350 Aluminum heads!

Discussion in 'Small Block Tech' started by USAMPFREAK, Mar 7, 2013.

  1. Fox's Den

    Fox's Den 355Xrs

    My TA intake was port matched with my ported heads. So I would guess at this point that they were blended some to flow into the heads beyond the port match.

    Like I said before I have the intake already I just need those Alum heads. I would like to get a SP intake but if the heads are going to be done I would rather have them first. It would be interesting to put the SP intake on with my ported heads then do the same with the Alum heads and try both intakes.

    If the Alum heads flow at 280 untouched that is a heck of a lot more than what I have now. Mine were supposed to flow at 235 I 176E. I sent mine to TA in 1993 so I do not know who was doing his work then.

    Also take note everyone, 5 pages of posts and over 3000 views in a month someone is interested in this.
     
  2. jeffpye

    jeffpye Well-Known Member

    I'm currently collecting parts for a 350 build. I have a 68 block and heads that are bare. I have a TA 350 intake. I have not bought a cam as of yet but the pistons I have are the TRW L2343F-.030. Although I am planning to have it built by next spring. I am not in a big hurry. If I knew for sure TA will be releasing new 350 aluminum heads. Everything would change, but I'm ok with that. Besides I'd be real miffed if right after I get mine built the announcement to produce is released. Can you imagine? I'd be willing to wait for them rather than send my irons off to AMP to be rubbed. I mean if the irons are going to cost me $2K before all is said and done, an extra $500 or 1K for aluminum heads would be worth my while. I would definitely buy them in a heartbeat. It would be nice if someone at TA would commit to this sooner rather than later. That way I could make some real decisions on what parts would go best with the heads. I'd really like to do this right the 1st time. As far as the intake goes. It's logical still to produce an SP intake and put it on a fast track to the market but it's also true the heads are where the building of a motor starts. Both should be developed together for the best results. One thing is for certain. There are enough buyers to justify the building of both right now!!! The overwhelming consensus from this thread is, We're tired of waiting TA, build it now!!! RIGHT NOW!!!!
     
  3. jay3000

    jay3000 RIP 1-16-21

    Jeff.. The original aluminum head sticky at the top of the small block forum started 10 years ago.. I'm not waiting on aluminun heads. I've got my nicely ported big valve 69 iron heads, and I guess that's the best option that we may ever see.. Unless I see some commitment soon.. Then onward as planned. Bottom end should be ready soon..

    I'll be running the cam I told you about..
     
  4. 300sbb_overkill

    300sbb_overkill WWG1WGA. MAGA


    You're right.I never noticed the date on that thread!!

    Just imagine how far along the sbb 350 would have evolved,it could of been a mojor player by now!

    What could of been.....................?

    Can still be............,if the aluminum heads are fast tracked.

    10years ago,500 N/A HP would of been relatively easy to make with some good heads. Fast forward ten years later,forced induction guys would of found the limit of a factory block by now,just imagine.................
     
  5. jay3000

    jay3000 RIP 1-16-21

    I'll go from 8 to 12 psi.. And if I happen to find that limit, I'm done.. 12 is probably the edge of an all stock bottom end. That'd be about 550 HP (maybe more??) . Which is irrevelent as far as I'm concerned snce I don't rev it high.. Huge torque is the issue. I can't imagine running a street tire. It would spin at 50 mph..

    I can do a 50 to 90 run and then pull into my street and the tires are so hot that it looks like they are the pavement..
     
  6. ken betts

    ken betts Well-Known Member

    I haven't talked to TA in the last couple weeks, and when I do it is about the 455 head. I am working with Jordan on a 350 head as we do the 455. Building a state of the art digital flow bench became our # 1 priority for obvious reasons. We will have flow #'s on our 350 head even before our 600 cfm 455 head is done. Either way TA or I will have a head available sooner than later. We are working on nothing but Buick development!
     
  7. Nothingface5384

    Nothingface5384 Detail To Oil - Car Care

    if you and Ta are not jointly designing a 350 AL head,then I'll jump to whomever produces onefirst :)
     
  8. Gary Farmer

    Gary Farmer "The Paradigm Shifter"

    Ah yeah...:Brow:
     
  9. DauntlessSB92

    DauntlessSB92 Addicted to Buick

    I think there should be a thread started with a poll to illustrate how much interest there is in a 350 head and/or single plane intake. If there is some indication that we will see aluminum heads next season I don't see why we couldn't get some people putting money in towards heads before the end of the year, I know I'll be glad to make a deposit. I don't even want to have to consider building a big block anymore.
     
