Yeeeeehawww! It lives -- head swap successful
#1
Le Mans Master
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Yeeeeehawww! It lives -- head swap successful
Well, today was the day. Another forum member came over to help me get the rockers adjusted and the car running. Then we buttoned everything up and started the engine -- it fired up immediately! A little tuning and we were ready to go.
Too bad it's pouring rain and all I could do was drive around the neighborhood a couple of times
Anyhow...the "Summit" brand Dart Iron Eagle SS heads are a great buy at $650 a pair -- just like I knew they would be!
Now installed (and I get to add something to my sig):
Too bad it's pouring rain and all I could do was drive around the neighborhood a couple of times
Anyhow...the "Summit" brand Dart Iron Eagle SS heads are a great buy at $650 a pair -- just like I knew they would be!
Now installed (and I get to add something to my sig):
#8
Le Mans Master
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It's an L82, so it has an aluminum stock intake. And its better than most people realize. Not much different than an Edelbrock Performer. I did get it ceramic coated, though! Exhaust manifolds, too.
Stock cam is also better than one might expect. It's the same cam as the '69 350/350 engine: 222/222 .450/.460
I did splurge on a set of Comp Cams roller tip rockers, though...
Stock cam is also better than one might expect. It's the same cam as the '69 350/350 engine: 222/222 .450/.460
I did splurge on a set of Comp Cams roller tip rockers, though...
#11
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Pray for a dry day tomorrow. But I can already tell it's smoother overall, and seems to have more "git" than before...and that's driving in a monsoon!
#12
Melting Slicks
Looks like you did a good job, I bet you can't wait to try her out on the road. I look forward to hearing your impressions because at the price you paid, I would consider getting those for my head swap, can you tell me the part number from Summit when you get a chance.
#13
Burning Brakes
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Great job! Now, with the better breathing, you may have to get Lars to work on your carb again! Probably only minor changes needed in jetting... Did your CR go up?
#14
Melting Slicks
Your ceramic coated exhaust manifolds look good, but aren't headers the best way to optimize those heads? Congrats on it all working out. Will you have a before and after dyno to tell us the difference?
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Le Mans Master
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Well, the sun came out this morning and I got to take the car for a longer ride. Definitely more power (using the SOTP measurement method). But I had other important goals, all of which have been met. Topping the list is the fact that power is delivered more smoothly throughout the rpm range. Beforehand, the engine was truly nasty cruising at low rpms in overdrive -- that's been cured. And at highway speeds, the engine is smooth and power is being delivered effortlessly.
Bottom line: highly recommended. I'm certain that people bolting these onto an L48 will see a greater improvement. The L82 already had big valves -- but I benefitted from smaller chambers and high-swirl (Vortec-style) combustion chambers.
BTW: These heads (SUM-152123) are backordered until mid-March. Apparently they're popular! And the photo showing the combustion chamber is incorrect -- the actual heads have a kidney-shaped chamber.
Bottom line: highly recommended. I'm certain that people bolting these onto an L48 will see a greater improvement. The L82 already had big valves -- but I benefitted from smaller chambers and high-swirl (Vortec-style) combustion chambers.
BTW: These heads (SUM-152123) are backordered until mid-March. Apparently they're popular! And the photo showing the combustion chamber is incorrect -- the actual heads have a kidney-shaped chamber.
#16
Le Mans Master
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Headers would likely have netted a few extra HP, but the ram's horns are quite effective manifolds. Good for torque. In my experience, headers are a PITA...and the manifolds help keep an semi-original appearance.
#17
Le Mans Master
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Good job.
Thx for reporting. Glad to hear ur happy with the result(s). Since ur running a stock type cam it would really be nice to read some dyno numbers as i'm curious now. I'm guessing ur making same power or better than cars running heads costing twice as much.
Congrats. cardo0
Congrats. cardo0
#18
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The L82 is a really good bottom end to work with. A good cam, strong internals...it just needs ANYTHING other than those smog heads to bring it to life!
#19
Nice one Page
Glad to hear that it's worked out well. Got any plans to dyno it? What rpms is it happy to cruise at now in OD? I'm getting some heads with 180cc intakes in the hope of boosting low rpm torque for the same reason as, while it's nice to have max flow etc for the dragstrip, most of my driving is on the road so it makes sense to build something that's usable (but I'm wondering just where in the Sam Hill my heads have gotten to?).
You just go easy now you've got all that there extra power
Glad to hear that it's worked out well. Got any plans to dyno it? What rpms is it happy to cruise at now in OD? I'm getting some heads with 180cc intakes in the hope of boosting low rpm torque for the same reason as, while it's nice to have max flow etc for the dragstrip, most of my driving is on the road so it makes sense to build something that's usable (but I'm wondering just where in the Sam Hill my heads have gotten to?).
You just go easy now you've got all that there extra power
#20
Melting Slicks
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page I got the same heads as you for my L48 buildup, glad to see you can feel the improvement. On my car it'll be like adding an extra motor! I;m looking forward to finishing this project and taking it out for a spin or ten. BTW, mine were backordered for 10 days, then the date kept slipping out, then without warning they shipped on the original promise date. I think they have to get Dart to make them special to put the summit name on them. Joe