Trickin out some iron heads

Discussion in 'Race 400/430/455' started by hugger, Feb 10, 2019.

  1. hugger

    hugger Well-Known Member

    So what's the best way to go about getting 11/32 valves with beehives and Titanium retainers in some irons? I'm sure its been done plenty, I just never have, wanting to free up some power in an all iron stock appearing build

    Hope to have a 482 roller cam shortblock for it in a year or so, but rite now wanna get the heads "maxed" out if you will,..
     
    Bills72stage1 and Dragdoc like this.
  2. Bens99gtp

    Bens99gtp Well-Known Member

    I would think they would to have some bronze liners installed into the guides then have those reamed to fit you valves.

    something like these

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/SBC-PONTIA...362089994869?_trksid=p2385738.m4383.l4275.c10

    just open original hole in guide to proper press fit, I think there is so mb etching similar to lecture used to lock them in, fit to valves, then trim the extra

    the trimming is great time to have the guide cut for newer seal and cut them down far enough to give proper retainer to guide clearance for bigger lift.

    I know when u worked on some in school they had s special air hammer like driver but smaller to I stall them



    basic video

    but to buy the install tools new is like 400 bucks, so might prefer to have them done
     
    Last edited: Feb 10, 2019
  3. Stevem

    Stevem Well-Known Member

    Since you are going for new valves if you don't step up to the bigger valve sizes then you leaving 8 to 10 cfm on the table!

    Not sure about the Beehive springs as most that I have looked at have what I call race level seat pressure, but if you call Comp Cams they can see what might work with a tad of spring seat cutting while the heads are getting liners put in for the 11/32" valves.
     
  4. Smokey15

    Smokey15 So old that I use AARP bolts.

    Send them up to Visner Engine Development if you want them done right. Not cheap.
     
  5. alaskagn

    alaskagn Well-Known Member

    Hugger,
    Not sure if these will help you but here are some pictures of my 430 heads. My builder put in 5/16 valves. 2.155 & 1.75 valves.

    9BDADB18-18EF-43BE-A297-8A27819A3D38.png 4E36C8BC-4195-4306-944F-7AA81474CF52.png 9BDADB18-18EF-43BE-A297-8A27819A3D38.png 5900417C-2010-4D7C-B9C3-AB543E387A13.png 7DE0E683-5D3E-4AA3-B055-AA30495E5103.png 96ECA962-8414-4F19-B4CD-1E67FC9326B2.png
     
  6. hugger

    hugger Well-Known Member

    Those look really nice, anything done on the exhaust side,? I'm curious as to how much guide boss he leaves, I know Gesslers level 4's had no boss just the guide protruded into the port 3/8 or so
     
  7. Stevem

    Stevem Well-Known Member

    In that last photo that pinch in on the roof of the Intake ports coming down from the vertical common wall head bolt boss is a big restriction that should have been ground out with the grind time you payed for on the reworking the port floor which is meaning less!
     
  8. 65Larkin

    65Larkin Well-Known Member

    I convert early (89-94) 3800 heads to beehives the last year or so ( I do a few up for speedway here).
    A comp 787 (off the top of my head) will work nicely, you might need different height locks to get installed height right. 11 grams vs. 22grams is a bonus - any weight off the valvetrain is good especially on the valve side, I checked last night, factory and comp beehives fit on the spring seats of my 430 heads no worries, of course retainer to guide clearance would need checking
     
  9. 1972Mach1

    1972Mach1 Just some M.M.O.G. guy.....

    alaskagn likes this.
  10. alaskagn

    alaskagn Well-Known Member

    Yep....Hoping to get 400 ponies!!
     
    Julian and 1972Mach1 like this.
  11. 1972Mach1

    1972Mach1 Just some M.M.O.G. guy.....

    :D;)
     

Share This Page