Anything new on new AFR heads?
Any info on appropriate cam, dyno results?
Thanks

 

:lurk: I'm interested in the torque accross the curve with these. Port velocity is supposed to be much higher. Any info?

 

:lurk:

 

TTT. I had hoped to see something on this too. Even if manufacturing was delayed due to parts availability, I would think that a couple of sets of heads should be in their shop and should be able to provide dyno results.

- Mark

 

Inguiring minds want to know???????????

:confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:

 

:withstupid: :confused: :confused: :D

 

ttt

 

Hello All...

Sorry for the long "sebaticle"...

I had been giving serious consideration to starting a post with an update on the status of the AFR's, and sure enough I saw this post tonight and decided it was a perfect oppurtunity to release some accurate information pertaining to the production launch of our 205's, and shortly thereafter, the release of our 225's.

Lets get the "bad news" out of the way....we are not going to make January (obviously), and February doesn't look very promising either, although there is a small chance that a limited production run might ship out to some dealers, etc at the end of the month or early March. The reality of that happening is still questionable, but at this point looks more positive than negative.

Why the delay?....Numerous reasons (too much optimism for one....I think every manufacturer of what looks to be an exciting product gets caught up in this trap....If any of you have manufacturing backrounds, I'm sure your chuckling as you read this).

The biggest part of the delay is the fact the first wave of test castings had some issues and minor revisions that had to be made. We couldn't just give the foundry the green light to start running production until these small details are resolved. Optimisism that the first wave would be acceptable and we could go right to production was probably not very realistic, although the good news is the revisions are minor and we have hopes the second wave of test castings due shortly will provide us with better results and a green light to start our first major production run of LSX castings. Considering this was a ground up completely new product for us, the quality of our "alpha castings" were very close....anyone who had the oppurtunity to see a few of them at the PRI show could attest to that.

Also, more dissappointing but not really effecting the timeline of the project, is the fact that the dyno testing scheduled for late this month (NOW!), was pushed forward till the 3rd week of Feb. Numerous factors involved here, most of which were outside of AFR's control, but the testing scheduled for later next month will be much more thorough and informative....that much I promise you. I was hoping to at least share promising dyno results now (and finally sink my own teeth into some hard numbers on the dyno....engine and chassis) to at least hold everyone over until we launch production. I know that it would make the wait alot easier on everyone (myself included) to have some idea of the potential the new cylinder head design is capable of. I'm confident it will be impressive....just curious if it will fall short of my expectations or perhaps be slightly higher. Obviously time will tell....we just need a little more patience to finally see the results.

The timeline on the larger 225's is not effected as much....once the major issue is resolved (castings), the release of the 225's will fall slightly behind the 205's. If anything, the delay of the 205's just brought the two products closer together from a timeline perspective. I hadn't expected the release of the 225's until the March/April timeframe anyway.

Will keep everyone posted on how things are progressing....I am not going to "sugarcoat", and if anything will be more conservative with my predictions on product release dates, etc. I will of course share the results of our dyno testing late next month as soon as I have access to the information.

I know I speak for everyone at AFR when I thank you for your patience, and your interest in our newest product. I'm sure this information comes as a disappointment to most (again, myself included), but these are the facts and the last thing we want is rumors of god knows what spreading about the delay of the product. We are much closer to CNC machines humming and brand new AFR "LS" castings all over the floor....its just going to take a little bit longer than our earlier "slightly optimistic" predictions would have it.

Regards to all,
Tony Mamo
Sales/Product Design

 

Tony,

Thank you for the update. We are excited and trying to be patient but hadn't heard anything for some time. Keep us informed please!

 

Arrgggh! Well, as disappointing as that news is, I appreciate the candid info rather than the 'blow smoke up their rears' that some folks do. I've been waiting all winter to pull the trigger on a heads/cam job and am dead set on the AFR heads, guess I'll just have to be even more patient. Durned shame about the dyno tests being pushed back, having figures to stare at could help occupy my time during the wait. :)

 

Tony,

Will there be any special introductory pricing or anything like that? The pricing that I have seen from vendors so far is only a couple of percent off of list price.

