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Hi Guys, it's a couple of years since my last time here, but am hoping to get some clear advice. Having my 69 L46 rebuilt with a roller setup, new pistons, everything in the motor. My heads were cracked and I would like to put aluminum heads on. What brand would you recommend. Dart? AFR, etc. It already has the Edelbrock manifold, 750 Holley. Engine had to be .60 over. She's getting old like me! Going to buy a roller rocker kit and all new parts. Any advice please. Thanks
lots of choices out there, depending on your budget and usage expectations
last year i went with a set of Edelbrock Performer RPM heads, 60889 bare,
3 angle valve job, mild clean up of short turns, and a general de-dag of casting edges and rough spots.
installed new valves and used my roller springs, guide plates, studs, arms etc. off the cracked 186 fuelies.
block was decked to 0.010" and with 0.020" 4v flattops gave me 10:1 comp.
edelbrock performer 2101 manifold and a Lars tuned Qjet and points dissy.
howards retro hyd roller, 111145-12.
i was after the old school look still, so i machined the ends of the alli at work to match the old "186 double humps"
builder likes to run on dyno to bed in rings and check for leaks before installing it.
it made 410hp @ 5900rpm and 405ft/lbs @ 4700rpm at 32* timing, not really leaning on it.
Had a pair of Dart Pro 1s on the engine in the bluecar. The cc chamber was too small for the next engine project so I got a pair of AFRs. The porting on the AFRs was a lot better along with the combustion chamber machining that the Dart heads. The performance of the Darts is outstanding, had 411 RWHP with that build [357 cid]. The Pro 1s then got duty on the 9-car engine [434 cid] and run great. The AFRs that are in the blue car make that engine into a brute and also look great with the bold AFR letters embossed on the ends. T
Last edited by terrys6t8roadster; Jun 17, 2018 at 02:32 AM.
My first heads were Dart Pro1 angle plug with 2.08/1.625 valves. They bolted right on with my hooker S/C headers. Easy to change spark plugs and plenty of header clearance for the spark plug boots.
Then I bought AFR and I had to dent my beautiful headers because one spark plug was against the headers and some of the others are close. Making spark plug changes an ordeal. I had to machine the heads below the springs for an oil return channel because the spring seals were always swimming in oil. I don't know if newer casting addressed the problems. But for air flow and innovative smaller diameter valve stems I rate then as A+
Hi Guys, it's a couple of years since my last time here, but am hoping to get some clear advice. Having my 69 L46 rebuilt with a roller setup, new pistons, everything in the motor. My heads were cracked and I would like to put aluminum heads on. What brand would you recommend. Dart? AFR, etc. It already has the Edelbrock manifold, 750 Holley. Engine had to be .60 over. She's getting old like me! Going to buy a roller rocker kit and all new parts. Any advice please. Thanks
Brodix is what I put on my roller motor build, mainly because the machine shop I dealt with was a Brodix dealer. I got a very good price and he went thought the heads to check them out for free.
I would think the choice of air flow number would also be an important aspect. That choice is going to be based on how aggressive a cam that you are going with. Do you have a cam in mind?
I recommend the Dart Pro1 180cc Platinums. Best bang for the buck out of the box IMHO. Stay away from the SHP as it does not have the wet flow tech or the finish work the Pro1 has........
AFR stuff is very nice but you pay for it....Brodix is excellent too but $$$$
The off shore stuff still scares me even now.
Price on the AFR and the Dart platinum are very close. $1699 vs $1560
Personally I like the smaller valve stem diameter on the AFR vs the 11/32 on the darts. AFR has 5 angle valve job vs 4 angle on dart. Lighter valves equates to easier valve control and using lighter springs.
Both are cnc finishes. Kind of wonder if 64 ccs on the dart is really 64 or not, same for the intake port volume. As cast volume is not well controlled.
Stay away from the SHP's. I put them on my L46 roller rebuild and they run good but lots of pushrod alignment issues on the intakes when I assembled the longblock. If I did it over I'd move to Pro or AFR.
Stay away from the SHP's. I put them on my L46 roller rebuild and they run good but lots of pushrod alignment issues on the intakes when I assembled the longblock. If I did it over I'd move to Pro or AFR.
Brodix is what I put on my roller motor build, mainly because the machine shop I dealt with was a Brodix dealer. I got a very good price and he went thought the heads to check them out for free.
I would think the choice of air flow number would also be an important aspect. That choice is going to be based on how aggressive a cam that you are going with. Do you have a cam in mind?
Not not yet thats another question. I would like the kit though and Comp Cam
Lot of valve guide wear issues with Dart heads. I had 2 sets of 007 Sportsmans in a boat. 1 exhaust guide so bad I could wiggle valve 1/4 inch WITH THE SPRING INSTALLED! I replaced the rocker and pushrod cuz it was falling off the side of the valvestem. Then I wiggled the valve. Maybe 100 hours run time since new, and they were bought new.
When I rebuilt my OEM L-82 in 2014, I went straight to the AFR 180's since I read AFR's are pretty much the best flowing, usually are perfect right out of the box, my expert builder who did the bottom end highly recommended them and I did not want to waste money trying to go the cheap route with heads, doing the change once. I did have my builder check them before I installed them and they were perfect right out of the box.
I used the 180 AFR's with a Howards roller cam (.525/.525 lift, duration 219/225, LSA 110, operating range 1,500-5,600 RPM) with 10.2 compression since I wanted a motor with strong low end, big mid range torque (2,500-4,500 RPM) and strong top end HP to 6,000 RPM. The engine is a monster SBC 355, absolutely perfect for street driving with my 3.70 gears and 4 speed, with the 1 7/8 long tube headers. I am still shocked at the power everywhere in the RPM range, driveability, and perfectly smooth idle. The engine runs perfect with zero detonation on 89 octane fuel. Amazing....
Go AFR if you can............
Last edited by jb78L-82; Jun 19, 2018 at 08:48 AM.
Heads
