How many FE's out there w/ iron heads?

blykins · #1 (**permalink**) 06-29-2005, 07:33 PM

Just wondering how many high horsepower FE's are out there with cast iron heads.

Debating on whether to go with the Edelbrock heads....or try to find some cherry iron pieces...

Excaliber · #2 (**permalink**) 06-29-2005, 07:47 PM

1964 High Rise iron here. Keith Craft testing showed the iron High Rise heads were darn hard to beat for flow, by ANY aftermarket head. Out of the box Edelbrocks AND Shelby alloy heads can't touch 'em without port work.

WITH port work on any of the heads (iron or alloy) the iron High Rise are STILL hard to beat! No mention of the original tunnel ports, which I suspect would be "king of the hill" over ALL takers, modern or old.

Modern alloy heads (Edelbrock and Shelby) are based on the medium riser configuration. Easy to get intake gaskets, manifolds etc. High Riser iron heads will cost a ton and WILL require a matching intake. My 2X4 intake OEM alloy Ford (1964) sells for about $1500, IF you can find one! Not to mention the high rise heads themselves!

chuckbrandt · #3 (**permalink**) 06-29-2005, 07:49 PM

Oh, you said HIGH horsepower FEs. I probably shouldn't respond until I get mine running better.

My heads are C4AE-G castings with CJ sized valves installed. If you spend around $800 on them they will flow as well or slightly better than out of the box edelbrocks.

But the edelbrocks aren't that much more expensive and you can run another half a point of compression.

I have a set of MR heads for my next motor with a sidewinder intake. I guess I'm more interested in the nostalgia of period parts than all out performance.

I'd _really_ like to build a tunnel port motor some day.

Sorry, that probably didn't help you at all. But maybe presents a different view than you will likely get from everyone else.

Chuck Brandt

REDSC400 · #4 (**permalink**) 06-30-2005, 04:48 AM

Iron heads on mine. They are C8AE-J's, worked and polished with hardened valve seats. Opened up to 2.09" intake and 1.75" exhaust. I have Crane valve lifters with Dove Rocker Support end stands.

Been this way since 1992. Nice power with engine running cool.

blykins · #5 (**permalink**) 06-30-2005, 04:58 AM

If I were to go the iron route, that's probably what I would do. I see C8AE-H's by the boat load.

Comparing bare head to bare head, the Edelbrocks are about $480 a piece.....I've seen both iron heads for that price.

What's the average machine shop cost to go through a set of heads? Install larger valves, mill the decks, etc.?

Ken Oikawa · #6 (**permalink**) 06-30-2005, 06:07 AM

Tunnel port with dual carbs.

chuckbrandt · #7 (**permalink**) 06-30-2005, 07:28 AM

I pulled the receipt from mine, this was done at K&M in Raytown, MO which I think is one of the best shops in KC.

Valve Job with oversize valves $150
Street Port Job $250
Install Guides $80
Install Exhaust Seats $52
Parts and supplies $175

I provided bare heads, valves, springs and retainers.

Total bill was $765.

The street porting job was pretty limited. Since then I've seen better work done by a guy named Scott Vincent for about the same money. Another good person for iron heads is Les Schmader.

http://www.lesport.8m.com/

Also be careful of the late head castings like C8AE-H and D2TE-AA, I think they have the low exit exhaust port and may mismatch with your headers. Definitely check that before you have the work done. If you want the high exit like the edelbrocks and early heads look for C4AE-Gs, C6AE-Rs or earlier C1AE-As

Good luck, Chuck

DuckRyder · #8 (**permalink**) 07-01-2005, 04:59 AM

I'll have prelim dyno numbers on a 390 with Scott Vincent ported C8AE-H's sometime this month if all goes well.

SCOBRAC · #9 (**permalink**) 07-02-2005, 02:36 PM

I have 3... HP ranges 535 from a set of C5AE medium rise heads opened ut to take 2.25 /1.73 valves with a 325 (asvertised) degree duration cam. The second set are standard, ported C5AE heads on a 427 top oiler. That engine makes 480 hp. The third is an early set of HM C1AE heads (same port configuration as the medium rise) that have been opened up to standard 2.19 /173 those head are in a box waiting to be installed on a 428 I am planning to stuff into something. The 428 will make 450 hp.

I think aluminum heads are great on new cars. I thinks aluminum heads are fantastic if you cannot find a suitable set of FE heads (cause guys like me are hording them)...

I just really like the originality of the iron heads... I mean why go with an FE at all... A 427 windsor will make 550 hp... Oh, because it isn't an FE...

blykins · #10 (**permalink**) 07-02-2005, 02:48 PM

DuckRyder....Be sure and post those when you get them. Inquiring minds wanna know.

What other components are you running?

FUNFER2 · #11 (**permalink**) 07-02-2005, 03:01 PM

My iron heads with porting & port matching, actually flowed better than the advertized Edelbrock heads. Since I bought the engine from Carroll Shelby, which he built for customer to race, I wanted to keep it as original as possible. Other than weight savings & compression increase, the cost of the Edelbrocks and little possible gain in performance, did not matter to me. I would say with miled porting, there apx. the same. Spend the Edelbrock money on better shafts (and end stands), valves rockers ect.
My engine dynoded @ 536 HP this time. That's good enough for me on the street anyway.

blykins · #12 (**permalink**) 07-02-2005, 03:34 PM

What heads are you using Kevin? Intake, cam? Is it 428ci?

FUNFER2 · #13 (**permalink**) 07-02-2005, 04:11 PM

428 engine (60 over) & medium rise heads, ported & polished by us.(fairly easy but carefully) Victor Jr. intake (like a "air gap") 10:5 compression. I had Comp cams grind me a cam that's now it the catalog for cobras. 252/260 duration- 600 lift- lobe sep. 110. Details if you want it. Idles at 1,000 rpm.(can be lower but, I like the cam at that point) Demon carb (Mighty) Good combonation for the street/strip & even highway(331 gears) driving. 1/4 mi. time was 10.38 @ 134 mph. 0-60 mph (courtsey) of the Cass county Sherriff was, 3.8 sec. It toped out at 163 mph at the Kansas Speedway. (Slid almost sideway out of corner #4.......need a chin spoiler) !
It's been a very motor for me anyway.

blykins · #14 (**permalink**) 07-02-2005, 05:27 PM

What's the rpm range on your cam? Does it run on pump gas?

FUNFER2 · #15 (**permalink**) 07-02-2005, 10:48 PM

On the chassis dyno, the power was over at 6,000 rpm. Well enough for a big block. At 3,200 rpm, torque was 401.06. Being a short wheel base car and weighing less that 2,400 lbs, there's not a need for all the HP/torque comming in at low rpm's. It shoots like a rocket. Any higher and it just loose's traction blowing off the tires. That's fun & all but, I want good bite. On the track, I launch the car at 2,300 rpm. The left front comes up apx. 7" & goes straight. It took like six runs to figure out what rpm, the four link set-up, engine tunning, gearing & tire combo needed for a good run. If I speed shift, I'm all over the track but, that's what happens with a short wheel base car but, it is fun !
I had enough of the racing fuel years ago with my Pro-Street Camaro. Costs too much & we like to travel in the cobra. Since we race Sprint cars & buy 55 gallon barrel's of alcohol at a time, I thought about going with alcohol but, where do you find it out on the road. I just use premium gas just so it's over 91 octane. There's really no difference between 91/92. As long as you stay under 10:1 compression, you should be fine. I do use racing gas at the track though.

blykins · #16 (**permalink**) 07-03-2005, 06:16 AM

I'd like the cam grind you're using if you don't mind...Does it have a radical idle? That's an important trait for me.

So you're running 10.5:1 on pump gas? Must be the dynamic compression ratio working for you with that cam.

DuckRyder · #17 (**permalink**) 07-06-2005, 04:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by blykins

DuckRyder....Be sure and post those when you get them. Inquiring minds wanna know.

What other components are you running?

Will do.

It is a 30 over 390, speed pro flat tops, shot peened and polished rods and crank. C8AE-H with stainless CJ valves. CCed at 66. (10.6:1 Static). Blue Thunder PI, 3310C Holley, Hooker Headers. Crower 16462 Solid Roller with HiPPo lifters. Erson Roller Rockers. Full MSD ignition in an old truck.

The plan is to have a few quick pulls with A/F done to base line, then bring it home and try to tune it a little closer on the jetting before going back to spend a day on the dyno.

I need to get the Smith brothers pushrods in and put a few more miles on it first though.

speed220mph · #18 (**permalink**) 07-06-2005, 06:00 AM

Here's mine: 575hp. Rev limiter kicks in at 6,500 rpm. Good power for the street.
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blykins · #19 (**permalink**) 07-06-2005, 06:04 AM

Duck...

If you don't mind me being snoopy....what were you charged to have oversized valves installed in those heads? Did you have them ported/polished? Flow tested?

DuckRyder · #20 (**permalink**) 07-06-2005, 08:20 AM

Check your PM's

Nice Ride, Speed....



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