[RAIV-Z]

Originally Posted by John Langer

I have been running that exact same head bolt cooling mod since around 2003. If you sleve the bolt hole it would be more of a protrusion then the bolt itself. As far as the numbering of the main caps, I highly doubt that they remachined a thrust bearing cap and that the caps were just numbered incorrectly from the manufacturer.

The head bolt cooling mod was only done to one of the V heads. Did you have this done to both of yours?

Seriously John, are you saying this should be a non-issue? Should the opening be cleaned up so the material around the opening is thick enough so it doesn’t flake off?

This is my first aftermarket block, are the main caps stamped by the MFG?
I agree, I doubt BES re-machined the thrust bearing cap.

[John Langer]

Originally Posted by RAIV-Z

The head bolt cooling mod was only done to one of the V heads. Did you have this done to both of yours?

Seriously John, are you saying this should be a non-issue? Should the opening be cleaned up so the material around the opening is thick enough so it doesn’t flake off?

This is my first aftermarket block, are the main caps stamped by the MFG?
I agree, I doubt BES re-machined the thrust bearing cap.

Yes, it is a non issue. I have had bolts that look almost like your push rod tubes in the side of my port. If it is on one of the heads and not the other it would be due to core shift. Again, no big deal. I have even had this on the exhaust side. Those bolts will experience alot of heat.

[RAIV-Z]

I talked to a few people including Tony and Bob C. regarding the main caps. The general consensus is that although the hammer marks are ugly they will not weaken the main caps. We’re not sure how the marks or double stamps got there. Tony is also willing to work with me on some of the other issues.

[cgeise]

That does NOT answer who did that crap -

[RAIV-Z]

Cage is out of the car for final welding.

[taff2]

Shouldn't you have a seat support tube under the driver,from the outer floor tube to the inner floor tube? Looks good though.

[67'7F6'Bird]

Originally Posted by taff2

Shouldn't you have a seat support tube under the driver,from the outer floor tube to the inner floor tube? Looks good though.

Mccarty already put the bar under his seat.

[GTO Dan]

Originally Posted by 67'7F6'Bird

Mccarty already put the bar under his seat.

LOL! Now that is funny, very cleaver.

Truly sorry to hear of RamIV-Z continuing issues and not trying to trivialize his situation ,but your comment really made me laugh.

[Tom Vaught]

Originally Posted by 67'7F6'Bird

Mccarty already put the bar under his seat.

Maybe he needed a support rod to go with the Titanium Plate I sent him a while back.

Tom Vaught

[RAIV-Z]

Originally Posted by taff2

Shouldn't you have a seat support tube under the driver,from the outer floor tube to the inner floor tube? Looks good though.

You're right, there should be a seat support bar. It wasn't installed yet.

[jdw_poncho]

Looks good Ed, any updates on the heads?

[RAIV-Z]

Originally Posted by jdw_poncho

Looks good Ed, any updates on the heads?

Thanks, all the major welding is done only a few more bars to add. The cage should be back in the car sometime next week. Regarding the RA-V heads, I’ve had a few conversations with Tony over the last couple of weeks.

Happy New Year to all!

[GTOGEORGE]

When you are doing a Boosted Engine you don't need a Boosted Engineer just the Internet and some "common sense"! Of course any help is better then no help.



GTO George

[Elarson]

Originally Posted by RAIV-Z

Regarding the RA-V heads, I’ve had a few conversations with Tony over the last couple of weeks.

Happy New Year to all!

Bypassing the internet advice and middlemen; and going directly to Tony sounds like the right approach. Good luck for 2013!

Eric

[twov8sandat4]

Originally Posted by RAIV-Z

Thanks, all the major welding is done only a few more bars to add. The cage should be back in the car sometime next week. Regarding the RA-V heads, I’ve had a few conversations with Tony over the last couple of weeks.

Happy New Year to all!

Do you expect to be at the track this year?

Hope you sort out all the problems.

[warriors revenge]

many years ago, when Dan Whitmore would do a "race port" job on a set of RA IV heads, he would break thru the pushrod hole, and epoxy a bronze sleeve in there to seal the port up.... the same should be able to be done for a head bolt....
just sayin

[Tom Vaught]

Originally Posted by warriors revenge

many years ago, when Dan Whitmore would do a "race port" job on a set of RA IV heads, he would break thru the pushrod hole, and epoxy a bronze sleeve in there to seal the port up.... the same should be able to be done for a head bolt....
just sayin

Head Bolt IS Different BECAUSE, a Head Bolt is torqued to a given condition by reacting against the head and its support structure.

So now you have cut away the support structure and you want to put a "push rod bronze sleeve" back in to seal up the hole but you think nothing about the loss of clamp load on the head gasket at that point on the head?

I have seen guys narrow the boss between the two runners on a normal cast iron Pontiac head and later they could not hold a head gasket. A cast iron head, not a softer aluminum head. Sorry but I think that you are missing the point here. It is not to seal up the oil leakage, etc, it is to be able to properly clamp down the head and have a head gasket hold under high boost pressures.

Tom Vaught

[Elarson]

Originally Posted by Tom Vaught

Head Bolt IS Different BECAUSE, a Head Bolt is torqued to a given condition by reacting against the head and its support structure.

So now you have cut away the support structure and you want to put a "push rod bronze sleeve" back in to seal up the hole but you think nothing about the loss of clamp load on the head gasket at that point on the head?

I have seen guys narrow the boss between the two runners on a normal cast iron Pontiac head and later they could not hold a head gasket. A cast iron head, not a softer aluminum head. Sorry but I think that you are missing the point here. It is not to seal up the oil leakage, etc, it is to be able to properly clamp down the head and have a head gasket hold under high boost pressures.

Tom Vaught

When I designed our billet RAV heads for the funny car, the very first design parameter was to define a 1/4" wall around all of the head bolts. NOTHING that was put in after that (ports, oil drains, etc) was allowed to violate that space. So far, the head gasket sealing is excellent even with the violence of nitro.

Eric

[Elarson]

For an NA application, where cylinder pressure is lower and port flow is more critical, a thinner wall is the correct approach. Every design is a compromise to suit the specific use.

Eric

[RAIV-Z]

Originally Posted by Elarson

For an NA application, where cylinder pressure is lower and port flow is more critical, a thinner wall is the correct approach. Every design is a compromise to suit the specific use.

Eric

Hi Eric,

So what you’re saying is that on a boosted engine, this is not what you would have done? Got any of those billet V heads “with water jackets” or any suggestions to make my V heads work with with at least 25lb of boost?

Merry Christmas to all.

Ed