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Rectangular/Oval port debate.

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Old Sep 3, 2012 | 01:08 AM
  #21  
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Originally Posted by DRIVESHAFT
I think the rectangle port Race Rites would be a great choice for what your doing.
Even though the AFRs will flow a bit more than the Brodix heads, its not too big a deal once your intake enters the picture.
The Race Rites will easily flow as much as your intake will.
That's a good point..and when that happens it's time to start thinking custom cam to help it work better. The carbs aren't the restriction either. It will be the intake....now some judicious porting can really help things!

I don't think the AFR raised ports are an issue. Tons of Vette folks are using them. My Brodix heads are raised .600" and it actually helped the old 2-1/8" Hooker headers fit better than they did with stock heads. I can tell you I've recently put a set of Corvette Central's shory headers on them (for the turbo installation) that are replacements for cast iron manifolds and they clear everything fine.




JIM
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Old Sep 3, 2012 | 08:58 AM
  #22  
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When I was looking at heads for my 496 build, I was leaning toward the AFR305's. Everything I had heard, the 3/8" raised exhaust ports would not be a problem with header fitament but after looking at my setup I had a header tube that run very close to the clutch z-bar. I didn't want to take the chance of having to purchase high dollar custom headers so I went with the Brodix heads.

The Race Rites exhaust port is not as effecient as the AFR port but this can easily be rectified by a custom cam with several degrees additional exhaust duration. For a cam that will allow you to get all the HP out of your system you might want to contact Chris Straub. He will grind you a cam that will be perfectly matched to your combination. Guys over on Team Chevelle have been using him with very good results.

http://www.straubtechnologies.com/

Last edited by 71454Chevelle; Sep 3, 2012 at 09:03 AM.
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Old Sep 3, 2012 | 01:26 PM
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Originally Posted by 71454Chevelle
When I was looking at heads for my 496 build, I was leaning toward the AFR305's. Everything I had heard, the 3/8" raised exhaust ports would not be a problem with header fitament but after looking at my setup I had a header tube that run very close to the clutch z-bar. I didn't want to take the chance of having to purchase high dollar custom headers so I went with the Brodix heads.

The Race Rites exhaust port is not as effecient as the AFR port but this can easily be rectified by a custom cam with several degrees additional exhaust duration. For a cam that will allow you to get all the HP out of your system you might want to contact Chris Straub. He will grind you a cam that will be perfectly matched to your combination. Guys over on Team Chevelle have been using him with very good results.

http://www.straubtechnologies.com/
Good point - mine has 236 degree intake and 242 degree exhaust - however the latest addition that seemed to make so much difference (especially at higher revs) was swapping out the 1 7/8" dia Hedmans and 2 1/2" dai system for 2 1/8" Super Comps and 3" dia system with 'X' pipe.
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Old Sep 3, 2012 | 03:57 PM
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Roscobb, how do you like that cam? With the increased exhaust timing suggestion, I see Howard cams has a couple around what I'm thinking: two at 233/247, with 112 and 114 lobe separation, one at 233/245 and 112 separation, all at lifts of .600 to .634. What do you think?

Ralph
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Old Sep 3, 2012 | 05:00 PM
  #25  
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Originally Posted by rponfick
Roscobb, how do you like that cam? With the increased exhaust timing suggestion, I see Howard cams has a couple around what I'm thinking: two at 233/247, with 112 and 114 lobe separation, one at 233/245 and 112 separation, all at lifts of .600 to .634. What do you think?

Ralph
Ralph..............Call Chris and let him set you up with the correct cam. You wont be sorry.

http://www.straubtechnologies.com/
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Old Sep 3, 2012 | 05:23 PM
  #26  
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Originally Posted by rponfick
Roscobb, how do you like that cam? With the increased exhaust timing suggestion, I see Howard cams has a couple around what I'm thinking: two at 233/247, with 112 and 114 lobe separation, one at 233/245 and 112 separation, all at lifts of .600 to .634. What do you think?

