350 cylinder heads

Discussion in 'Inquiries' started by Curtis Litzen, Mar 2, 2012.

  1. Curtis Litzen

    Curtis Litzen Well-Known Member

    Hi Guys, I know you are sick of this question, but can you give us any update on Aluminum cylinder heads for the 350 and single plane intakes.
    Cheers Curtis
     
  2. adamst56

    adamst56 Well-Known Member

    I will give this a bump being there has been no reply and it sure is a tired old story.
    I would be in for a set of heads, willing to pay up to $2500 for bare heads and pay TA additional to CNC and dress.
     
  3. ken betts

    ken betts Well-Known Member

    I don't know what TA is doing but I am making 455 billet heads some with water jackets for those who need. The current plan is to market these through TA, and Mike might make a new cast head. With that said and enough interest we can do the same for the 350 and again TA can make a cast head from that. It takes a lot of money to do this, so if only a few guys step up to the plate... no head. I can't speak for Mike but if he had enough interest he would have already made them. No sense making a head at that expense unless it is a high performance head like the Stage to 455. Now you need to make new headers and intake. Can you find 100 guys to front the expense of cast heads, intake etc.
    Maybe only 15-20 guys for a billet head, but cost will be more than 2500 bare. I am spending my own money for the 455 billet head. I simply will not do that for a 350 head. Post a vote on the board to see the interest in this kind of a set up. All we need to do for the 350 is copy the 455 head design but valves will be smaller. We can simply CNC the port to match the valve size, OK maybe not quite that simple but it beats the cave man method! ( wooden billet with carving tools, make your own and use alcohol to cool it, if it doesn't work you can always drink what's left) Get TA to make a HP 350 block with wider bore spacing. It only takes money. This is why I keep telling these racers to team up. 350" Street cars can't use heads that flow 450 cfm since street racing is illegal in all 50 states. Sorry can't help myself. Hey, billet blocks are next! With alcohol or nitromethane who needs water jackets anyway.





     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 15, 2012
  4. gsjohnny1

    gsjohnny1 Well-Known Member

    procrastination with all parties doesn't make or sell a damn thing.:Dou:
    i've said it before if t/a or somebody is going to make a s/p intake and heads, i will buy 2 sets for the twin engine dragster.:grin:
    but i doubt we have enough 350 guys with enough coin and balls to buy.
     
  5. ken betts

    ken betts Well-Known Member

    We will give it a shot when the 455"s are done! Who knows, maybe we can talk Mike into helping. I am not making any promises nor am I trying to get the 350 guys excited. I love Buicks and would like to help. Will keep you all posted. ken


     
    Last edited: Jul 4, 2012
  6. Nothingface5384

    Nothingface5384 Detail To Oil - Car Care

    what's the eta on the 455 heads you are doing?
     
  7. sean Buick 76

    sean Buick 76 Buick Nut

    I do not think we will ever see alum. heads for the 350... Just grab a set of 70 heads and have them ported.... :TU:
     
  8. ken betts

    ken betts Well-Known Member

    When we get a little further I will post pics on another thread. As far as 350 al heads in this day of technology, just put iron heads in the "ion atomic element redistribution thermal plasma inverter", and PRESTO.... Aluminum 350 Buick heads, just don't forget to disassemble them first. It won't be pretty, the seals won,t convert. The only problem is that the Iranians say it's deep underground and won't let anyone inspect it, it's the only one we know of. I have a Persian friend who says he will smuggle them in for all you 350 guys.

     
  9. Ken Warner

    Ken Warner Stand-up Philosopher

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=ID&feature=related&hl=id&v=1YgEOsZ8iJg

    The technology to just create something like a cylinder head is not really that far away. Now to make it cost effective is a few years down the road.

    If you watch the video link above I'll explain what you are seeing. There is a tray with a layer of powdered metal. The laser is melting a layer about .020 thick. then the tray drops about .020 and the sweeper deposits another layer of powdered metal and the laser melts another .020 layer. The part being made in the demo will look a lot like a mass air flow sensor, honeycomb screen and all when it's done. Currently you are limited to making something about 10X10X8 inches. And with this particular machine you can make the part out of aluminum, titanium, chrome steel, (or about 5 other steel alloys).

    So, I could see someone making an entire head out of aluminum, (or titanium or whatever) having optimal ports and water jackets that you could never make with a casting or get to with a CNC mill. AND, when the part comes out of the machine it would only need a minimal amount of machining before It would then be ready to bolt on and go.

    Downsides.... well there are a few. First the largest machine available is still about 1/2 the size you would need to make a cylinder head and it costs $750K. I'm not sure what the typical cost of powdered metals are but I'm betting they are not cheap (not yet anyways).

    Current markets for this type of technology are for very special turbine engine components, rapid functional prototypes in medical or aerospace applications AND consider this.... combat zones. For example, you need a valve on a nuclear submarine but the nearest supply ship is 1/4 of the way around the world from you? No problem an engineer on the other end of the sub, loads the model file and the appropriate powdered metal into a machine like this and a few hours later a part ready to bolt on is sitting in your hand ready to be carried over and installed.

    Those replicators from Star Trek are getting closer every day. :)
     
  10. gsjohnny1

    gsjohnny1 Well-Known Member

    Stereolithography is the original version back in the 80's. we played with it at pratt&whitney. i thought it was invented by
    a guy from canada? still a pretty neat process.
     
  11. idahoskylark

    idahoskylark idahoskylark

    why cant the head be split between the middle cylinders and have two heads on each side
    then they would be small enough to make wouldnt they? or 4 individual heads?
    hmm having 8 little valve covers to leak what fun could we have haha
     
  12. idahoskylark

    idahoskylark idahoskylark

  13. Curtis Litzen

    Curtis Litzen Well-Known Member

    I would be in for a set of TA heads and would put the grand down. You maybe surprised, maybe 30-50 guys would do the same.
     

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