4 valve heads
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
From: Southfield Michigan
4 valve heads
I remember reading about them a while ago. And I am contemplating a motor build. Not shure if I want to build my L-98 up or build the old 396 that has been sitting around for a few years. Got it cheap when I was 17.
Has anyone tryed 4 valve heads on their small or big block chevy? Were the results good? Are they worth the price and about how much were they. I cannot seem to find much information on them. I think I am just looking in the wrong spots.
My goal for my car is lots of torque. I want a good SOTP feeling every time I stomp the gas. My biggest complaint now is that there are dead spots in the RPM band. Depending on where you step on it it feels like grandpa's car :lol:
Thanks for any info. :cheers:
Has anyone tryed 4 valve heads on their small or big block chevy? Were the results good? Are they worth the price and about how much were they. I cannot seem to find much information on them. I think I am just looking in the wrong spots.
My goal for my car is lots of torque. I want a good SOTP feeling every time I stomp the gas. My biggest complaint now is that there are dead spots in the RPM band. Depending on where you step on it it feels like grandpa's car :lol:
Thanks for any info. :cheers:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 6,341
Likes: 1
From: Shelton CT
Re: 4 valve heads (BookSmart)
Damn your Grandpa must have a fast car.. :D
I have heard of only one company that many a 4vavle conversion for sbc. It was way to expensive for anyone on the forum to mess with it though. It was brought up a few times last year I recall.. I think cost was like 4K+ for the heads...Maybe somebody else will have better info for ya though.
I have heard of only one company that many a 4vavle conversion for sbc. It was way to expensive for anyone on the forum to mess with it though. It was brought up a few times last year I recall.. I think cost was like 4K+ for the heads...Maybe somebody else will have better info for ya though.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 151
Likes: 0
From: Mobile al
Re: 4 valve heads (BookSmart)
I don't know anything about them, except what they have on the web page.
http://www.araoengineering.com/Chevy/chevysmb.htm
Maybe someone with lots-o-money can get a set and do a tech report :jester
All kidding aside, it would be nice to have some data on them from an outside source.
http://www.araoengineering.com/Chevy/chevysmb.htm
Maybe someone with lots-o-money can get a set and do a tech report :jester
All kidding aside, it would be nice to have some data on them from an outside source.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 4,283
Likes: 0
From: Houston Texas
Re: 4 valve heads (BookSmart)
There is no substitute for cubic inches. 4 valve heads aren't known for their low end but their ability to make top end hp and rev. Look at zr1. If you have the ability I would build a big c.i. motor that would give you that sotp feeling. Big torque monster. :thumbs:
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
From: Southfield Michigan
Re: 4 valve heads (BAM92)
Yes I want a torque monster.
Thinking about putting the 396 in my vette in a few years when I have money to burn :P Still pwaying off the cars ATM.
I thought from the web site that these heads were suppost to make torque faster. Maybe I read it wrong. If so that is the direction I wanted to go in.
Anyone have a $$$ on these? Or any ideas? 4K seems like a lot but for a decent set of heads after having them ported and polished I am shure you ware probally getting up there in cost.
Thanks for the responses. From the dyno graphs these heads make a ton-O-power. Then again at the moment I am just dreaming and setting goals.
P.S. MrNuke :lol: :lolg: :lol: :lolg: :lol:
Thinking about putting the 396 in my vette in a few years when I have money to burn :P Still pwaying off the cars ATM.
I thought from the web site that these heads were suppost to make torque faster. Maybe I read it wrong. If so that is the direction I wanted to go in.
Anyone have a $$$ on these? Or any ideas? 4K seems like a lot but for a decent set of heads after having them ported and polished I am shure you ware probally getting up there in cost.
Thanks for the responses. From the dyno graphs these heads make a ton-O-power. Then again at the moment I am just dreaming and setting goals.
P.S. MrNuke :lol: :lolg: :lol: :lolg: :lol:
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,146
Likes: 2
From: Albuquerque NM
Re: 4 valve heads (BookSmart)
I'll say it ... stay away from converting your engine to 4-valve. This is a great idea, but this "investment opportunity" is not about head or performance. :cool:
If you want a 4-valve setup go the cheap route and get a ZR1 (yes I said cheap)
God bless ye :chevy
If you want a 4-valve setup go the cheap route and get a ZR1 (yes I said cheap)
God bless ye :chevy
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 1,803
Likes: 1
From: PA
Re: 4 valve heads (ZD1)
The 4 valve retrofit heads to fit a chevy small block are totally Polish. They cater to the concours show crowd. They were designed for the person who absolutely HAS to have 4 valves. They are full of compromises, including geometry problems & a clunky, heavy & unreliable valvetrain driven by the OEM pushrods.
If you must have 4 valve heads, do it right and install a salvage Northstar. Don't expect to be passing OEM 16V C5's with it, though.
I smell a basket case.
If you must have 4 valve heads, do it right and install a salvage Northstar. Don't expect to be passing OEM 16V C5's with it, though.
