Need some suggestions on kits to rebuild my 86 with cast iron heads. Found a few kits but also want a good kit. One uses Hyperutetic pistons, Double roller timing set, Hi Vol oil pump and a mild street cam and includes all other parts to rebuild my engine and is $275 The second is the same except it uses TRW forged pistons and a L-82 cam { 350-350 horsepower } and costs $435.
I am not looking for a high performance rebuild just a good strong quick motor.

Phil

 

Need more info as to what you want.

But whatever you decide, ditch the heads for AFR 190s or some Dports (88-91 heads) of a wrecked vette.

 

Get a high pressure rather than a high volume oil pump.

 

Seams like noone knows where or what to buy. Alot of guys in this forum and what I wanted was just a good rebuild kit. Nothing fancy or a kit that will produce 500hp. Just a normal good rebuild kit and where to buy it. Not ditch the heads or get a high pressure oil pump. Personally I like cast iron heads. They heat up and cool down at the same rate and are less likely to warp or blow gaskets. :bs

 

I assume you want to get the engine hot tanked, checked for cracks, bored/honed, and heads rebuilt. That will require a lot of machine work with parts being a small part of the total cost.

I suggest you call a local engine machine shop first for their parts recommendation and get a full quote for a long block rebuild. As you are looking for a simple rebuild, they may be able to offer reasonal prices on stock parts and rebuild the long block assembly at a very reasonable price with a warranty. Worth looking into.

 

If you change the pistons then the crank will need to be rebalanced if the pistons weigh differently from the original ones. I rebuilt a chevy v8 a few years back and I think I had about $600 into it by the time I was done and I did everything myself except the cam bearings, boiling the block out and getting the valves reground and the valve guides knurled. And that total cost was with no new pistons, but included honing the cylinders and new rings and bearings.

 

Then i hope you dont like HP, because the heads on the 86 BLOW.

 

Okkk Never known a iron head to blow. but I've seen piles of aluminum heads in junk yards in LA though. Warped and ect. Aluminum doesn't make HP. :

 

#1 find a good machine shop to do the work, this is the most important step
#2 buy arp main studs and head bolts
#3 felpro will make all your gaskets
#4 speed pro hyperutectic pistons are under $100 on ebay, 4 valve relief std stroke.
#5 buy ARP rod bolts
#6 hastings plasma moly rings
#7 manley race-flo valves in stock sizes
#8 talk about the cam your using for more advice on springs etc..
#9 speed pro roller lifters are $80 on ebay
#10 do a basic bowl job on the heads and cut new seats
#11 buy a GM 6-3/4" damper from any dealer
#12 buy a new waterpump if you have a stock old one
#13 buy a melling oil pump, with good machine work the pink spring will produce 70psi, the orange over 80
#14 consider buying the vortech heads and scoggin doggy base manifold, the heads are $450 new assembled complete and flow just killer for a stock head, they will beat a D-port stock vs stock, also have great mid lift & you won't need anything over .475 lift to maximize them. the base manifold is really nice too, this with something like a comp xr270hr-10 cam would be a very nice engine that makes a solid 350hp or more and over 400lb torque.
#15 you could use your stock cam on these heads and manifold for a power improvment as well but the cam will help bring your peak power up to 5300rpm or so and your shift point to 5800.
#16 porting your plenum and using large runners could be done down the road if you want more power along with long tube headers.
#17 ask specific questions on here, if you just ask for engine rebuild advice guys will be suggesting all sorts of stuff.



[Modified by gtsyellow, 3:03 PM 11/20/2002]

 

This is because most people are idiots who let their cars overheat. Aluminum doesnt make HP, its makes ETs. Youll save 40lbs by going to AL heads instead of Iron. It allows more compression and efficiency. For similarly flowing heads, iron has a slight edge.

The ones on the 86 arent good at anything except port velocity.

 

the more i think about this the more i want to give you a nudge at the vortech heads if you like iron. the cost of them totally assembled is what rebuilding your 86 heads would run. consider this
#1 hot tank the heads $40
#2 deck the heads for new gaskets $40
#3 new valves $150 for a nice stainless manley set
#4 GM springs locks and retainers $100
#5 a good valve and minor bowl job $200

as you can see your over the price of the vortech heads that need absolutely no work out of the box. your only expense will be the $399 scoggin doggy base which is a big mouth base by the way. the extra $300 you spend on the doggy base and vortech heads will be spent VERY well and also up the value of your car if you were to sell it. rebuilt 86 heads don't sound nearly as cool as vortech heads and a scoggin base, they also won't make near the power. it's your money and your car but even if you want a simple rebuild this would be a good mod. even the combustion chamber size is correct for a std. 4 valve relief flat top piston. just ask if you need sources on anything.


[Modified by gtsyellow, 3:31 PM 11/20/2002]