Please educate me on the basics: TA Performance 300 cylinder heads

I've skimmed the massive 300 build thread. Can someone please tell me the basics for installing the TA Performance 300 aluminum cylinder heads on a 1965 Buick 300? What are the intake manifold options? What modifications, if any, do you need to do to make these work?

 

Jim Blackwood has built two with those heads and stroked with 350 cranks. Brian Mcmillan is working with Anthony Laney in Australia to make a Willpower single plane intake. Stock 64 aluminum 4 barrel or spacers and valley plate to fit 215/Rover Edelbrock Performer and Offy 360.

 

the things the aussies and england guys do with the little buick engines are unreal. i wish i was 1/2 as good as them.

 

The one big thing you can't overlook is the size of the combustion chamber. If you put the TA heads on the unmodified 300 short block and you use the 2bbl low compression version (9:1) to the best of my recollection your CR will be somewhere around 12:1. That can still work with a cam that lowers the DCR into an acceptable range but cam choice becomes critical. Do your own math though. Don't count on my proven inadequate memory. If using custom pistons at zero deck you need a 35cc dish for 10-1/2:1

Beyond that the issues mostly deal with things like intake fitment and the more conventional valvetrain selection and such, all of which isn't too hard to sort out.

Jim

 

Thanks for the replies. A few follow-up questions:

(1) Using a stock 300 low-compression motor results in 12:1 using these heads?!!!! Really? WOW
(2) What is the easiest intake manifold to use? The '64 300 aluminum intake manifold?
(3) If you use an Edelbrock 215/Rover intake manifold, where do you get the spacer and valley cover?
(4) What about exhaust manifolds - Rover only? Or would the Sanderson BSV8 300/340 headers work too?

 

1- You need a deep dish piston, maybe Turbo V6 would work but then you wouldn't be zero deck. Probably custom. 300 head is about 55cc, TA / Rover is 29cc.
2-yes
3-you would make them
4- 215-300-340 and Rover exhaust will bolt up

 

Are the rover heads closed or open chamber design?

 

Rover is kind of inbetween. TA is modern heart shape.

 

Thanks. So build the engine to optimize the quench distance. Custom pistons.

 

With a 35cc dish you pretty much have to use a hemispherical dish and that leaves about a 3/8" land around the outside for squish. I had a couple of sets made by Wiseco to fit the Nascar rods and the 350 crank. With the 300 crank the dish could be a bit smaller.

Like I said, do your own math on the CR. That was from memory only and could be off significantly.

Jim