which heads and cam?

[ivan12]

Do any of you guys have notched pistons for the 185s? Around how much does it cost for a machinist to do it? Or can someone do this at home?

 

[daves94vert]

Since you're leaning toward the tfs, snatch up the fast as cast 170's. You can't beat the price and you won't be dissapointed. The valve guide problem was a problem many many years ago...Fixed now. I have a set of the older heads and never had a problem. Still running them. Just need to make sure your valvetrain goemetry is correct, and that's with any setup.

 

[ttocs]

Just need to make sure your valvetrain goemetry is correct, and that's with any setup.

how do I do that?

 

[Venom351R]

Nope. AFR 185s need notching, 165s dont, and Twisted wedge don't either...

Really? I thought the TW heads needed to have notched pistons...if not thats a huge help b/c I want to get a set of TW heads next year and even though my pistons are already notched for the AFR 185's I didnt know if it was enough.

 

[Rice_slayer]

I have the twisted wedge with 2.02" intakes and a TFS stage 1 cam with no issues at all with PTV clearance.Some guy actually got a stage 2 TFS cam to work with the TW heads, but he said the they hit without the gasket, but don't with the gasket. That's a LITTLE to small of an area to mess with. It all depends on the cam I'm guessing...

 

[Blind]

Just need to make sure your valvetrain goemetry is correct, and that's with any setup.

how do I do that?

spread some putty on the tops of a piston, bolt the heads on with your old gaskets, setup the rockers on the valves on the same cylinder, then rotate through the firing order a few times, and measure how thick the putty was compressed to by the valves.

there's a rule of thumb, but I don't recall it at this point.

even if the valves don't hit, valve float at high rpm can cause them to hit. My brother had PTV issues with TFS TW heads on stock pistons with an anderson N-41 cam (pretty big cam), had some eyebrows on the pistons valve reliefs from high rpm interference even though they never hit when doing a static PTV clearance check.

 

[Venom351R]

I have a custom cam so the PVC would def have to be checked. So what if you do the clay/putty to test the PVC and you dont have enough clearance, do you have to get your pistons notched further or is there anything else that can be done?

 

[Blind]

could run less rocker ratio if you checked with 1.7's

 

[Venom351R]

yeah has 1.7's now

 

[LAFENATU]

Really? I thought the TW heads needed to have notched pistons...if not thats a huge help b/c I want to get a set of TW heads next year and even though my pistons are already notched for the AFR 185's I didnt know if it was enough.

Nope.

Thats the whole idea of the "twisted" setup. The valves sit at a different angle then your regular small block 302 head. Why would you replace a set of 185's with TW heads?? I hope you're planning on getting them ported, if not you're taking a step back, not a step forward.

Some TFS Hi-Ports or R Series heads would be killer on that car.

 

[Venom351R]

Thats the whole idea of the "twisted" setup. The valves sit at a different angle then your regular small block 302 head. Why would you replace a set of 185's with TW heads?? I hope you're planning on getting them ported, if not you're taking a step back, not a step forward.

Some TFS Hi-Ports or R Series heads would be killer on that car.

I was going to step up to 205cc Twisted wedge and am thinking of having them ported by Fox Lake

 

[LAFENATU]

Now, out of curiosity is there a reason you didn't choose a set of ported AFR 205cc heads or even something like a Brodix head?

Every consider the R series from TFS?? Those are some NASTY heads...make lots of power.

 

[Venom351R]

Now, out of curiosity is there a reason you didn' choose a set of ported AFR 205cc heads or even something like a Brodix head?

Every consider the R series from TFS?? Those are some NASTY heads...make lots of power.

bc i didnt own the car at the time the AFR heads were put on. Alot of the mods were done before i bought it and dont suit what im doing with it now so thats why im changing some stuff. Im not a huge fan of afr heads when compared to tf and id rather have my heads and intake matched together

 

[LAFENATU]

Sounds good to me.

That R series intake you have is matched to the R series heads. :evil5:

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/TFS-52400003-M61/

Talk about power... :headbang:

You may not be able to run them though, they are 2.08/1.60

289/236 @ .600 lift

 

[Venom351R]

Im sure a set of trickflow 205's ported by fox lake will lay down some nice power when paired with my cam and intake

 

[rz5.0]

i cut my own pistons it was easy but time consuming. i read somewere were a guy did his own tool with a over sized valve and sandpaper. i borrowed a isky tool.

 

[ttocs]

pics or it didn't happen....

 

[rz5.0]

i was to much in a hurry to takes pics but i have afr185 and fly cutting is the only way to run them. the first valve is the one thatr take the longest. once you get that and the dept you want set its pretty quick i did mine with the block still in the car.

 

[ttocs]

I want to thank everyone for the help, answers and also for the link to the sale saving me $300!!! I am ordering the trick flow heads tomorrow but will be waiting on the cam till I can find a good price on one. If someone happends to find a sale on a new one or NIB one that can send me a link I would be thankfull once again. I was hoping to do all this this summer so there is no real rush.....

 

[LAFENATU]

No problem, you're welcome...that's why we are all here. :headbang:

What cam and rockers are you looking for?

The Ford Racing 1.6's are great rockers and I think buyfordracing.com has a really good deal on them.