440 Heads debate

[katieladan]

Hey everyone,
I am in the process of planning out my 440 build and I am looking for some insight. To give you a little insight on my ride and goal, I have a 68 R/T charger (real XS29 car) and I want build a high to mid 11 second street cruiser. I won't bore you with all the details of my planned build, but I do have a few questions about heads. I have narrowed it down to the following:

Edelbrock Performers
440 Source Super Stealth's
Indy 440 H1-1

What would you recommend from a perspective of durability, performance, customer service and flexibility if I change the direction in my build (e.g. I might want to add a procharger/paxton novi in the future). I have read a lot of different things and I wanted to get some objective/experienced opinions.

 

[67 B-body]

I think in the options above, you were referencing the Indy Part # 440-H1-SEZ ???
I would take those ANY day over the Stealth heads... Probably over the Performer heads too....

 

[katieladan]

Not sure on the rest of that code for Indy. The catalog just shows them as 440 H-1 AS (assembled). I have head mixed reviews on the 440 source stuff. Do you think the Indy heads are worth the premium over Edelbrock?

 

[IQ52]

This is almost like, "I'm building a show car. Which lugnuts should I use?" With a '68 Charger, probably left hand lugnuts on the left side of the car. All those heads have their place.

 

[ma mopar nutz]

The indy heads are very good but you pay for them ! I have a set of 440 source heads waiting for a build and know alot of guys with the eddys !! So if money is not an issue go indy or eddy's if your goin low buck find some 906 casting stock heads and have them worked over they flow almost as good as the stealth heads but will save you a few $$$$ ! If you got a little more to spend go with the stealths but get them worked over !! These are all proven performers a lot depends on $$$$$$$$$$$ :headbang:

 

[Meep-Meep]

Reading about the constant debates over which aluminum heads to use it seems to come down to how much work you need to do to fix whatever it is you get. They all offer improved flow over stock but it doesn't end there (nor should you base your decision on that alone). I have examined a couple of sets of Edelbrock heads for basic valve guide fit and they were pretty good, but one set of Eddy heads I looked at seemed to have super high valve spring seat pressures, which concerned me. I didn't measure anything but my feel with a manual spring compressor was enough to know that the pressures were too high for the intended use. Turns out they killed a mild flat tappet HYD cam in the driveway so do get this checked!! Because of the production nature of these aftermarket heads I highly recommend everyone contact some shops that had experience in dealing with multiple sets of these to help iron this out.

 

[the mississippi madman]

So if my vin starts with sx29 it's a real r/t?

 

[lewtot184]

I've got a set of edelbrock rpms i'm playing with. I thought stem to guide clearance was good, valve job seems ok. springs checked 132lbs at 1.88, 320 at 1.35. I thought the port wall casting was a little rough. push rod tunnels need to be deburred. chambers cc'd at 82. don't like the seals but will use them for now.

I've built engines with indy sr's and ez's. I don't like ez's. I don't like the exhaust port, the internal rocker oiling, and they wouldn't bolt to the block because the dowel holes were machined in the wrong place.

never messed with stealths but i'd think the money saved on them will probably need to be spent somepace else.

I have a sweet spot for my porter racing heads stage v's.

 

[HT413]

Only thing I'll say is the Super Stealths are only sold bare, as far as I know, and require offset rockers, so after machining you'll probably be into those for at least as much as RPM's, maybe quite a bit more. If you're ok with offset rockers, why not look into Victors?

If you are considering Indy, why not consider the EZ heads? Some guys here getting deep into the 10's with victors and with EZ's.

 

[IQ52]

This is almost like, "I'm building a show car. Which lugnuts should I use?" With a '68 Charger, probably left hand lugnuts on the left side of the car. All those heads have their place.

I.E. The proper head selection cannot be made without all the boring details.

