I'm trying to figure out what are the best options for Aftermarket Cast Iron heads. By 'Best Option', I mean flow numbers, availability and cost. Any of you guys running them?? What is the best place to buy a set through?? Any info/opinions are appreciated.

Thanks!!

Flow Technologies EX-514 cast iron head, I run a set of these and they do quite well. These are not max flow numbers. Iam not sure on availability or price. Hear say is they are hard to get a hold of. Walt

EX-514
. 050 36 27
. 100 73 66
. 200 145 128
. 300 217 176
. 400 283 210
. 500 334 239
. 600 377 261
. 700 404 278
. 800 420 293
. 900 419 301

X2 there currently isn't a better aftermarket iron head on the market.


Alan

EX514 is the only aftermarket cast iron head out there. They are suppose to be made on the A-460 head design.. and they can flow lots more then what Walt has right now. closer to 460 int. and 380 exh.
They are the head if I had to run Cast, would be on my motor.



Dan

This is the head that I have heard alot about. Does anyone have any ideas as to who carries them, or what is the best way to get your hands on a set?? I currently run a set of cast iron SCJ's with a Victor intake. Does anything interchange or would I be starting from scratch with my top end?? I think I'm going to stick with my current setup for this season, but I'd like to do something different for next season. Any more info is appreciated.

Walt, did you buy your heads bare and have some port work done or did you have the option to buy them at various porting levels??

Best ford cast head ever made I got mine strait from them FLOW TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED phone 734-454-4190

Nope nothing interchanges with what you have now.
Your going for a Stock set up to a Pro Stock set up just made out of cast iron.

Call FLOW TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED @ 734-454-4190 like Bob Said and get everything they have. Go with the stage 5 porting job right away and make this thing sing.

Just remember your going to need the good stuff in the bottom end too once you start twisting this beast to 8000 Rpm's. Might think about a IDT or A-460 block too.



Dan

depends on ci dont get to to big on port on small moter

you might want to talk to charlie evans about them as well if I remember right I think they were having some issues with the water ports can't remember all off hand but if you do a search on 460ford.com you might find something on it

Like others have said EX 514 cast irons are the way to go. They are alot taller than your cj's and alot heavier too. There is a problem with associations outlawing them tho, [usually by the chev guys]! Call the Evans boys and bend there ear, won't cost you anything, may save you some problems down the road! There were Blue Thunders CJs made in cast iron with the chev ex port, that worked pretty good , but hard to find!

Like Bob said dont get too big, I know of a guy that blew a set of these heads out as big as they would go put the biggest set of valves he could stuff in them and put them on a small cubic inch motor and could not make power. Dan is right about the bottom end build it strong and dont use a stock block or internal oil pump. Just plan on building a new power plant. Walt

it's been a few years, but i think you need to get special pistons designed for these heads, so the short block will have to be changed too.

but i could be wrong.... i run cj heads

sean

Well, maybe I will have to talk to Evans' and see what they recommend. My cubes are currently in the 480's. The pistons that I am running are double cut for the larger valves so I don't think that would be a problem. I know the heads would make a huge difference on the engine, but I hate to put them on and shell out my bottom end. Currently, I run around 7800 rpms, but any more than that might be putting some stress on my cast crank and factory style block. Maybe it would be easier to wait on this upgrade until I built a completely new engine?? I know Walt is running an aftermarket block and high 8K's for rpm's. Anyone else care to share what type of setup they are running them on??

my understanding is that ex514 are a different angle valve, and the pistons can be fly cut, but may have issues with the top ring interference...... but check with a professional for concrete answers

sean

The EX 514 heads do run a different valve angle and pistons with the stock eye brow cuts won't work.

Alan

Everything these guys have told you is right from what I know as well. I talked with Richard at Flow tech a few years ago about the ex-514. Like Dan said they are just like the TrickFlow A heads just in cast iron. They do need the piston designed for them but sometimes your stock piston can be fly cut and made work. You have to run the correct intake and all as it is different too. A few years back they were selling for $2600 bare. Who knows what they are selling for now.
If memory serves me right I was looking at about $6500 for everything to do the top end. Complete heads ported, intake, cam, pistons, (Special Jomar)stud girdles, Diamond pistons. So yes that is a lot of money to put on a stock block. And then you have to get headers with the chevy exshaust port.

Alright I am gonna ask the question nobody else has. What hp level are you trying to get to? There are guys out there running cjs making right at 900 hp on small cubes. With 480 cubes and a decent setup those heads will make it into the low 800s easy. So what is the limit for your class? Yes the EX head is the best, but what you have is not bad.

Travis

After discovering all of the things that I would have to change to incoporate this setup, I'm going to stick with my SCJ's and have some more work done to them. Thanks for all of the info. If I ever build a new mill, I'll consider switching over then.