go, ive got the money, im 2 months away from completing a 1 year tour in iraq. as for this guy ( lamerandomname, or whatever) learn how to read, use your common sence, and until you do, go stand in the corner, but to everyone else, thank you for your help.

 

Irish,

I would contact AI about those heads and tell them what you ae trying to do and see what they have to say.

As far as people posting different opinions on this, a lot of people get answers to questions that are related the THEIR set up when they asked them and there fore the answer to YOUR questions are gonna be different.

Contact AI and I am sure they can steer you in the right direction and explain the pros and cons of TFS heads and stock castings.

Or give me a call if you like since you are mentioning the LE2 package now. Heck call several people before making a decision and see what we all have to say.

Lloyd Elliott
972-617-5671
Eportworks.com

 

The reason I'm thinking about going with the TFR castings is that my heads are the 561 heads... the ones that are not as portable as the 634? castings... thus for another $400 (Almost the same cost as a set of used 634s), I can have the aftermarket heads... and with a N2O setup being used right away, and plans for a FI system in the future....

 

shop around. They commonly go for 200. Plus, if you are really shrewd, you can find a set for 150 shipped bare. the deals are out there!

 

exactly... $200 for a set of LT1 castings... or for another $200 I can get the TFR castings... why not cough up the extra $200 and have a set of fresh castings?

 

Man, I sure would like to know where you can get a set of TFS heads for $400. I just bought a pair of BARE castings for $900 from summit so that I could have Lloyd work them over, curious to see where you can get a set for $400. . . . .you sure that you are not looking at the PER HEAD price

 

Yeah, TFS stuff is $900+ (with shipping) and since Summit owns them you really can't get a better deal than them on the heads.

Bret

 

You guys are mis-understanding what I said...

The AI 200CC CNC ported TFRs are only about $400 more than a fully ported set of Stock LT1 Castings... Thus there's the $400 difference...

 

yeah, and the issues with compression ratio. Bigger chambers= less compression. Compression is where the power come from! Plus, if you shave the heads too much, you start running into intake ports and things not lining up. It can be done, don't get me wrong, just alot more machining and $. But, everyone has an opinion, and we all share. Its your decision in the end, hopefully enough people are giving you enough insight to make an informed decision. That is what we are all here do to, right? Share experiences!

 

I spent less than $400 more on my new Trickflows then it would have cost to buy and port some stock LT1 castings like I wanted with the big valves with bronze guides and all. The myth that bigger runners cost torque is also B.S. My car now has more toque and 60's better with the 217cc runners compared to my fully ported LT1 castings with 200cc runners staying with the same size cam. Later

 

Or he could post on this board and listen to all of the "experts". Other than about three replies most of the stuff in this thread is just so much "Internet Racing Mythology". Do what Lloyd or Brett and a couple of others have recommended, talk with reputable head shops and see what they say.