Poisoned Pony
Active Member
Background: during my previous rebuild, I cut a corner with the heads. While I rebuilt the shortblock, I left the heads as is thinking that when CompCams valvesprings were installed while I was deployed that the seals were redone. I thought wrong and my car had a massive oil blow-by issue. Massive enough to kill oil pressure to the chain tensioners causing the chains to jump and the valves to hit the pistons.
Progressing from the situation above, I decided to go all out. I made the big purchase for the Trick Flows
The list:
- TF 38cc heads
- CompCams 270 camshafts
- ARP headstuds
- Romeo 8mm front cover bolts
- TF 24lbs injectors
- SCT X-Cal 3
- 3/4" reach spark plugs
Engine was removed and broken down to a shortblock and placed back on a stand. All bearings were checked for damage from the loss of oil pressure and none was found. Oil pump checked out ok as well. Everything was buttoned up and ARP headstuds found their way onto the block
After over a month and half of delays, the heads finally arrived. Fair warning to those that are thinking of getting these heads: be patient. They are heavily sought after and the back-order dates show.
so you're probably saying "big deal, I have ported PI heads". Well, those do flow good, but to a point. Box stock, the TF heads outflow ported PI heads. Plus they provide a bump in compression, more PTV clearence and more room for improvement. The intake valve is flipped to the otherside of the cam, giving a straighter shot at the combustion chamber.
Windsor guys: you have a couple changes to look out for. The 4 bolts that attach the front cover to the heads are different. In the Windsor motors, the front cover uses 10mm bolts. Romeo engines use 8mm bolts. The TF heads are drilled for the 8mm bolts. I bought them straight through my parts department, they're still available from Ford.
Everything was straight forward in terms of setting up the cams and such. I used Ford's procedures for torquing the heads down per ARP's torque ratings.
So, where do I stand now? The longblock is complete and waiting to go back into the car. AED will be doing the tuning once it's up and running.
and yes, nitrous will go back on the car eventually :wink2:
Progressing from the situation above, I decided to go all out. I made the big purchase for the Trick Flows
The list:
- TF 38cc heads
- CompCams 270 camshafts
- ARP headstuds
- Romeo 8mm front cover bolts
- TF 24lbs injectors
- SCT X-Cal 3
- 3/4" reach spark plugs
Engine was removed and broken down to a shortblock and placed back on a stand. All bearings were checked for damage from the loss of oil pressure and none was found. Oil pump checked out ok as well. Everything was buttoned up and ARP headstuds found their way onto the block
After over a month and half of delays, the heads finally arrived. Fair warning to those that are thinking of getting these heads: be patient. They are heavily sought after and the back-order dates show.
so you're probably saying "big deal, I have ported PI heads". Well, those do flow good, but to a point. Box stock, the TF heads outflow ported PI heads. Plus they provide a bump in compression, more PTV clearence and more room for improvement. The intake valve is flipped to the otherside of the cam, giving a straighter shot at the combustion chamber.
Windsor guys: you have a couple changes to look out for. The 4 bolts that attach the front cover to the heads are different. In the Windsor motors, the front cover uses 10mm bolts. Romeo engines use 8mm bolts. The TF heads are drilled for the 8mm bolts. I bought them straight through my parts department, they're still available from Ford.
Everything was straight forward in terms of setting up the cams and such. I used Ford's procedures for torquing the heads down per ARP's torque ratings.
So, where do I stand now? The longblock is complete and waiting to go back into the car. AED will be doing the tuning once it's up and running.
and yes, nitrous will go back on the car eventually :wink2:
