***Buick 350 Alum Heads Update***

Discussion in 'Small Block Tech' started by sean Buick 76, Apr 6, 2016.

  1. Jim Blackwood

    Jim Blackwood Well-Known Member

    Mart, I'll have to look, but I think they are about .010 wide. Not hard to fix that, I'll probably do it on the lathe.
    Ordered my heads today, should be in within a week. One of the benefits of building a 300 at the moment I guess, they had them on the shelf ready to go. Bare heads. $1595 + shipping. John's heads will have to wait a couple weeks.

    Jim
     
  2. Mart

    Mart Gold level member

    Yep Jim, it's a trade off, modifying rods, custom pistons, turning crank, balancing, & Mallory slugs.
    Benefit is lighter rotating assembly. Definitely noticable on taching up rpms.
    Lathe may work. Grinding is best. Mill is definitely not the best stock removal method.
     
  3. Jim Blackwood

    Jim Blackwood Well-Known Member

    Not that expensive to have them narrowed by the machine shop so that's always an option. It IS all about balancing the components for the desired outcome, but it's a pleasure to drive a responsive engine in a light vehicle. I expect the heads to make a considerable difference also. As far as I know they have a great deal in common with the 350 heads. TA says that unported they are good for 225 cfm which seems a very good starting point to me. So drop a hundred grams here, a hundred there, between rods, pistons, and wrist pins it's pretty easy to remove better than half a pound from each hole. No mallory metal needed for that unless you go to an external balance. That all makes it so much easier to raise the redline and get up to where the heads will do some real good.

    What I find curious is what happens when you slap a set of TA heads on a 2bbl engine. Now suddenly you have good compression and an engine that will breathe. I believe that deserves a more thorough investigation.

    Jim
     
    Julian likes this.
  4. apap0426

    apap0426 Well-Known Member

    Hi so the last post was in 2016 what is the update on the aluminum heads are they available?
     
  5. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

  6. alec296

    alec296 i need another buick

    Apparently you didn’t go thru all 60 pages.
    Dyno sheets from ta and flow sheets for ta porting. Chevy rocker options.
     
    MrSony likes this.
  7. sean Buick 76

    sean Buick 76 Buick Nut

    You can buy the heads today they have them ready to ship!
     
    ceas350 likes this.
  8. Mart

    Mart Gold level member

    Maybe you know Sean,
    Can you specify valve seat & guides in any size you want on the bare heads, even 6mm valve stem?
     
  9. stk3171

    stk3171 Well-Known Member

    202 or 194 intake seat I believe. I got mine with no valve guides installed. Will have my guides installed after I decide on valves im going to use.

    Dan
     
  10. Mart

    Mart Gold level member

    Titainium valves.
     
  11. stk3171

    stk3171 Well-Known Member

    I wont need them. Steal goes to 7500 no problems. I shift dodge at 8500 with steal valves.
     
  12. Jim Blackwood

    Jim Blackwood Well-Known Member

    I got a set of titaniums lightly used 2.02/1.60" for about $250. Well, the intakes had to be cut down about 1/8" and they all have to be shortened, re-grooved and lash caps used. 11/32" stems. I figured that wasn't a bad deal though. Mike said the seats were compatible with titanium. Looks like they will have to be hogged out a bit. These are the Rover heads but basically the same as far as I can tell.

    The shavings came off red hot and occasionally caught fire, so bright you couldn't look at them. I wadded them up into a couple of balls and put them into zip-locks. Should make great fire starters.

    I have to figure out the overall length and groove position, spring height, keeper type and angle, etc. I think the spec on valve length is 5.05" and think that means overall from face to tip but am not absolutely certain. Planning on using beehive springs, there are some Ford springs that look pretty good but I need to make a phone call. The guides aren't very much under 11/32", I don't think there's any way you could use a 6mm stem without sleeving the guides. In fact I doubt 5/16" would be an option but I can take a measurement.

    Jim
     
  13. Mart

    Mart Gold level member

    So 11/32" guide was smallest option? That's why Dan probably got his without guides installed.
     
  14. Jim Nichols

    Jim Nichols Well-Known Member

    You guys are pushing it to the limit with 2.02 intake valve size. If the 2.02 intake is touching the 1.6 exhaust valve you have .09 clearance to bore. The ratio of the 1.94 intake to the 3.8" bore is almost identical to the 2.02 intake to the 4" bore. Here is a deal on waisted stem valves. You would have to machine the valve seat a little lower.

    https://www.alexsparts.com/stainless-steel-valves-sbc-1-94-1-60-100-single-groove-250-tips/

    Jim B, The 11/32" beehive retainers I posted are available again at Alex's site also.
     
    Last edited: Oct 27, 2019
  15. Mart

    Mart Gold level member

    TA angled the valves towards the center of chamber, so they should have a bit more room.

    I guess I'll just have to buy a set to see for myself!:);)
     
  16. Jim Nichols

    Jim Nichols Well-Known Member

  17. Jim Blackwood

    Jim Blackwood Well-Known Member

    Lessee, 2.02 + 1.6 = 3.620 - 3.8 = .180", I'm pretty sure TA put the valves real close to the bore's centerline. Anyway their catalog says max 2.02 and 1.6" and it doesn't look to me like the valves will be quite that close together. I guess I'll see how well it works out.

    Jim
     
  18. Jim Nichols

    Jim Nichols Well-Known Member

    Jim, that is .09 on each side. It'll work, but very close.
     
  19. Mart

    Mart Gold level member

    Well you know that these new heads are just too nice.
    I see a set in my near future, just because.....
     
    Mark Demko likes this.
  20. Mart

    Mart Gold level member

    8.5k, Nobody wants to buy your used daily driver cars Dan...:D
     

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