Thoughts on running these heads??

Discussion in 'Street/strip 400/430/455' started by 1969RIVI, Sep 18, 2020.

  1. 1969RIVI

    1969RIVI Well-Known Member

    Hey all as most of you know I'm doing a 455 build and as usual with these things I've had some not so great luck with my blocks but upon quick inspection and a sonic test of #6 pin side that has come to an end. That being said I got a set of 68 430 heads that I wanted to use until I can afford some aluminum heads. Only issue is upon hot tanking the heads the machinist found that these heads were cracked before and have been plug welded in the past. My question is can I clean these up and run them? My plan was to use TA 1430B stock size stainless steel valves, TA 1125 dual springs, 3 angle valve job, heavy duty rocker shaft with ARP bolts and stock rocker cups. The heads have already been port/gasket matched and a bit of port/polish work. My HP goal for this engine is a healthy 500+hp mostly street car that may see the track once, twice a year if at all. I do have a set of 72 (on the current engine in the car) and 74 (came with my new block) 455 heads that could be used also.

    Thanks!
     

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  2. Bens99gtp

    Bens99gtp Well-Known Member

    I would recommend the TA stage 1 plus springs.....i have personally run them to .575 lift with no float........as long as your cam is under that you will be good. Cheaper than dual springs, easier to install, less pressure on the rocker arm assemblies

    As long as the head pass a pressure and vacuum test there shoukd be no issue running properly repaired heads
     
  3. 1969RIVI

    1969RIVI Well-Known Member

    I already have the springs, they were recomended by TA on their website to run for the TA 290 94H cam which I also have already. You can see the 4 repaired areas in my pic.
     
  4. hugger

    hugger Well-Known Member

    once repaired they will be fine,...i would run them if they checked ok
     
  5. 1969RIVI

    1969RIVI Well-Known Member

    Other than the old cracks that were repaired previously they checked out fine. The cam and springs I'm going to use are under .500 lift so that shouldn't be too much pressure for the old repairs correct?
     
  6. No Lift

    No Lift Platinum Level Contributor

    If a set of aluminum heads is down the road no way would I invest in a set of new factory sized standard valves. Maybe if I was building a stock engine for a project. Plus the 1125 springs need machine work to fit those heads and the guide will have to be cut down to fit smaller than stock seals. If you are going to invest the money why not just go with the Stage 1 valves for the same money and spend a couple bucks to have the heads machined to fit. If you want to go cheap pick up a set of used standard valves(cheap), 3 angle job and backcut. The backcut is probably the biggest reaason the TA standard valves flow better than stock(they don't need it). If the heads haven't been worked under the valve seats then get the grinder out because that is where the bottleneck is, not the ports.

    These from John, if they are still available, look like what you want for cheap. Some extra ginding under the seat maybe(watch the valve seats). Maybe a spring upgrade. Possibly if not done, I would still take the valves out and have them backcut to get rid of that stupid giant lip that GM had on the stock valves.

    http://www.v8buick.com/index.php?threads/ported-and-valve-jobbed-72-small-valve-heads.356288/

    500 HP is wishful thinking with that cam and mild iron heads. Probably with good aluminum heads.
     
    72STAGE1 likes this.
  7. Stevem

    Stevem Well-Known Member

    Neither set of iron heads will get you to the 500 hp Mark without being ported. They would need to flow 260 Intake cfm@.550" lift and 190 cfm out the Exh at that same lift, and then you would need to actually run atleast .525" lift to get to that 500 hp goal.
     
  8. Bens99gtp

    Bens99gtp Well-Known Member

    Its your motor......but you will have more work and expense and more wear and broken rocker arms and shafts to run those springs compared to the stage 1 plus.

    As pointed out. The guide needs cut to run a smaller seal and im pretty sure the spring pocket needs enlarged.......neither is crazy expensive but it does start to add up.

    That cam does not really need dual valve springs......it does need better than stk though
     
  9. 1969RIVI

    1969RIVI Well-Known Member

    The 500+hp goal is my end goal, I know it's not easily obtainable with iron heads that's where the aluminum heads will come in later on. The valves that were in these heads are shot so I was just looking to replace them and ad a 3 angle valve job. I've already worked the areas under the valve seats. I've looked at John's heads and thought about it by the time I did the currency exchange and paid to ship them up to Canada it will cost waaaaay more than having my current heads worked.
     
  10. 1969RIVI

    1969RIVI Well-Known Member

    I got those springs because on the TA 290 94H cam card those are the springs they reccomend for that cam. Why would they recommend those springs if they weren't required for it and cause rocker failure? When I disassembled these heads I removed dual valve springs from them so would that mean the guide work has already been done?
     
  11. Bens99gtp

    Bens99gtp Well-Known Member

    Did you remove duals, or single with dampners??
     
  12. Bens99gtp

    Bens99gtp Well-Known Member

    measure the guide od, if .500 they have had some work on the guides at least. At 500 lift you will want really check retainer to guide clearance too....the guides might need trimmed down
     
  13. 1969RIVI

    1969RIVI Well-Known Member

    Ahhh yes you're right Ben, they were singles with dampners. In the pic below the spring on the left is what I took out and the dual spring on the right is what I bought to put in. The guides measure .615 so they haven't been cut but the dual springs still fit?? Or do you mean I have to have the base of the guide cut down flush to the head?
     

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  14. hugger

    hugger Well-Known Member

    I would send them back and get the stage 1 plus springs,....
     
  15. hugger

    hugger Well-Known Member

    the 1125s have been around for decades,...Mike probably hasn't updated his cam cards

    But not only will the .575 lift plus springs work fine,. They will make cam break in easier on the lobes,..not require machining,..and be much easier on the stock rockers
     
  16. 1969RIVI

    1969RIVI Well-Known Member

    I can't, bought them off another member. They're new never ran just sat on the shelf. He sent me the original reciet from TA when I bought them but it's been too long for a return. Maybe I'll just buy a new set and sell these ones? Will those stg 1 springs be fine to transfer over to aluminum heads later on?
     
  17. hugger

    hugger Well-Known Member

    For $90 I would get the plus springs

    No real reason other than mayne when that cam was bought,..the plus springs weren't available,..out of stock,..or just by habit they were reccomended since the 1125s have been around for so long and they have bins full of them,..

    TA isn't known for updating the website very often,...they have WAY morse stuff than the site shows
     
  18. 1969RIVI

    1969RIVI Well-Known Member

    That's very possible as this cam spent 11 years in it's box on a shelf until I got it. Most of the TA parts I got in a parts lot were all new but from 2009. Even some of the prt#'s are different now. I wish I had asked these questions earlier and bought different springs, but oh well atleast it ain't too late:). Thanks guys!
     
  19. BrunoD

    BrunoD Looking for Fast Eddie

    I have ported iron heads on my car,with S-I valves and with the TA 288-96H cam,the car ran 11-70 at the track 10 years ago.My car is a 70 GS,on the scale its weight was 3925,plus the driver.Comprssion is still 10.2 .How much HP do you think it had? With a Scott Brown cam now its faster,but it has not gone to the track as yet.I did go racing,but with my 9.04 65 Special race car..Bruno.
     
  20. Bens99gtp

    Bens99gtp Well-Known Member

    The stage 1 plus are basicly drop in......they can even use stk retainers and keepers.......

    On my iron heads I did have the guide OD turned down to fit the better newer. 500 seals and I had them trim thr guides down to clear .575.......it would clear .600 after I cut the retainers too....

    But I think somewhere around. 500 with stk guides and retainers your getting close on clearance
     

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