[NHRASuperStock455SD]

Originally Posted by Ron H

Will you sell these complete bolt on or bare?

We will sell them bare or complete to your specifications. However, I recommend light weight valves. As you all know RA-V's came with hollow stem valves for a reason. I have gone through the mill and back trying to maintain lightweight valve train technology. This is the reason we have only a 11/32 valve stem and 5.700 over all valve lengths. We are working on hollow stem valve pricing and titanium valve pricing.

Lynn

[Gach]

Originally Posted by tom s

FYI,cams are no problem,Comp and Bullet can make them.I just got one last week from comp.Tom

Tom, what did it cost you ?

[Gach]

I have gone through the mill and back trying to maintain lightweight valve train technology. This is the reason we have only a 11/32 valve stem and 5.700 over all valve lengths. We are working on hollow stem valve pricing and titanium valve pricing.

That is one of the smarts moves I've seen in after market head design. Lynn do you
have a ball park price for bare heads and intake, intake for Dominator ?

[Gach]

Thought of some more questions, is there room to add head bolts, instead of the typical 4 per cylinder. Is there any particular reason why you kept it an in-line valve head?

[tom s]

Lou,it was a little over $600 I believe for a one off custom billet.They grind them from a round billet.When a core gets made for more orders im sure they will be the same or close to std cams.Also I will be using 5/16 stems as that is what is in my street heads for the last 8 years or so.Std. early hemi valves were perfect on the intake side.Lynn,I have a set of shaft rockers now.Larry Long had them done for me so you might check who did them.I know Nunzi had them done by someone also.TomTom

[NHRASuperStock455SD]

Originally Posted by Gach

That is one of the smarts moves I've seen in after market head design. Lynn do you
have a ball park price for bare heads and intake, intake for Dominator ?

Thanks Gach, $2500 for bare head castings. The heads without water jackets will be about $500 more. It is usually $500-$700 for complete heads fully assembled, but not with special valves like a RA-V. Tunnel Ram intake will be under $1000 with the availability of either a 4 barrel or 2X4 barrel top and the ability to mill down plenum size. We will let you know what prices we get. I am trying to keep

After running SS and a Tunnel Port for lots of years and seeing them over hundreds of dyno pulls, valve train is the most misunderstood limitation on Pontiac motors. We got 7500 RPM out of my 455SD with 188 cc intake runners. A big part of that is valve train. We used to think the heads quit flowing at 6200. Not true, it was valve spring limitations due to valve bounce. My opinion we do it in this order:

1.) install lightest valve train weight possible
2.) use soft style seats as hardened seats exacerbates valve bounce as do stainless valves.
3.) run as much valve spring as you need to make power. Cheap valve springs on a Pontiac do not cut it.

Lynn

[NHRASuperStock455SD]

Originally Posted by Don Chapman

Lynn, What should we expect these heads to flow as cast on intake/exhaust. Im sure you have done a much better job on the exhaust than the factory. Can you also include the bore size that you used on the flow bench. Thanks, Don.

Don,

Good question. Remember we dont have them machined yet. Yes we have a good estimate, but I would like to reserve my answer for actual values.

I think we will get 40 to 60 more flow from stock, and the exhaust will flow as much as or more than you need. More importantly the smaller CSA will improve volumetric efficiency.

Lynn

[NHRASuperStock455SD]

Originally Posted by Gach

Thought of some more questions, is there room to add head bolts, instead of the typical 4 per cylinder. Is there any particular reason why you kept it an in-line valve head?

We are going to build a Pontiac RA-V race-only block with two more bolts per cylinder. The first version will be with a 4.500 (plus change) bore and the second will be a 4.600 plus bore. Of course some smart street guy will put all the race stuff into a street car and break all barriers of I dont do it first

Each cylinder head has its advantages and its disadvantages. When doing a HP Pontiac motor you pick your poison ;-). Then you try to exemplify the advantages and minimize the limiting areas. My opinion a RA-V has a pretty good package to that ultimate end. Ford spent millions of research dollars and was committed to the Tunnel port concept when the GM of Chevrolet (Bernie Knudsen) became President of Ford and scrapped everything by bringing over his engineering team from Chevrolet and switch to the splayed valve design.

Now we are getting into philosophy that needs to be under a different post.

[Gach]

Tom, $600.00 that's a good price I think...seeing their paying $800.00 for the 4-7
swap grinds.

Lynn, I'm surprise at the price, I thought it would be allot more, good price in my
opinion. The intake sounds a little high..but it's a tunnel Ram intake well design.
So I'd pay the price.

I know what your saying there is always compromises in head design, I feel real
comfortable knowing someone with years of Super Stock racing who has dealt with
some of the best engine builders in the country input. Pretty exciting I think it's
going to be another killer head.

[tom s]

Lou,just found my paperwork,661 and a 4-7 switch would have been the same price.As I said before,the price will drop when a V billet is avail and wont have to be done from a round billet.Tom

[NHRASuperStock455SD]

I am going to have someone do us billets. I will probably do a 50MM with an optional 55. We have both in stock blocks. 50MM is a roller bearing and 55 requires a slipper bearing.

Lynn

[NHRASuperStock455SD]

Lynn McCarty
[email protected]

[blaktopr]

Hello Lynn, have you thought about maybe putting the plug in this area?

[NHRASuperStock455SD]

Originally Posted by blaktopr

Hello Lynn, have you thought about maybe putting the plug in this area?

Yes, however we do have a water jacket restriction, so we will see what we can get. That would be with the plugs angled toward the exhaust and away from the intakes. This improves combustion efficiency by inducing the flame travel backwards. If you notice there is a degree of casting separation from the spark plug tip and the intake flow.

Combustion occurs via time temperature and turbulence. Since the area around the exhaust leaves the chamber/cylinder first, this it makes sense to burn that area first not like the old way of burning the fuel on the entrance of the intake valve.

Blaktopr I assume you already know this, I was just pointing it out for those who may not.

Lynn

[Elarson]

Congratulations, Lynn.

Considering the development costs and time, I think the prices are extremely reasonable.

Eric

[azbirds]

How are you getting that bore size? 4.5 and 4.6 did you stretch the dimensions of the block?

[Jack Gifford]

Wow- I had no idea this was proceeding so well.
Please translate "hit the floor in six weeks" for this dummy...

[Skip Fix]

Congrats Lynn for a long project coming to an end! Looks good.

But we all know a 455 is all done by 5500 why are you pounding on your so much, I guess it's those huge 188cc ports

[ponjohn]

I'm not familiar with the original design, are those chambers an updated design (like KRE D-ports and HP)?

[NHRASuperStock455SD]

Originally Posted by azbirds

How are you getting that bore size? 4.5 and 4.6 did you stretch the dimensions of the block?

We stretch, tease, manipulate, drill, miscombobulate, bend, cheat, argue, fight, insult, karaoke, drink, abuse, sodomize, politic, catywompus(ize), screw, debate.....master......masterbate, then go to sleep, wake up, pop 40mg of Prozac, then start over.

Lynn