[PontiacLars]

Originally Posted by steve25

Yes bronze or better yet phosfer bronze is harder then aluminum and when insufficient oil combined with flash chrome ( SM ) plating of the valve stems wares off the result is guide ware.

Like I posted price is secondary to value, especially when it’s made off shore, and especially when you have to start to redo stuff!

A question for the OP here.

Did you use the full Teflon ( all white) valve stem seals?
I find these can run the stems too dry on a mainly street motor that spends most of its life below 3000 rpm and hence does not kick enough oil around under the valve cover .

No, I used Viton valve seals.

[performerrpm]

Originally Posted by PAUL K

Folks that get worked up over the SB/BB thing lack accomplishments in their life.

Some of the SB Pontiac builds have very good HP per CID numbers.

let someone on fb slip up about sb or bb....the post will go from 6 comments to over hundred guys beatin on the same horse about it

[P@blo]

Originally Posted by PontiacLars

They where not run out-of-the-box. Guide clerance messured, installed spring locators, replaced retainers and locks.

I completly understsand people want these heads to be great, because they are cheaper, but unfortunetly in this case you Get what you pay for.

Fair enough. My machinest had positive feedback over the E heads he has seen recently so maybe I got lucky on my two sets.

Buy bare and use good parts, you will be fine.

[mgarblik]

Originally Posted by P@blo

Fair enough. My machinest had positive feedback over the E heads he has seen recently so maybe I got lucky on my two sets.

Buy bare and use good parts, you will be fine.

My student building a 461 stroker in class ran it on the dyno tonight. IMO, it ran very well, didn't leak any fluids, and made very good power. Peak Toaque 590 ft. lbs @ 3500 RPM,, HP, 540@5600 RPM. Speedmaster assembled heads. Took the valve springs off and tossed them in the trash. Used everything else. Re-cut the valve job, cleaned them up a little. Performer RPM, Q-jet, HEI, Solid flat tappet cam. 251/259 Ultradyne. Nice package.

[Skip Fix]

My CNC HR spring SM checked out decent at the machine shop. They said the CNC is done here in CA.Springs looked like the Cranes Sd Performance uses. Just a stack of shims vs a locator.

Stuck a valve on our VW Bug years ago on the freeway!They used no guides in the aluminum head. Locked it up. Bought the bug for my wife as the horse barn was an hour away and her 454 truck got 9mpg! 7 pulling the horse trailer, but enough power you did not know it was back there! Did get a little scarey between gas station in AZ and N Mexico with just a 20 gallon tank making it to the next gas station movign from Houston and back to N CA.