Edelbrock heads?

[coopsie442]

Hey iam doing up a Olds 455 and i am at the point of getting a new pair of aluminum heads.... But some of my friends think i shouldn't get them because there Int/ Ext runners are 188cc/106cc. So can i get them ported so there bigger? and how big should i get them too?

[Olds64]

I suggest not purchasing the Edelbrock heads unless you are seriously considering racing the car. Stock heads can flow just as well as Edelbrock heads and don't cost an arm and a leg. Go to your local salvage yard and find a set of C casting heads. They are easy to find on most late 60s full sized Oldsmobiles.

[joe_padavano]

Originally Posted by coopsie442

Hey iam doing up a Olds 455 and i am at the point of getting a new pair of aluminum heads.... But some of my friends think i shouldn't get them because there Int/ Ext runners are 188cc/106cc. So can i get them ported so there bigger? and how big should i get them too?

If you're trying to compare the runner volume of Olds heads with those of some other engine (ie, Chebby), you CAN'T. The volume is a function of runner LENGTH as well as cross section. The port volume number is meaningless. More importantly, the runner shape is much more important than volume. The Edelbrock heads actually have smaller exhaust runners than stock, but since the port floor has been raised they actually flow better.

[coopsie442]

yah iam going to be racing the car almost every weekend. And can i get the ports ported so they flow better?

[Olds64]

You can also check out Realoldspower for some good information.

http://72.22.90.30/phpBB2/index.php

[coopsie442]

sweet thanks, but anyone else on the site have edlebrock heads? and what do you think?

[J-(Chicago)]

A fellow on my softball team replaced his J heads with the Ebrocks and claims that the car is "twice" as fast now. Apparently, he thought they were worth the money.
I am still skeptical however, especially if you want to use them for high heat racing. I'd imagine they would one day turn to dust if you raced them everyday. My friend just cruises the thing around the neighborhood, and I don't drive his car.

In conclusion: I onno

[joe_padavano]

Originally Posted by J-(Chicago)

A fellow on my softball team replaced his J heads with the Ebrocks and claims that the car is "twice" as fast now...

So instead of 16 second quarter mile times, he now turns 8s?

[J-(Chicago)]

Originally Posted by joe_padavano

So instead of 16 second quarter mile times, he now turns 8s?

So he thinks.....
I wouldn't advise anyone to use his mathematical ratio calculations though.

[marcar1993]

I'd say, the only REAL advantage is weight. I have heard (no first hand experience, don't own a bbo) you can make even the good old J heads decent performers with a bit of milling and grinding. If you're all out racing all the time, the weight savings may justify the cost, as 100 lbs is about .1 so you should pick up about that (just geussing). If you're not an all out racer, I'd personaly pick up cast iron heads (c's are the best) and have them worked for less than the $1500 for rough cast heads that still need work to REALLY perform.

[coopsie442]

yah iam going to be taking it to the race tracke almost every weekend, and i like the sound of the light weight on them, so i guess ill get them. But has anyone on here got them ported before ?

[joe_padavano]

Originally Posted by marcar1993

I'd say, the only REAL advantage is weight. I have heard (no first hand experience, don't own a bbo) you can make even the good old J heads decent performers with a bit of milling and grinding. If you're all out racing all the time, the weight savings may justify the cost, as 100 lbs is about .1 so you should pick up about that (just geussing). If you're not an all out racer, I'd personaly pick up cast iron heads (c's are the best) and have them worked for less than the $1500 for rough cast heads that still need work to REALLY perform.

Well, I'll disagree. As I noted, the Edelbrock heads have raised floors in the exhaust runners to fix the most glaring flaw in the Olds factory heads. Yes, there are better aftermarket heads, but the Edelbrocks were limited by the self-imposed requirement to allow stock manifolds to fit. Other heads (Batten, for example) have raised exhaust ports that flow even better but require custom headers.

Yes, you CAN port J heads to flow. The two problems are 1) without welding, you can't raise the floor of the exhaust port and 2) if you don't know what you're doing with a grinder you can easily make them flow worse.

[88 coupe]

Originally Posted by marcar1993

........ (c's are the best) ........

Urban legend.

Originally Posted by joe_padavano

........ Edelbrock heads have raised floors in the exhaust runners ........

Also blocked heat risers and equalized exhaust pockets. Ports flow only slightly better than Olds, but at higher velocities. How much more power will depend on the rest of the combination.

Most, if not all, of the builders have NC programs for Edelbrock heads, in place. Probably not easy to find someone who will still port iron heads.

Originally Posted by joe_padavano

........ if you don't know what you're doing with a grinder you can easily make them flow worse.

This one cannot be emphasized enough.

Norm

[coopsie442]

no i am talking about porting the edelbock heads lol not the cast

[88 coupe]

Originally Posted by coopsie442

no i am talking about porting the edelbock heads lol not the cast

From my previous post:

Originally Posted by 88 coupe

........
Most, if not all, of the builders have NC programs for Edelbrock heads, in place ........

In other words, yes.

Norm

[coopsie442]

ok well do u know what they ported them too?

[88 coupe]

If you are talking about flow numbers, it depends what the customer ordered, and who did the work.

For a better understanding, of the subject, you can go here to read up on it.

Norm