I smell a basket case.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
From: Southfield Michigan
Re: 4 valve heads (Rick93Z07)
Well guess the 4 valve heads are not for me. I will keep reading the boards and come up with some better ideas on how to build power. Thanks for all the help.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,143
Likes: 7
From: San Diego CA
Re: 4 valve heads (BookSmart)
Shoehorning a big block into the C4 engine bay has been done, but you'll need to do a lot of custom machining. You can get to 396 using your current 350 block. Lots of guys are very happy with it.
If you have dead spots, it sounds like you need a good tune-up. New plugs and wires are the cheapest best value "bolt-on" you can do. Check for vacuum leaks and clean the TB (maybe have it rebuilt). Maybe new O2 sensors as well.
Cats may be partially blocked.
You've already got tons of torque, sounds like it needs TLC. It should be smmoootthhhh running.
[Modified by John Row, 11:25 AM 6/19/2003]
If you have dead spots, it sounds like you need a good tune-up. New plugs and wires are the cheapest best value "bolt-on" you can do. Check for vacuum leaks and clean the TB (maybe have it rebuilt). Maybe new O2 sensors as well.
Cats may be partially blocked.
You've already got tons of torque, sounds like it needs TLC. It should be smmoootthhhh running.
[Modified by John Row, 11:25 AM 6/19/2003]
Pro
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 559
Likes: 6
From: OKC OK
Re: 4 valve heads (BookSmart)
Hiya Book,
I'm still a newbie on the forum but I've built a few Rats in my time. I LOVE the 396! You won't go wrong there. Solid, dependable, damn near bullet proof! I don't recall you mentioning what year your Vette is but I'm wondering...a big block swap into a C-4...transverse spring issues? The Rat is a lot heavier than the mouse. Good idea to put away the quad valve heads. I did some looking into this years ago. The fact that there's little info about them, that they are hard to find, and ridiculously expensive when you do is a clue! Still lotsa options are available...are ya gonna be injected or normally aspirated? Lotsa rat heads to choose from still available too...what rpm range do you want? Torque? (small port), Rpm? (large port)...could talk RATs for hours! :cool:
I'm still a newbie on the forum but I've built a few Rats in my time. I LOVE the 396! You won't go wrong there. Solid, dependable, damn near bullet proof! I don't recall you mentioning what year your Vette is but I'm wondering...a big block swap into a C-4...transverse spring issues? The Rat is a lot heavier than the mouse. Good idea to put away the quad valve heads. I did some looking into this years ago. The fact that there's little info about them, that they are hard to find, and ridiculously expensive when you do is a clue! Still lotsa options are available...are ya gonna be injected or normally aspirated? Lotsa rat heads to choose from still available too...what rpm range do you want? Torque? (small port), Rpm? (large port)...could talk RATs for hours! :cool:
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
From: Southfield Michigan
Re: 4 valve heads (MtlSphere)
I want to keep RPM around the 5K range. Something like stock but more power.
My Vette is a 86.
I wanted to use the big block because it seems like such a waste to leave it in peices on the floor :(
NA would be more my style. Turbo may be nice but I want to stick to NA.
And I think the dead spots are my TV cable not adjusted right. Have to stomp it pretty hard to downshift. And sometimes in the middle of the RPM range it does not down shift making it feel slugish.
After 2 botles of fuel cleaner it will chirp the tires at 1/4 throttle or less. And at the Gratiot cruise last weekend <michigan> I could SMOKE the tires from a 10MPH roll. Had to show those new Mustang Mach 1 guys how to do it without braking or madly revvin the mortor :yesnod:
Car is fine for every day use I still get a SLOW DOWN from the wife on the on ramps :lol: Not like I do much more than 40MPH on the way to work every day.
My Vette is a 86.
I wanted to use the big block because it seems like such a waste to leave it in peices on the floor :(
NA would be more my style. Turbo may be nice but I want to stick to NA.
And I think the dead spots are my TV cable not adjusted right. Have to stomp it pretty hard to downshift. And sometimes in the middle of the RPM range it does not down shift making it feel slugish.
After 2 botles of fuel cleaner it will chirp the tires at 1/4 throttle or less. And at the Gratiot cruise last weekend <michigan> I could SMOKE the tires from a 10MPH roll. Had to show those new Mustang Mach 1 guys how to do it without braking or madly revvin the mortor :yesnod:
Car is fine for every day use I still get a SLOW DOWN from the wife on the on ramps :lol: Not like I do much more than 40MPH on the way to work every day.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 6,366
Likes: 34
Re: 4 valve heads (Rick93Z07)
The 4 valve retrofit heads to fit a chevy small block are totally Polish. They cater to the concours show crowd. They were designed for the person who absolutely HAS to have 4 valves. They are full of compromises, including geometry problems & a clunky, heavy & unreliable valvetrain driven by the OEM pushrods.
I smell a basket case.
I smell a basket case.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 6,366
Likes: 34
Re: 4 valve heads
I have an interest in these heads as well so I went doing a little digging.
http://web.camaross.com/forums/showt...e&pagenumber=1
http://www.fbody.com/members/GreenMeany/Home.htm
Custom made JE piston to fit his app
http://web.camaross.com/forums/showt...e&pagenumber=1
http://www.fbody.com/members/GreenMeany/Home.htm
Custom made JE piston to fit his app