Ralph
Howard Cams part no. 122441 - 236/240 in/ex @ .050" .544"/.536" in/ex lift - 286/298 degrees duration - lobe centre 112+4 degrees (Hyd Flat Tappet) - RPM Air Gap - 950 DP carb. I wanted to retain 3.08 rear end and Muncie M21 ratios, but as I live in outer London driveability was important. 1100/1200 rpm is the mimimum it will pull from - so its fine in town - dyno'd at 528 bhp @ 5850 rpm - 565 ft/lbs torque @ 3850 rpm - will still 'squeeze' 14/15 imperial mpg on cruise (12/13 us mpg?)
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Old Sep 6, 2012 | 05:07 PM
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I have about decided on the Brodix race rite 294 rec.port heads. With the exhaust ports in the stock location, the exhaust obviously flows less than a raised port. The AFR 265's (but oval port) have about .80 ratio of exhaust to intake flow., the Race Rites, about .63. It has been indicated here that this can be rectified by just adding a little more exhaust duration.

Roscobbc, I have been looking at the Howard Cam kits also. I see your exhaust duration is only 4 degrees more than your intake. With heads like the Broxix Race Rites, shouldn't the spread be more? I wonder what spread the "experts" would be looking at? If I want to use a cam in the 236 intake duration range, what would be my exhaust duration? I think I would also go a little more lift than you have. I am at Denver altitude, but not sure if that makes a lift difference. I want a hydraulic roller cam with better performance than the Comp Cams 224/224, 110, solid flat tappet I have now.

Thanks, Ralph

Last edited by rponfick; Sep 6, 2012 at 05:16 PM.
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Old Sep 6, 2012 | 06:05 PM
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Originally Posted by rponfick
n.
Roscobbc, I have been looking at the Howard Cam kits also. I see your exhaust duration is only 4 degrees more than your intake. With heads like the Broxix Race Rites, shouldn't the spread be more? I wonder what spread the "experts" would be looking at? If I want to use a cam in the 236 intake duration range, what would be my exhaust duration? I think I would also go a little more lift than you have.
I must admit when the engine was built I had the same thoughts as you but was dissuaded from using a cam 'larger' than the one fitted. However if you look further in to the cam spec's it seems to have more 'aggressive' opening and closing ramps compared with cams with similar duration figures from other makers (like Comp Cams for example). Likewise with cam lift - my engine builder (John Sleath Race Cars) spec'd things on the conservative side of things, on the basis that 'less is often more' and also applied the logic "why open the valves further than the point that maximum flow occurs" - better effect can be had from opening and closing the valves quicker effectively achieving a similar effect of having a higher lift (if that in fact allowed extra flow) Only dragged the thing once (on a concrete surfaced North Weald airdrome) and with very poor traction got a 13.20@102mph - the 'word' from all the racers is that should equate to a low 12 second time on a prepped tarmac strip - that is with 28" tall tyres, 3.08 rear end and M21. And after all this is in England and arn't we all a bit crazy and 'off the wall'? - I'm sure there are many far more experienced guys on here will shoot down in flames some of the above comments - however for me it works
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Old Sep 7, 2012 | 10:55 AM
  #29  
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Duration is time, how long is the valve open. If a port flows well then it doesn't need as much time to let air in or exhaust out. CID and rpm affect this time.

Heads with hi I/E ratio (intake to exhaust flow ratio) need mild splits because the exhaust port is effiecient. 75% is the control number and at this % an engine would use a single pattern cam at .050". Your other tappet referrence points, adv., .100, .200, .300 will have some split.

A BBC with at 427 CID can make the same power with Brodix or AFR heads, but with totally different cam profiles. The brodix head engine running to 6500 rpm will have a 12 to 14 degree split at .050". The AFR headed engine about 2 degrees.
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Old Sep 7, 2012 | 11:13 AM
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Chris. PM sent.

Ralph.
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Old Sep 7, 2012 | 11:34 AM
  #31  
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Originally Posted by rponfick
If someone knows how to reference the Nov. 2012 Car Craft article, it would be helpful here. I am too old for that advanced technology, and don't have access to a teenager. Anyway, the AFR 265 heads they tested really kicked butt on the stock heads, especially on the exhaust side.

