afr heads
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,025
Likes: 1
From: Billings MT
Are we talking about head bolts or valve cover bolts?
The oil return sucks, the oil actually pools over the gasket surface on the back. Mine have leaked ever since I got them. I have tried just about every gasket there is.
You can have them machined to improve the oil return, AFR will instruct you on what to do, or you can ask SmokedTires.
The oil return sucks, the oil actually pools over the gasket surface on the back. Mine have leaked ever since I got them. I have tried just about every gasket there is.
You can have them machined to improve the oil return, AFR will instruct you on what to do, or you can ask SmokedTires.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 7,562
Likes: 9
From: B'Ville NY
Cruise-In III Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05
is anybody havin' leakage problems around the bolt holes of your small block covers with afr heads ,and what did you do to stop it..
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 2,077
Likes: 0
From: westmoreland N.H.
Originally Posted by VETDRMS
Are we talking about head bolts or valve cover bolts?
The oil return sucks, the oil actually pools over the gasket surface on the back. Mine have leaked ever since I got them. I have tried just about every gasket there is.
You can have them machined to improve the oil return, AFR will instruct you on what to do, or you can ask SmokedTires.
The oil return sucks, the oil actually pools over the gasket surface on the back. Mine have leaked ever since I got them. I have tried just about every gasket there is.
You can have them machined to improve the oil return, AFR will instruct you on what to do, or you can ask SmokedTires.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 30,183
Likes: 313
From: Lake Norman NC
hmm....what type of valve covers are you guys using?? I'm using a cheapo set of cast aluminum covers, no rtv, just cheapo $11 Fel Pro rubber gaskets, ARP valve cover studs, and never had a leak..I've even taken them off several times...all i did was clean the rubber and base on the heads with cleaner, and they stayed tight. The oil return sucks azz.. and here lately thats why i usually take the valve covers off when pouring oil into the engine, so that oil won't soak into the gaskets.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 5,714
Likes: 6
From: Silver City NM
St. Jude Donor '05-'07
Just curious...with all these problems people have with leaks and whatnot...why do ya'll still use AFR heads??? Are they exceptionally cheaper than other performance heads? I can't believe that other heads that don't have these problems can't flow as well as AFR.
Dep
Dep
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,025
Likes: 1
From: Billings MT
Well Dep, you usually find these things out AFTER buying something. It is a problem with a very old casting (Brownfield).
The performance of the heads is admirable, now, you go build your motor and sush till then...
:
The performance of the heads is admirable, now, you go build your motor and sush till then...
:
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Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 30,183
Likes: 313
From: Lake Norman NC
Originally Posted by DJ Dep
Just curious...with all these problems people have with leaks and whatnot...why do ya'll still use AFR heads??? Are they exceptionally cheaper than other performance heads? I can't believe that other heads that don't have these problems can't flow as well as AFR.
Dep
Dep
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 235
Likes: 0
I would like to see dyno results where all they change on the engine is the heads.(also keep the same compression ratio) Seems like most tests change more than just the heads and expect to fool you into believing one is better than the other. Flow numbers are nice but the velocity has alot to do with a heads performance too.
Any aftermarket head should pereform better than stock. You have to be carefull not to get a Head that is to big for your project too. Talk to an engine builder, they can suggest a good head for your project.
Any aftermarket head should pereform better than stock. You have to be carefull not to get a Head that is to big for your project too. Talk to an engine builder, they can suggest a good head for your project.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 5,714
Likes: 6
From: Silver City NM
St. Jude Donor '05-'07
Originally Posted by VETDRMS
Well Dep, you usually find these things out AFTER buying something. It is a problem with a very old casting (Brownfield).
The performance of the heads is admirable, now, you go build your motor and sush till then...:
The performance of the heads is admirable, now, you go build your motor and sush till then...
:I guess I'll stay away from AFR heads, though. Seems like every third post is someone complaining about them.
Dep
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 7,562
Likes: 9
From: B'Ville NY
Cruise-In III Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05
I seems that some people have experienced oil control problems while others have had no problems what so ever. AFR has identified these issues and have a newly designed head in the works.
Why do people chose AFR heads? Most people that are buying heads are chosing them for a head that will outflow what they currently have. The better a head flows, the greater the potential for making power. So being that this is a serious amount of $ invested when making this decision, people will/should research what will work best for their application. In my happy hunting, I came across this site: http://chevyhiperformance.com/techarticles/41598/ that has a lot of different flow numbers for different size heads. For me it was obvious that the AFR's were a good choice for the money. They actually offer a CNC ported head at a price that is very competitive to the other companies without the CNC porting.
It's unfortunate that some have these problems and hopefully the new design will eliminate past issues. There are a lot of people that are very happy with their AFR's and having flowed my heads after recieving them, they were close to the advertized numbers.
My2c's
Why do people chose AFR heads? Most people that are buying heads are chosing them for a head that will outflow what they currently have. The better a head flows, the greater the potential for making power. So being that this is a serious amount of $ invested when making this decision, people will/should research what will work best for their application. In my happy hunting, I came across this site: http://chevyhiperformance.com/techarticles/41598/ that has a lot of different flow numbers for different size heads. For me it was obvious that the AFR's were a good choice for the money. They actually offer a CNC ported head at a price that is very competitive to the other companies without the CNC porting.
It's unfortunate that some have these problems and hopefully the new design will eliminate past issues. There are a lot of people that are very happy with their AFR's and having flowed my heads after recieving them, they were close to the advertized numbers.
My2c's
