Post by steven6282 on Jun 25, 2014 14:00:37 GMT -5
Not sure if anyone around here will really be able to offer me any help with this but I figured it can't hurt to ask since we do have a lot of car enthusiasts here 
I'm looking at upgrading the heads on my 1986 Camaro. The engine is not stock, I had it built by Carolina Machine Engines a couple years ago now. I unfortunately don't know a lot of details about what is in the engine now because Carolina Machine Engines didn't detail much on the spec sheet they gave me. When I bought it I knew less than I do now about engines (which still isn't a lot) so I didn't know how big of a piece of crap they were really selling me.
What I do know, right now the cam is "a camshaft with over .440" lift and 270/224 duration". I also know it's supposed to start making power at 2500 RPM and Red line at 5500 RPM. Oh, and it is a flat tappet cam, although the block can accept a roller cam. The heads are mismatched heads and from what I've read and been told just aren't something that should ever be used on a "performance" engine (which is what I was supposed to be getting from them). One of them is a 70s smoggers head, the other is a mid 80s light duty head.
So anyway right now I'm having a problem with one of my heads, either a damaged lifter or seat probably, and I'm not going to put any money into finding out or fixing these heads. I want to look at getting a new set of heads for now, with the option of upgrading my cam later as well. I've been trying to read and look into options for this and there are just so many choices and things that I don't fully understand that I need some help lol.
Right now the ones at the top of my list are either these from Jegs:
www.jegs.com/i/JEGS-Performance-Products/555/514030/10002/-1?parentProductId=1593012#moreDetails
Or a set of Pro-Filers specced as:
SBC 23 Degree Cylinder Head, 11/32 Guides & Steel Seats
Intake Port Size: 195cc Intake Ports
Chamber Size: 64cc As Cast Chamber
Spark Plug Orientation: Angle Plug
Intake Valves: 2.02/1.600 Valve Job
Spring Package: Standard .650 Lift 1.525 Dual Springs, Steel Retainers, Keepers Assembled
Casting Style: Standard Cooling
I've been told by others that both of these are good heads, the Pro-Filers come out about $150 dollars cheaper for the set. But I'm looking for some more opinions before making my choice because it's a big investment.
The first thing I was hoping someone could clear up for me. The valve springs, are there different kinds for roller cams versus flat tappet cams? Jegs doesn't say anything about it, but Pro-Filer on their order page (http://www.profilerperformance.com/racing/cylinderheads/sbc-23-degree) specifies the springs as "Dual Hydrualic Roller Springs". I'm just wondering if that would cause a problem with my flat tappet cam, or if it would just be something like maybe not being optimum and losing a little bit of peak power until I can get the money and time to upgrade the cam as well.
Next is push rods. Am I pretty much just going to have to order the heads, get them installed and then figure out what size push rods I need, or is there a way to calculate them before hand?
I of course welcome suggestion on other heads that would be good as well or any other advice anyone wants to give me on it Just to note, when I eventually upgrade the cam, right now I'm thinking I'll probably go to a roller cam, and get something (probably custom specced) with around .55 lift and specced to go out to around 6000 to 6500 RPM. That is why I was looking at 195cc heads, from what I've read that is a good size for up to 6500 RPM applications.
Also, just to point out, I'm not looking to build a drag car or anything out of this. I just want my camaro to be fun to drive and have some pep on the street, and maybe play around with it on some road courses occasionally for fun. Nothing serious. If I ever get serious into road racing or something like that, I will probably prep another car specifically for it.
Thanks for any advice!
I'm looking at upgrading the heads on my 1986 Camaro. The engine is not stock, I had it built by Carolina Machine Engines a couple years ago now. I unfortunately don't know a lot of details about what is in the engine now because Carolina Machine Engines didn't detail much on the spec sheet they gave me. When I bought it I knew less than I do now about engines (which still isn't a lot) so I didn't know how big of a piece of crap they were really selling me.
What I do know, right now the cam is "a camshaft with over .440" lift and 270/224 duration". I also know it's supposed to start making power at 2500 RPM and Red line at 5500 RPM. Oh, and it is a flat tappet cam, although the block can accept a roller cam. The heads are mismatched heads and from what I've read and been told just aren't something that should ever be used on a "performance" engine (which is what I was supposed to be getting from them). One of them is a 70s smoggers head, the other is a mid 80s light duty head.
So anyway right now I'm having a problem with one of my heads, either a damaged lifter or seat probably, and I'm not going to put any money into finding out or fixing these heads. I want to look at getting a new set of heads for now, with the option of upgrading my cam later as well. I've been trying to read and look into options for this and there are just so many choices and things that I don't fully understand that I need some help lol.
Right now the ones at the top of my list are either these from Jegs:
www.jegs.com/i/JEGS-Performance-Products/555/514030/10002/-1?parentProductId=1593012#moreDetails
Or a set of Pro-Filers specced as:
SBC 23 Degree Cylinder Head, 11/32 Guides & Steel Seats
Intake Port Size: 195cc Intake Ports
Chamber Size: 64cc As Cast Chamber
Spark Plug Orientation: Angle Plug
Intake Valves: 2.02/1.600 Valve Job
Spring Package: Standard .650 Lift 1.525 Dual Springs, Steel Retainers, Keepers Assembled
Casting Style: Standard Cooling
I've been told by others that both of these are good heads, the Pro-Filers come out about $150 dollars cheaper for the set. But I'm looking for some more opinions before making my choice because it's a big investment.
The first thing I was hoping someone could clear up for me. The valve springs, are there different kinds for roller cams versus flat tappet cams? Jegs doesn't say anything about it, but Pro-Filer on their order page (http://www.profilerperformance.com/racing/cylinderheads/sbc-23-degree) specifies the springs as "Dual Hydrualic Roller Springs". I'm just wondering if that would cause a problem with my flat tappet cam, or if it would just be something like maybe not being optimum and losing a little bit of peak power until I can get the money and time to upgrade the cam as well.
Next is push rods. Am I pretty much just going to have to order the heads, get them installed and then figure out what size push rods I need, or is there a way to calculate them before hand?
I of course welcome suggestion on other heads that would be good as well or any other advice anyone wants to give me on it
Just to note, when I eventually upgrade the cam, right now I'm thinking I'll probably go to a roller cam, and get something (probably custom specced) with around .55 lift and specced to go out to around 6000 to 6500 RPM. That is why I was looking at 195cc heads, from what I've read that is a good size for up to 6500 RPM applications.Also, just to point out, I'm not looking to build a drag car or anything out of this. I just want my camaro to be fun to drive and have some pep on the street, and maybe play around with it on some road courses occasionally for fun. Nothing serious. If I ever get serious into road racing or something like that, I will probably prep another car specifically for it.
Thanks for any advice!