  10. jay3000

    jay3000 RIP 1-16-21

    Will it be able to work with a stock type intake or will it need something custom made??
     
  11. jeffpye

    jeffpye Well-Known Member

    Can you give me an estimate on when the 350 heads will be available? I'd like to have those rather than you porting my irons.
     
  12. jay3000

    jay3000 RIP 1-16-21

  13. Gary Farmer

    Gary Farmer "The Paradigm Shifter"

    He probably means for the racing heads.
     
  14. Jim Blackwood

    Jim Blackwood Well-Known Member

    Granted my perspective on all this is a little different, but here goes.
    The 350 heads are an excellent idea for quite a few very different reasons. No need to go over the obvious ones but in comparing 350 to early SBB/Rover, my impression is that the Rover heads were really not a max flow effort on the order of the V6 heads, meaning that heavy porting is still needed to maximize their flow potential. They should be a very significant improvement to any other Rover head available, but compared to ported iron 350 or even 340 heads, not such a big deal. Fair enough, this represents an opportunity for TA (and/or Ken) to really push the envelope.

    From all accounts what TA has managed to do with the V6 heads has been pretty exceptional, and they have a wealth of experience with their other heads to draw on. So why not go ahead and produce ports in the new 350 head that are near-net shape for a ported product so that only minimal clean up is required to end up with a head that will be truly at the top of the heap? I think this would do more for TA's reputation than just about any other approach they could take. Is anyone honestly going to consider using these heads for anything other than an engine built for max power? Is there any significant risk that the ports will be too big?

    OK maybe I'm out of line, but it looks to me like that would be the way to go.

    Jim
     
  15. ken betts

    ken betts Well-Known Member

    Can't say when or how much, but no one head works with all combos. We have been set back on the BBB head because of flow bench time availability or lack there of. Jordan is building his own state of the art digital bench. JUST SO THERE IS NO CONFUSION. I am spending my money on Buick development. Heads and intakes only for 350 and 455. Jordan (my nephew) is building a head and intake porting and manufacturing business. Since the market is flooded with other brands he is starting with the Buicks, not because he loves them but because I do, and I'm fronting all the money! I am not going to be any part of any business. I retired 8+ years ago. I am doing this mainly because I am building a blown fuel nostalgia type dragster with John Everett for fun. I have seen so much interest in the 350, far more than the 455 I had to throw in the towel and at least start something going in the right direction. We are working on a port for street and one for race. The window of opportunity is now not 5 years from now. If Mike makes a street head then we will focus on a race head. I don't think he will produce both this year. If someone tells me they can have a casting or billet in 30 days, you can bet it could be 3-6 months. I waited 7 months just for porting that I paid for in full and was never done. That will never happen again. If you really want a head this summer start praying now, I am!
     
  16. Nothingface5384

    Nothingface5384 Detail To Oil - Car Care

    I'm praying :-D
    I'll need 2 at somepoint
     
  17. wolfmanizer

    wolfmanizer With a Buick powered Ford

    All I want for Christmas is quench! And maybe adaptable to Chevy style rockers.
    If these heads become a reality, I think this engine might cross over into the exotic
    category. Really, just imagine if, say, Ferrari developed this engine in the 60's instead of
    Buick, we'd still never hear the end of it. Blah, Blah, weighs less than a small block ford,
    Blah, Blah, more torque than a big block, Blah, Blah, handles 1000hp stock, etc.
    These heads would allow my engine to weigh less than an aluminum Toyota v6!
    I've read a bazillion threads on here with one response, "How to make power on this
    engine?" "Port the heads, that's where the power is", leads me to believe it's the heads
    that will be the real game changer in Buick popularity.
     
  18. stk3171

    stk3171 Well-Known Member

    Didnt Buick make a V6 al head? Could they be coped with one more cylinder added to the V6 head? Just askin I have never seen the al v6 head.
    Dan
     
  19. Nothingface5384

    Nothingface5384 Detail To Oil - Car Care

    not sure about buick...but obviously TA perf has. I'm pretty sure you cant simply add two cylinders on as intake and exhaust order would be wrong.
    either way it will be tackled and created by both Mike of TA and Ken Betts
     
  20. Mark Demko

    Mark Demko Well-Known Member

    Honestly, I think this is all wishfull thinking about aluminum heads for the 350:Do No:
     

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