 

[67Satty]

Pep Boys is having a 25% off online orders over $100 sale through May 24. Also, the shipping is free on orders over $75. So if you go the Edelbrock RPM route, you could get a set for less than $1300 versus the $1500-$1600 they usually go for online.

 

[prplcar]

One of the Mopar magazines did a compare issue with those heads. It shows all the stock and ported flow numbers, that may be of some help to you. I think it was Mopar Action.

 

[katieladan]

Thanks prplcar....I will look that up!

 

[Budnicks]

Like IQ52 said, we need all the boring details to give an educated/honest assessment on what heads you should use...

What else is in this mid 11 second street/strip car combo ??, it's allot more than just a 600-700hp engine build & an aluminum cylinder head selection, it's the whole car combo, HP to weight ratio, gears, trans, suspension, traction, chassis, induction & fuel system, ignition, blah blah blah etc...

From what I read, I'd say just Buy the Edelbrocks RPM's {100% cast, machined, parts & assembled, Made in the USA} for what "I ASSUME" your looking for, best bang for the buck IMHFO anyway & have them looked at, by someone who knows what they are looking at, for safety sake, none should ever be just bolted on, right out of the box, it's cheap insurance so you don't need to pull them off later...

I've ran all three heads styles mentioned {and others too} & wouldn't even hesitate to run the Edelbrocks RPM's {ported} for a combo like your vaguely talking about...

I'd also highly suggest, a little Professional port work {like from an expert like IQ52} & a properly matched camshaft, valve springs, retainers, locks & seals, rockers & shafts, proper length/style of push-rods, a good multi angle performance valve job etc., set up "for your specific needs & expectations", none are a one head fits all or works with everything...

You'll spend easily as much $$$ as the "Out Of The Box RPM's cost" just to make a set of Stealth's flow even just as good as the RPM's do OOTB, not to mention the better "made in the USA parts" used in the RPM's too, with out having to upgrade spend more $$$, on the foreign made castings of the Stealth's, inferior parts, just to get the better parts, that are already in the RPM's... my $0.02 cents
- - - Updated - - -

I.E. The proper head selection cannot be made without all the boring details.

X2 we need a little more info from the end user

 

[katieladan]

Budnicks,
Thanks for the breakdown. You're right, I needed to be a little more specific. I have my build completely lined out. I will post all the details shortly. That will help guide the conversation a little bit.

 

[minnesota guy]

Nice thing about Eddys or Stealths is you can get more compression and run pump gas. I have done a number of portings on 906/452 heads, and with machine work and 2/14/ 1.81 valves you get 600-700.00 in them in a hurry. Then if you don't port them yourself, you will add another 1k or so. My next set will be aluminum. Pump race gas is 7.99 a gallon in Minnesota.

 

[383man]

I used the Indy EZ heads on the 440/493 in my 63 Sport Fury. I like the fact that the exh port is in stock location and the rockers are not offset so a standard adjustable rocker will work. It does have a 75cc chamber so I had to use a dished piston to get 10.6 and run it on pump. Ron

 

[Rocketman]

Pep Boys is having a 25% off online orders over $100 sale through May 24. Also, the shipping is free on orders over $75. So if you go the Edelbrock RPM route, you could get a set for less than $1300 versus the $1500-$1600 they usually go for online.

Why not order the 2087 top end kit from Summit or Jegs with free shipping and get an RPM intake, cam, lifters, timing chain, heads, and gaskets?

http://www.jegs.com/i/Edelbrock/350/2087/10002/-1?parentProductId=

 

[katieladan]

383man,
Do you use the 440 EZ (270 cc) or the 440 EZ-1 (275 cc) or the "Little" EZ (295 cc) heads? Also, are you running a stroker kit to get the 493 cid? If so, is it a 440 source kit? Final question, what is your complete set up that gets you into 10.76 @ 124.49 in that fine machine of yours?

 

[Jackpot50]

I have a set of 440 source heads price was right, did a little blending in chambers and ports. For the price and 93 octane on street good purchase.