firebirdStud

This was taken off their site:

Air Flow Research Heads


This joint venture between TPIS and Air flow Resewarch will produce more torque and high end RPM power, then we could get out of our old air flow castings. These take advantage of the heavy duty AFR casting and our perfected CNC port design. They have 2.02 intake and 1.65 exhaust valves, .600 lift springs, Titainium retainers, guide plates and your choice of rocker stud size.

54cc chamber will help increase compression, while having a tight quench area. The intake ports are 187cc when were done with them. Similar to there pricier "competition port" heads.



These are sold outright- No exchange, or core fee required. We do "try" to keep these on the shelf.
500-526 TPIS/Air Flow Reasearch LT1 small block........$1,850.00

I have emailed them several times, and this is some more specifics:

These heads will work well on a 383. One example would be a 383, these TPIS heads and our ZZ409 cam (226/226 .520/.520) and about 10.8: compression. This combination will make about 500 HP and 490 Torque. Very driveable, decent mileage still. From there you could use our ZZX cam and have about 530 HP and the same for torque. IF you'd like to give me a call, I can answer ANY questions you have and get more into detail.

Jim Hall
TPIS
952-448-6021

The valve springs are good for .600 lift and are supplied to use from AFR. We've never had any trouble with them. They are set up with 135 lbs seat pressure. They have Fel-Pro valve seals installed and these have proven to be very reliable.Yes they have 100% CNC machined ports and chambers.

ZZ-X Hyd Roller:

Adv duration 290/290, duration @.050 239/239, Lift .558/.558, on a 112LSA.

ZZ-409 Hyd Roller:

Adv. duration 287/287, duration @.050 226/226, Lift .520/.520. 112 LSA.

These are TPIS part # 500-526. Heavy duty AFR casting with TPIS 190 CC port design. They come fully assembled with 2.02/1.65 stainless valves, .600 lift springs, Titainium retainers, 7/16 studs, back-cut intake valves and 56cc chambers.These are machined for Center Bolt and Perimiter Bolt valve covers. Flow numbers are as follows- Lift/CFM

Intake- .100/ 66 .200/138 .300/204 .400/247 .500/272 .600/275

Exhaust- .100/56 .200/103 .300/144 .400/171 .500/185 .600/196

These will fit 1992-1997 LT1 & LT4 engines. Excellent flow numbers from a 190CC port. This keeps port velocity high in the low RPMs to minimize torque loss found in other larger port heads with the same flow specs.

Now, I know this is a lot to read, but I want to make sure of the setup before I compulsivly bye. I called him up, and he said that he has a couple sets of heads. So, should I go with these heads or not? 500HP is respectable, but I would prolly go for the bigger cam and go 530HP. OR, do you recommend a different cam, like the GM 847?? I am looking for ideas here, as my stock heads suck *****. My hotcam will go away too, and I am getting long tube headers. I already have 52mm throttle body, and 42 lb injectors. My intake has been GM gasket matched. I just want to know if this is a good head or not, on sale for 1700 dollars. That is the cheapest I have found, but the intake volume is only 190, and I know most people go for the 210's. Just want everyones opinion, as I am kind of a noob at this stuff. I already did my motor once wrong, so now I want to do it right. Also, I want gobs of low end power before anything, as this is a daily driver, and I rarely go to the track. Once I get this done, I will go just for bragging rights, but after that prolly not.
Thanks in advance!
~Cody

96capricemgr

MOST of what I have seem TPIS accomplish is taking LOTS of money froim customers and delivering little in the way of actual performance.
A local has an LT1 in a third gen with AFR 195s and a ZZ9 cam(TPIS own) and is no faster than my Caprice with stock heads and slightly milder ZZ3(GM crate motor cam) cam. Granted I have more stall but he has more gear signifigantly less weight and the heads.

Bersaglieri

I dont recommend TPIS. I think you'll see much better performance for your money from Lloyd, AI, and many others.

-Dustin-

firebirdStud

anyone else?

89385formula

I had those heads, but in the L98 version. They flow what they say they do. They are a pretty nice casting. The intake ports are pretty nice. These and the chambers are CNC ported. I do feel like there could be additional port work, and there could be a pretty good amount more flow to be gained. The exhaust port however is hardly touched, it was not CNC'd....just hand ported, just not very much. There can be a great deal more porting done to the exhaust ports, if you take a look the midlift numbers are pretty poor as flow is concerned. If you were to buy these i would strongly suggest to have some additional porting, but that would definately add to the cost. I have purchased a bunch of stuff from TPIS and never had a problem, although you do pay a premium. I do not think this is your best option as far as heads are concerned. For the price you pay for these heads you could have your heads ported By a good porter, get better valvetrain parts, and more flow. Oh and that would be for less money as well. I don't see the need for an aftermarket head at that level, and if i was gonna get an aftermarket casting, and pay that kind of money It would surely not be that option. I did buy them for my 355 L98 engine because its a very good upgrade for them, but when you can get LT1/4 stock heads ported as extensively as you can, and get the results they do there isn't much need for a aftermarket casting yet IMO.

firebirdStud

hmm, very interesting. I have been looking into lloyd elliot and advanced induction. I emailed lloyd probably a week and a half ago, and he still hasn't responded. how is his customer service? He seems slow, but maybe he doesnt have time to answer email questions... we will see what advanced induction comes back to me with.
anyone else?

firebirdStud

anyone else have experience with just heads? I won't be getting a cam from them, just the TPIS AFR 190cc intake port with 54cc combustion chambers... I will add behive springs and probably ferrea valves.
~Cody

Deenasty

im the best thing you can get. I had them both. I have the afr's from tpis, and I ran there zzx cam in my 383. It didnt make the power they claim, and driveability was crappy. I then decided to get the heads re worked by lloyd and have bret cut me a cam, and it now runs way stronger and the driveability is 100 times better. I would got with an LE kit over there kits anyday..Been there done that

89385formula

Like i said, not a bad head but for less money you can get all that flow, more port volume, and better springs/valves etc from someone like Lloyd Elliot.

firebirdStud

well, I came across a deal for the bare heads, used with 1500 - 2000 miles on them, under a grand.
I already figured on porting them out a bit.
now what do you think?

firebirdStud

deenasty, how much did that cost you? I mean, to have lloyd fix them up, and get the cam? I can get the heads for around 800 bare, so I can choose everything that goes on them. What kind of flow was had out of them when lloyd was done, at each lift stage...
thanks
Cody

1racerdude

They were 190's when they came out of the box,bet they ain't now.
Ya can make more HP by buying the castings and get LE to port them and get Bret to make ya a cam and probably cheaper.

Deenasty

I forgot what I paid, but that was to get the heads done, valve job, springs, retainers, locks, Ported lt4 manifold, and custom cam. The heads flowed as followed with 2.02 1.60 valve.

.200 139/109
.300 196/144
.400 242/174
.500 270/198
.600 285/212
.650 286/219
.700 284/224

when lloyd got my heads, exactly how tpis ships them out, they did not flow what TPiS claimed.

firebirdStud

Interesting... I think I will call lloyd tomorrow and see what he says on the subject. Thanks for letting my know your numbers, I appreciate it!

1racerdude: I think TPIS uses the 180cc port, and when they are done it is a 187, but they call it a 190. Hope that clears it up a bit.
~Cody

Deenasty

yes its the 180cc head, ends up a 187cc. Mine I think ended up a 208cc