 

Vortech...

The heads have already been reduced $300 below what we initially expected to sell them for (Check an older issue of "Corvette Fever" that covered some of the facts and figures of the new AFR heads).

Consider that it wasn't too long ago that many of the tuners were selling ported factory castings for almost $3000, and some even more. With the far superior castings and much improved "efficiency" these heads should provide, the current selling price seems more than fair. Once again, the performance gains from the new design and the increase in head gasket retention and reliability must all prove out as we expect.

Thanks,
Tony M.

 

I can't wait to see your results with these heads. I'm in no rush to do H/C beacuse I simply don't have the money to blow right now :smash: I'm really interested in the torque curve with these heads. :cheers:

 

Thanks, Tony. I really want a set of the 205s and am just looking for a deal.

 

Tony,

Thanks for the info.

Compared to what you get for other heads (especially with core charge) AFR's are pretty cheap. If I sell my LS6 heads for $800, I am only out of pocket around $1,600 for the best heads money can buy.

I have tried to save a few $$ before and passed on AFR's and bought cheaper heads for other cars. I have regretted it both times and ended up spending just as much $$ by the time they were ported.

I will be laying my $$ down when heads come out.

Hockey Doc,

I saw the photos in your sig and it looks like you might live in my neighborhood (forest heights). Give me a call #243-1900 or shoot me an e-mail mike@colbachlaw.com if you want to go for a spin and row the gears in my Z06.

Mike C
Portland, OR


I h

 

We will have the new AFR heads very soon. Andy at A&A will probably be the first to dyno them.

Jim :cool:

 

Hi Mike...

Thanks for the offer to check out your Z06....Actually, I've never driven in a Z06....Would be curious how it feels compared to my "tweaked" coupe....but we do have a big problem....I live in southern CA which is not all that close to Oregon. (Curious how you thought we lived closer?) If your ever out this way, certainly look me up and I'll give you the nickel tour of AFR....Hopefully by then we will be spitting out LSx castings like there's no tomorrow.

Guys...I / We / AFR appreciate all the positive comments and everyone's patience, and if my gut and all the hard data serves me right, it will all be worth it in the end.

Amen to that....

Regards to all,
Tony

 

Thanks for the update, I was hoping to install your heads this month but went with Patriot heads instead (for obvious reasons), when the AFR 225cc heads come out I'll have a set of Patriot heads for sale. :yesnod: :cheers:

 

Tony,

You are welcome to drive my Z06 if you are ever in town(an dI would certainly volunteer it as a test mule for the AFR heads), but I was actually talking to Hockeydoc, as I think he lives in my hood.

Mike

 

Looks like around July or August then?????

The good news is that it looks like the only difference to the LSx motor for the C6 will be a 4" bore...so your heads will not be out dated by time they hit the market the C6 will be going up forsale. Now days you can get a set of heads for $1800 Stage II...the AFR heads hopefully will out perform those Stage II's...it looks as though they will base on Port Velocity alone more than CFM...my Heads make over 300CFM at 600 lift.. It will be hard for us guys to justify selliing our Stage II Heads for the new AFR heads if there is not a significant difference in performance..

Tony I really wanted to try out your AFR heads on my Twin Turbo setup..BAD...the 76cc Head Volume and 205 Runners I thought would be perfect for lowering my CR a little more and keeping the velocity up because of the runner size. I am good friends with Andy and we were anxious to get a set to maybe try them out on my car. I recognize AFRs product because I have an L98 F Body and have seen what you AFR has got out of those heads and a MiniRam.

This is dissappointing to me....maybe come August..I will be in the mood to just sell my LS6 Stage II heads and try out your AFR heads...I would love to be the First TT owner to try them out on my car.

Peace


[Modified by Shinobi'sZ, 8:35 AM 1/29/2004]