That being said, I see most of the better flowing heads have raised exhaust ports. How much port rise can you get by with using stock manifolds? I understand all the benefits of headers, but just don't want to use them for my application.

Great information. Ralph
http://www.carcraft.com/techarticles...ig_block_test/

What you want to do is perfectly fine. People do it all the time, I wouldn't fill or epoxy anything on your intake manifold.

Enjoy the additional HP...
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Old Sep 7, 2012 | 04:53 PM
  #32  
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Originally Posted by BOOSTED-SS-ELKY
...I wouldn't fill or epoxy anything on your intake manifold.
IMHO there's really no downside to a properly done epoxy match job, other than the easier path being to cut that particular corner. Me, I'm just not wired that way. YMMV.
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Old Sep 9, 2012 | 07:58 PM
  #33  
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Talked to Chris Straub and he is coming up with a proposal for my needs. Is suggesting the Race Rite 294 rec port heads with his hydraulic roller at 620/590 lift, 222/236 duration at .050, 109 lobe seperation. As you can see, he recommends a 14 degree difference in intake to exhaust duration to allow for the lesser flow capacity in the Race Rite exhaust ports.

I'm assuming there will be enough vacuum with these specs. to run the Vette vacuum systems.

Ralph.
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Old Sep 10, 2012 | 10:05 AM
  #34  
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Originally Posted by TheSkunkWorks
IMHO there's really no downside to a properly done epoxy match job, other than the easier path being to cut that particular corner. Me, I'm just not wired that way. YMMV.
I agree. Epoxy is laminer airflows friend.
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Old Sep 10, 2012 | 10:10 AM
  #35  
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Originally Posted by rponfick
Talked to Chris Straub and he is coming up with a proposal for my needs. Is suggesting the Race Rite 294 rec port heads with his hydraulic roller at 620/590 lift, 222/236 duration at .050, 109 lobe seperation. As you can see, he recommends a 14 degree difference in intake to exhaust duration to allow for the lesser flow capacity in the Race Rite exhaust ports.

I'm assuming there will be enough vacuum with these specs. to run the Vette vacuum systems.

Ralph.

I answered your email.
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Old Sep 10, 2012 | 11:32 AM
  #36  
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Are we saying here that despite comment that rect inlet to oval heads is OK (and despite mismatch can perhaps show some airflow benefit) the 'hot' trick is epoxy filling and subsequent port matching - or is this only theorical ?
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Old Sep 10, 2012 | 12:45 PM
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Just because a combination of intakes and heads with bad runner/port matches will work doesn't do anything to disprove that properly matched ones work better. And, epoxy has long been a fairly well proven method of building up sufficient material for proper matching when the intake runner happens to be larger than the head port. IMCO, there's nothing theoretical about either point.
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Old Sep 10, 2012 | 03:44 PM
  #38  
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The miss alignment of ports if done correctly can enhance power but the average street guy with basically stock suspension can't hook what he has now.

The OP is going to a small rec. port head. The camshaft is small but will make power to his intended rpm range and make for a nice combination in the end.
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Old Sep 10, 2012 | 05:27 PM
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Originally Posted by Cstraub69
The miss alignment of ports if done correctly can enhance power but the average street guy with basically stock suspension can't hook what he has now.

The OP is going to a small rec. port head. The camshaft is small but will make power to his intended rpm range and make for a nice combination in the end.
It would be interesting to examine the theory behind port mis-matching - is improved turbulence a benefit?
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Old Sep 11, 2012 | 01:05 AM
  #40  
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You're usually better off with as perfect a match as you can get...and with a good smooth transistion into the head. I was giving a *quick and dirty* method of putting them together that will work,,,but likely not as good as a perfect match. Will you notice it in a motor like this? Not likely.

Epoxy is commonly used all the time and will last pretty good if you get it installed properly. AFR heads often need a little *match work* to mate an intake to them perfectly due to their port shape and placement..but it all works well.

JIM
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