I am hoping that you guys can help me get a parts list together for the heads that I am getting ported. Thanks to you guys I have a spare set of heads along with a set of fairly clean valves, but that is it so far. I'm also a huge newb when it comes to these specifics so there are some items that I'm not even sure about on possibilities. I will be getting an aluminum poston intake soon, that hopefully he can port match as well. I have headers on already with full exhaust from TA. Posi with 3.73 gears and soon to be 2004R transmission. My questions and goals are as follows: Goals Get to somewhere in the 300HP or at least under a 15 second mark in quarter, that's just because I have a bet with a friend. Port Heads Add Cam (Looking at the 284) Questions 1. Can I stick with stock Valves even if I were to have a valve job done? 2. I have a 69 block - I should switch over to the updated oiling system? 3. If I needed to get new valves, how do I determine size? 3. Should I stay with stock valve springs or upgrade them? 4. Do I or Should I purchase Valve Seals? 5. I am planning on just getting a used stock rocker assembly. 6. I just got the heads pressure tested and they checked out perfectly. 7. Could you guys help me out with all of the little stuff too? Basically recommended retainers, gaskets, misc. parts that I'm not even aware of. My list is as follows just to have the heads assembled. Let me know what I should change or add. Head Porting - $350.00 + TA_1432A - 350 Stage 1 Stainless Steel Valve Set, 3/8" Stem, 1.920 Intake & 1.550 Exhaust diameter, stock length. - $225.00 (hoping I don't have to) TA_1436 - 350 Stage 1 Valve Springs (O.D.1.260, 110 lbs @ 1.727, 280 lbs @ 1.227, Coil Bind 1.115) - $75.00 TA_1433A - .500"X.372" Rubber w/Teflon Valve Stem Seals - $26.00 ?Valve Spring Retainers? TA_1434 - 11' 3/8" BUICK VALVE KEEPERS - $29.00 TA_1724B - .020" Thick Head Gasket - $95.00 Future Purchases for the complete head install TA_284-88H-350 - 350 Hydraulic Cam - $185.00 TA_1405- Delphi Hydraulic Lifters '70/UP - $79.00 TA_1427AS - 5/16" Adjustable Pushrod - $12.00 - To determine length required? TA_1420 - 3/8" 9.65" Hardened Pushrod - $125.00 TA_1521 - 350 Replacement Timing Set - $39.95 Grand Total - $1240.95 The porting of the heads and assembly will be done by Lloyd Creek, which I am grateful for. I just want to make sure that I get everything that he needs and hopefully not sound like a complete idiot. I'm not sure what else to ask, but when it comes to me I will update. Thank you guys for any help you can provide on my minor build. Also, please let me know if I should remove costs or if I'm breaking any rules.
I did just about everything on your list to my heads starting with the original 430 iron heads. Reduced the valve stem size, increased the valves themselves, ported, unshrouded, blended, match ported to the intake ect. They flow great and make good power. With shop time I had nearly 3K in them. Id have gotten more bang for my buck with a nice set of stage 1 or stage 2 alum heads and saved the weight. Id shop around or post in parts wanted for the aluminum heads. If your interested I have a NIB 284 cam and a set of the non pump lifters I can let go for 250 shipped. Also have a B4B and as et of chrome valve covers. Make offer.
As long as your head porter is familiar with Buicks and has a proven track record of making them flow better (they are way different than chevy heads), spend as much money as you can on porting. 300 horse should not be difficult. Just an fyi, I think you will be closer to the 2k mark when all is said and done.
Porting will improve flow with the 1.92 valve and suggest you go with the bigger valves. You will need a valve job anyways so whoever does valve job will have seals.if you plan to go with roller rockers eventually then change the lifter and pushrod type.if you are using 68-69 rockers stick with the stock setup.get new springs to match cam. ---------- Post added at 06:26 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:15 PM ---------- I also suggest sending your distributer to trishield performance for a rebuild with an electronic conversion. he can recurve timing for it also.this will help you reach goal of 300 HP.
Ok, so it's a better idea to get the bigger valves with 3/8 stems? No plans to go to rollers. I don't have a rocker assembly yet, so I'll prob go with the newer 70 up set. I did install a crane conversion in the dist. And power timed it. This is probably a stupid question, but how do I determine match between spring and cam?
It is a good question because too often the wrong spring is installed or the right spring is installed incorrectly. TA will give you the spec for the spring in the lower left corner of the cam card that will come with the cam. It should call out for the TA 1436 spring and it will be your job to shim the spring at the correct installed height to meet the open and closed pressure specifications. It doesn't hurt to add 5 lbs to the spec as the spring pressure will decrease over time. Paul
With that said then, should I go ahead and order the 284 or would I be able to get that information without purchasing the 284 at this time? Thanks again,
I know Sean said to wait for the ta heads, but I think this is something I want to explore. So would anyone be able to provide the spring data for a 284 cam. That way I can order all of the valve items and wait on the cam items until later. I will also just order larger intake valves as the exhaust valves are the same size correct? Thanks again for all the help
Stock 69 valves 1.500 stock 76 up valves 1.550. Heads might not be. Available til next year. No date set yet . Can get cam if short block is ready.depends on your needs. Can do stock heads for now then decide if heads are needed. With that size cam I would do iron heads spend a few bucks on porting with big valves.
I'm sorry I'm confused now. I do plan on getting the heads ported. The extra set of heads look like they are 72 vintage heads. I will check the stock valves I have for size. I just want to get all of the parts needed for the heads as I asked the shop to put it altogether as long as I track down the parts. The exhaust valves measured at 1.5
What year block is the 72 heads going on? 72 heads should have extra coolant ports that must be plugged to use on a 69 block. If you just want to make 300-350 HP aluminum heads are a big expense and your not using the potential of them in my opinion.
I would consider having heads milled .030-.040 to bump compression up.also stock 69 head gasket is .020 and felpro gaskets are.043 crushed .unless you have hi compression pistons you might only be 8.5. You will want to get that up to run that cam efficiently.
OK that's what I was thinking I should do. Should I be shooting for 9.5? It will go on a 69 block. I'll do more digging into the heads. I thought it was 73 up that had the extra coolant port? The casting numbers are as follows 1238145 B1233472 If that helps.
Post a pic of the head gasket side up. There will be a large oval hole on both sides of center head bolt hole closest to intake side of head. 9.5 will be decent for compression. Measure how far piston is from top of block when it is at top of bore. You can get compression up by milling head but I prefer piston change since you need to mill so much off head. 72 seems to be changeover year.some have it some don't.check the heads you have and confirm or you might have problems.
Really?! Awesome! I was searching so hard to find ones I could compare to. Do you think if I called TA they would be able to provide me the valve spring settings required for the 284 cam? And you recommend getting the exhaust valves too?
If you call TA I think they would give the specs. You could go with the stock exhaust valve. Maybe have your port guy spend Alittle more effort on the exhaust ports if he can.check with your port guy on what he thinks after he looks at them.
One last question. Is there any way to tell if I have hi compression pistons without pulling the heads?
What did engine come from ? Is it stock or a rebuild? Unless it was a factory GS engine I would guess you don't have hi compression.and if you use fel pro head gasket you will lose more compression as factory used a steel shim gasket that is .020 in 68-70 fel pro gaskets are .043 crushed
