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Speedmaster BBC heads?

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Old Apr 23, 2021 | 12:36 AM
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Default Speedmaster BBC heads?

Has anyone ever looked into or had experience with the Speedmaster oval port BBC aluminum head?

I've got a junkyard Gen 6 BBC that's going into my 79 and I'd like to replace the iron heads to shed some weight. The engine has a factory compression of 9:1 and is bone stock. I'll end up throwing in some cam, but nothing crazy. Just a good "thumpy thump" for some personality.
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Old Apr 23, 2021 | 07:58 AM
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Ive seen then used on a couple episodes of engine masters were they got positive reviews. there is also a you tube video on them.
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Old Apr 23, 2021 | 08:01 AM
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Originally Posted by ChrisLSx
Has anyone ever looked into or had experience with the Speedmaster oval port BBC aluminum head?

I've got a junkyard Gen 6 BBC that's going into my 79 and I'd like to replace the iron heads to shed some weight. The engine has a factory compression of 9:1 and is bone stock. I'll end up throwing in some cam, but nothing crazy. Just a good "thumpy thump" for some personality.
Come to think of it... Hot Rod used those heads on their junkyard 454 they used in the 74 vette they converted to a flared 1970 body style... it out performed the dyno numbers of the all aluminum ZL1 427 (I think thats the right engine number for the rare corvette option)

Last edited by augiedoggy; Apr 23, 2021 at 08:01 AM.
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Old Apr 23, 2021 | 01:09 PM
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speedmaster is a chinese head. chinese castings used to be junk. they have gotten better. chinese VALVES are not to be trusted. buy bare castings and put manley or ferrea valves in with compcams or better springs, locks, etc. i almost bought a blown 496. guy paid 5k for complete engine. pro comp heads, an intake valve head popped off in his driveway at idle. he got 500 for his 5k engine. that L29 is a nice block. flat pistons, 4 bolt, roller lifters. here is best cam that will run on those dogbone lifters. used to be 200 bucks... https://paceperformance.com/i-625508...zz502-502.html

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Old Apr 23, 2021 | 02:19 PM
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Check out ProMaxx, they're probably the best quality Chinese casting I've seen.
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Old Apr 23, 2021 | 02:36 PM
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X2 on Promaxx but I don't think they have a Oval ports available
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Old Apr 23, 2021 | 02:46 PM
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Originally Posted by L88Plus
Check out ProMaxx, they're probably the best quality Chinese casting I've seen.
I was looking at ProMaxx last night. They have a MAXX 290 head which looks like an oval port (but they don't state specifically). They look to be a knockoff of the AFR 290 head.


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Old Apr 23, 2021 | 02:50 PM
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Originally Posted by ChrisLSx
I was looking at ProMaxx last night. They have a MAXX 290 head which looks like an oval port (but they don't state specifically). They look to be a knockoff of the Trickflow 290 head.
that’s a squared up oval port so it will be fine verses the big rectangular ports like the max 317

Last edited by Eric P; Apr 23, 2021 at 02:51 PM.
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Old Apr 23, 2021 | 02:59 PM
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Originally Posted by Eric P
that’s a squared up oval port so it will be fine verses the big rectangular ports like the max 317
Here's the next question:
- ProMax for $1700 or TrickFlow for $2300?

Last edited by ChrisLSx; Apr 23, 2021 at 02:59 PM.
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Old Apr 23, 2021 | 08:47 PM
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Trickflow has a .300 raised exhaust if that messes with anything and Trickflow is also out of stock for a month or two
Promaxx 290 will flow 375 cfm with 2.19 intake, 400 cfm with 2.30 intake, that’s some serious flow from a 290cc port

Last edited by Eric P; Apr 23, 2021 at 08:50 PM.
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Old Apr 24, 2021 | 12:22 AM
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Not an exact answer...but I bought a set of Speedmaster heads for a 408" Ford Clevor project I'm building. (That's a Windsor block with Cleveland heads- think Boss 302...just bigger). I got them when they had a huge sale on Black Friday.

I was impressed with the castings. These weigh 35 lbs (very comparable to high end heads). The holes are all helicoiled and when I put the intake on them the angles look fine. I didn't get the CNC versions, so there's a little cleanup in the ports needed...but I was planning to port on them anyway.





Last edited by 427Hotrod; Apr 24, 2021 at 12:26 AM.
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