Cascade Crew

'92 camaro boss · Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2011 4:50 pm Post subject: Time to pick out heads.

So I'm not 100% on the piston's that are in the block now, but i do have the cam info.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/CCA-12-210-2/

I did not pick this, the shop said this would be a good cam to achieve decent enough hp.

Now it's all about picking the right heads.

The springs that are recommended are these

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/CCA-981-16/

chevymad · Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2011 6:03 pm Post subject:

There's a pretty good deal on decent heads right here on the forum.

http://www.cascadecrew.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=8045

Twilightoptics · Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2011 6:11 pm Post subject:

Sigh. People don't read the forums.

Usually you pick the cam, to match the heads. Way more cam selections out there to match your motor.

We need more information. As usual.

What compression are you wanting? Static? Dynamic?

What motor are we dealing with?

What's been done to the motor?

Specs of the motor?

What trans?

What intake setup?

What goals?

If EFI, stock tune or going to go custom?

etc etc etc etc etc etc etc

chevymad · Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2011 6:15 pm Post subject:

Well get all technical....

Paul's right. Theres a few things we need to know before anyone can tell what fits and will work.. and you do pick a cam to make the heads work.. but it also has to fit the vehicle too.. so gearing, trans etc all have to be known.

Twilightoptics · Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2011 6:19 pm Post subject:

Can't beat IROCDave's listing for Trick Flow Heads.

'92 camaro boss · Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2011 6:29 pm Post subject:

Ok.. well sorry for the let down on not jumping those heads at first sight.
I want to look around a bit, and get a better understanding on what im looking for.

Its a 350 motor, bored. 30 over, I don't know enough to get all fancy with you guys. Im saying I just want to get a good amount of power, this block was just set up at the shop for a present, didn't know I had to pick heads first.

Its going to be a carb motor going into the chevelle. As far as gearing and the trans and all that I really am unsure of the future setup. For now its a th350 with a stock rear.

Overall goal is a basic one, get as much power from the motor so it can be a fun weekend car.

chevymad · Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2011 6:45 pm Post subject:

If the compression comes out between 9:1 and 10.5:1 give or take a little, with those heads, you won't be able to beat them for the price. He has dyno #s with those heads and cam he can show you, and you can compare the #s to his new AFR setup and see just how well they compare to the AFRs too.

Actually if you can afford the roller lifters to fit your block, his cam may be a good deal too. That way you have a proven combo. Still depends on what your compression comes to though.

The cam, torque convertor and rear end gears have to match the same RPM range. Otherwise you may have a powerful motor that your car can't use, and thus it will feel like a dog. The intake you choose will depend on what rpm range your motor will develop its power at too. So you need to make a few decisions on what is changing and whats not..

If you don't know any of this.. then you can do what your machine shop is doing.. and just pick a generic cam that may perform ok, but isnt optimum.

redlava · Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2011 7:17 pm Post subject:

I am not an engine builder, but I will share my experience that I went though when I did my head and cam swap. I did this on an engine that was previous rebuilt, but I had no knowledge of the internals. I didn't want to tear into the bottom end.

The main thing I was worried about when building my engine, was ending up with to much compression. I looked up what my heads were and they had 76cc combustion camber based on the casting number. I also knew I could run 87 octane on the engine. I went to a 64cc combustion camber on my new heads raising the compression ratio sightly. I was hoping the worst case scenario was I would have to run 92 octane gas.

Also remember you can run another 1 point higher compression with aluminum heads vs iron. Aluminum heads usually allow 11 to 1 where iron heads allow 10 to 1. If you have iron heads now and go to aluminum heads, this will also add some slack to guess work.

IROCDave · Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2011 10:33 pm Post subject:

As mentioned, the heads and cam deal I have in the for sale section would work well for a stockish 350 short block. I never did get decent dyno numbers for that settup becuase of tune / injector issues. I copied the build of a guy that had his car featured in an article in GMHTP magazine in 1997. The car was a late 80's Trans Am and it ran 12.20's.

My new settup is also experiencing the same issues. What I can say without a doubt is that the cam and heads I am selling pulled alot harder until 5800 RPM compared to the AFR 195 Eleminators and larger cam. The new settup wants to rev further but tune and small injectors ( lack of fuel) is holding it back.

You have a heavy car, you need mid range tourqe to get it moving and decent upper end power. The settup I am selling would work great in your Chevelle.

IROCDave · Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2011 10:44 pm Post subject:

One of the reasons I upgraded the heads was due to the CR of my last settup. It was around 9.1 - 1 with the stock zz4 4 valve relief pistons. The AFR's have almost the same advertised CC volume but I went with a much thinner MLS head gasket set. The new CR is around 10 -1.

I was really looking forward to installing these heads along with a HSR on my wifes convertible have since decided that I want to do a LSx swap instead.

Twilightoptics · Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2011 4:21 pm Post subject:

In a nutshell 11:1 with alum, 10:1 with iron however, that is just ball park. Cam dictates what octane you'll have to run, based on your static ratio.