What heads to use

[j1tuck]

bought a project car and it came with a balanced 500 stroker short block. the pistons have a slight 2mm dome on them. not sure of the compression. what aluminum heads do I need?

 

[5.7 hemi]

Stealth, Eddy's, Trick Flow, and Indy. Horse power cost money, how fast you wanna go? A phone call to each company explaining what you have and what you want to do will help in the long run.

 

[jenkins71]

Do the math. Find out how far down the piston is from the top of the cylinder, measuring from the highest point of the piston to the top of the deck. Then, using the part number on the piston, find out how many CCs the dish is on the piston. From there, use a compression ratio calculator (there are many online, do a google search) with that information, and the CCs of the different aluminum head chambers, and choose one that will provide you with your desired Compression ratio. It's basically, ALGEBRA!!!

You cannot calculate the compression until you know the volume of the chambers in the head.

 

[HT413]

bought a project car and it came with a balanced 500 stroker short block. the pistons have a slight 2mm dome on them. not sure of the compression. what aluminum heads do I need?

The owner should know what piston he put in it, no?

 

[lewtot184]

the best way to check the piston is with the "down fill" method. then you will know exactly what the dome and valve notches displace.

 

[Yatzee]

I purchased a set of Trick Flow's and after extensive research I've come to the conclusion they were the best I could get for my 512 stroker. The porting and machine work is amazing and Trick Flow has an eye for unique details like the oil drain-back channels machined into the heads and the machined clearance on the right head for larger distributor bodies. Could not do better IMO but I'm sure the other manufacturers are keeping a close eye on this company and it's innovations.
Pricey? Yes! You only do it once so do it right.

 

[lewtot184]

if the pistons have a positive deck dome that extends to the outside of the bore then the dome will likely collide with a stealth or rpm head.

 

[j1tuck]

heres what I know hemi rods, 4.38 bore, 4.15 stroke ,clearance at tdc is.005 he says they are keith black reverse quench domes. domes are about 2mm high.

does that help??

 

[lewtot184]

quench domes? then the only two heads that will work are open chamber iron heads or 88cc edelbrocks. is this based on a 400 block?

 

[Garys1969RR]

See if you can get the part number on the pistons. Reverse quench domes have a small flat raised area that goes up into the flat receded area of the cyl head. This comes close to the head and provides turbulence and quench when the piston moves close to the head. You want this clearance to be around .040". I have run .035" clearance with no probs

 

[j1tuck]

its a 440 block, if I pull the oil pan off are there part numbers under the piston??

 

[lewtot184]

from the info i have they are probably kb251 pistons. 9:1 compression, possibly a little less. unless the domes are milled to zero deck an edlbrock 88cc or open chamber iron head is all that will fit.

 

[j1tuck]

he thinks they are the KB236-60 pistons. so go with a 88 cc??

 

[lewtot184]

he thinks they are the KB236-60 pistons. so go with a 88 cc??

the kb236 piston is for a stock 440 3.75" stroke, 10.5:1 compression and will need an open chamber head. none of the quench dome pistons are a simple bolt on if your trying to get proper quench height.

 

[lewtot184]

this is a pic of a quench dome kb piston and head. the outlined dome fits into the outlined part of the head. ideally you will shoot for a running clearance between .040"-.050" between the dome and the head.

 

[j1tuck]

I will put a set of heads on it and check. I want to run on pump gas. this motor has over 2800 in machine work to it. I want to use it.

 

[j1tuck]

its .o35 without the head gasket compressed at the quench using clay

 

[furryfrog]

the kb236 piston is for a stock 440 3.75" stroke, 10.5:1 compression and will need an open chamber head. none of the quench dome pistons are a simple bolt on if your trying to get proper quench height.

Yes, the specs say this piston has a compresion distance of 2.036". 500 stroker cranks for a 440 have a stroke of 4.150". Not sure how this piston would work in a 500 stroker?, except with a Custom rod perhaps? Most 500 stroker pistons have a comp distance of around 1.865'ish, and use a 6.760 rod. I think it would be a good idea to confirm the stroke on this short block. Something seems fishy to me about this.

 

[j1tuck]

when I put a gasket on the engine at TDC the quench dome just barley sticks up above gasket. a straight edge just hits enough to make a mark. do I need a open chamber or can I use a closed? as long as the quench is at .050???????

 

[1wild&crazyguy]

You can completely mill the quench pads/or domes as you all are calling them, right off and run the stealth or any closed chambered head.

Otherwise i'd do as lewtot184 shows, mill quench pads or heads to obtain the desired quench distance..but i'd shoot for .040 on the nose for quench distance if it were me.