[aronhk_md]

If Don had just wanted to copy the stock RA V head he could have. Fitment would have been easier in a stock car of course. But I imagine its hard to justify spending the money recreating these heads without the idea of improving them. The design was better when they came out for racing than most of what Pontiac put out, but with the knowledge we have today you can make more power and still have it more streetable than the originals.

If that takes some moving things around under the hood...so be it. If having everything neatly packaged under the hood factory like is a priority theres always a new vette, or shelby mustang in the dealer's showroom...lol

Congrats Don! Makes me wonder how they'll do with a little boost...

[tom s]

OR there is always a stock set of V heads!Tom

[428RA4]

Understood Gentleman, but why bother making the exterior LOOK like a factory head and go through all the trouble to do so when your objective is to make a better head? Sounds like a conflict in design. I'm all for improving the heads, but if you can't stuff a factory looking head into your factory car, then your market shall be limited to racers for the most part.

I'm just pondering the global picture of the project and wonder if the sacrifices were weighted vs. market sales.

[aronhk_md]

I think the answer is...why NOT make it externally look like a 44? Few enough people have seen the real thing to immediately discern the changes. I personally think Don has managed a good balance between aiming at street users and racers. For racers its ALL there. For street users some mild (its not like fabricating all the stuff for a turbo car) mods and you have a RA V street car.

Had he aimed just for street users trying to pass their engine as a real RA V setup THEN I think he would have seriously limited his market.

[tom s]

Too expensive for most street guys.Tom

[67copperbird]

Guys, if you all notice, I said I was not his target market. As far as John building an intake for me, that would only be a dream. I would be honored to have one. He does really good work. My only concern would be that his heart wouldn't be into it due to it being a compromise to fit under the hood. In my mind it would be like having Picasso touch up a wall in one of our houses. As far as why I need it to fit under a fairly stock hood, well that is an easy explanation. I would challenge anyone to run a road course with a 6" cowl hood.

[tom s]

I think Don has designed a good race V head!I cant wait for someone to actually do a all out 1000 HP,2 HP per CI engine.I also want to see someone actually build a real street engine that will run on 91-93 pump gas,something in the 455-480 CI range with a 250ish cam,something that can be driven a 100 miles a day and in bumper to bumper traffic,in TX summer heat, no question about gas quality etc.Tom

[Region Warrior]

Originally Posted by tom s

I think Don has designed a good race V head!I cant wait for someone to actually do a all out 1000 HP,2 HP per CI engine.I also want to see someone actually build a real street engine that will run on 91-93 pump gas,something in the 455-480 CI range with a 250ish cam,something that can be driven a 100 miles a day and in bumper to bumper traffic,in TX summer heat, no question about gas quality etc.Tom

Hmm...
Everything here to build a 440 to 496.
Just need pistons, heads, cam/lifters, and intake.
And upgrade the cage for 9's.
But if i do it, taint gon'a be a 5500 max rpm'r!!!

[428RA4]

All good points, but everything is speculation until someone does it. I will watch with excitement like the rest of us, but I just ponder the mix in said project. What compiles the mystery is the need to make an intake whereas none is slated for production.

I wish Don all the best, but the challenges ahead may be great to get this off the ground past the model stage.

The whole thing sounds pricey with unknown end results.

[428RA4]

Again, to me, it would be more productive and I believe more profitable to make a Pontiac Tunnel Port Hemi head. A traditional combustion chamber was never as good as a Hemi for racing and who cares if you cut up a firewall to fit it into a race car.

[Jack Gifford]

Originally Posted by 428RA4

... Pontiac Tunnel Port Hemi head...

What does "tunnel port" mean with a hemi head?

[mgarblik]

The "cool" factor of the RAV can't be overstated here. If the head casting quality and other build factors can be worked out, there will be a fairly decent sized group of buyers for these heads for their resto-mod Pontiacs and hot street cars who just want something different, PONTIAC and cool. They need to run great but out of the box, not an over the top performer to be a decent seller. I, for one consider these heads the one style I would be willing to cut up my original 68 400 Firebird for to fit a set. A friend of mine has a Cobra kit car with a tunnel port 427 FE, and you would not believe the attention that car gets everywhere he goes. It runs great too making a little over 700 HP. I think a cast intake would be a big advantage for people like me, but having to have one made is not a show stopper. Don has the history and the proven track record to make these heads great.

[428RA4]

Originally Posted by Jack Gifford

What does "tunnel port" mean with a hemi head?

Pontiac made an experimental Tunnel Port Hemi head. IF you want to sell to the race guys, this is what should be built in my opinion.