Been playing with these for the last week or so, thought I would share some pics. Cool valve cover logo.. Chamber measure in at 61CC, the 555 these will end up on, with a flat top piston and .050 head gaskets works out to a nice 14.5-1. Enough compression for the big cams, not so much that exotic race fuel is required. The 7" Titanium valves, compared to a stock Stage 1 valve. Intake port pours to 470CC. Conventional Stage 2 Exhaust port, will require custom headers or extensions as the headers sit higher on the heads. Pressed in hardened washers are a nice touch. On both the valve covers and heads. O ring in place for valve cover test fit.. Close up of the O-ring Just like everything I have seen with the is project thus far, the covers are sweet.. Billet of course, fit like a glove, bolts just drop in.. plenty of precision here... and check it out, 4 bolts on the bottom, and 3 on the top! that makes some sense.. All one can say is .... very cool.. Initial mockups on a raised cam block are complete, with good fit and rocker geometry observed. I have a head and the valves out for flow testing now. We will be testing both 2.450 and 2.400 Intake sizes on a 4.500 bore. Also several valve angles for a few different options for motor combos. An intake that will fit under the STG 2 hood scoop is in the works, as well as a full out dual dominator tunnel ram for testing. All kinds of fun..
Very Cool Indeed!! Can't wait to see some BIG numbers. It's exciting to have people willing to spend the money, time and energy on projects like this for our engines. A big THANK YOU to everyone involved!!
I got chills from seeing these pics!! I think I will sell my new built 494 with stg.2 heads and start saving! What would it take to built a Tomahawk with a set of those heads/intake? Would 30K be realistic?
OK, stupid question time - why are the valves so much longer than stock? Bigger ports? Are the ports straightened out from stock, moving the whole rocker shaft assembly up? Something else? I love billet parts; you can do anything with them that a CNC can do. It just takes money, time and a big expensive chunk of aluminum to start with!
Jan, In round figures, yes, that would be close.. you can figure 15K for an alum rod 555 shortblock, and 15K for the top half, and have the bulk of it paid for. I have not seen prices yet on the valve covers, and I will be sending one of these covers to Steve Reynolds for a prototype sheetmetal cover, and I also don't know the intake cost yet, since it's still being developed. Keep in mind, these heads have water, but are drag race only. Stacey, Yes, it' about intake port shape/layout.. raising the ports has always been beneficial in airflow, and this is the ultimate example of a "tall port" head. Also, valve length is critical when you consider installed height of the springs, and rocker geometry. These heads were designed to have 2.100+ of installed height. This allows for cams up around 1" lift. JW
Nice!!! Probably out of my price range for now, but as long as I have a running Tomahawk I could convert at a later time. I really like what I see!! Great job to all involved to get it to this point!!!! If they work as good as they look, we'll be seeing some awful fast Buicks in the future!!
Now think about all the other parts that will need attention with such an increase in output. MR. Jim. Could you mock up a side by side TA stage 2 head and valve cover with that KB one . and still say that the valve covers are not going to stick out the top of the hood. Seeing is believing. One word NASTY
Just checked my Apollo Stage 2. Plenty of room for the valve covers. I am a little concerned of the tunnel ram with 2- 1450's on top. But then who needs an air cleaner! A fuel injection intake is also in the works, might fit under the hood???
I noticed 2 sets of holes for the header mounting. What type of flanges would these heads use. Any chance a 632 could be built using these heads and a raised block?
Briz, The wider bolt pattern on the center exhaust ports is to allow for larger sized header primaries.
Briz, You must be spying on us. We are already making gaskets for a 4.6" bore, (On our existing raised cam solid block) and the exhaust gaskets for 2.375" headers, A head change is also in the works for up to a 2.5" header for Blown or Nitro motors. There are other plans but we are going "Dark" with those. For now JW is working on a Dyno motor. We will test dual and single carbs! Enough said. We are changing our passwords!
Spying I am not. The more I read and things Im seeing at the engine shop I hang out at are making me wiser in the ways of big power. The owners at the shop are big into this new 632 outlaw class and I'm thinking why not Buick?
I haven't checked out the class but I had planned on Alcohol. But 632" is my immediate goal. Hope there are a few guys in front of me. My heads are special purpose and will be a little different!!!!!! Maybe someone can post the basic rules, probably no billet heads as usual. With all the whining from these racing divisions that racers are bailing they keep changing rules that cost us more. It's a lot easier and less expensive to fix billet than replacing cast parts, however time consuming it may be.
Ken, I need to say that I am in total awe that you do this for the Buick community. I have a slight idea of how many thoughts, hours and Money that has went into this project. It is a serious opportunity for us racers to be competetive, as in real competitive! I canĀ“t dream of how much power a 632 would put out, but damn it could be fun going faster than the Guys over here with all their nitrious stuff.
From what I understand 2700 lbs and over. pretty much anything goes.Ive found you a link to the rules.http://www.pdra660.com/competition/rules/632/ These guys are making 1300 HP on motor and then adding multiple stages of spray. Our team went 4.38 at the PDRA event in Galot last weekend.