4 valve SBC head?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 5,889
Likes: 2
From: Castro Valley Calif.
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
4 valve SBC head?
I came across this while I was doing some surfing.........does anybody know anything about them? Some of their numbers are pretty astounding 
http://www.araoengineering.com/Chevy/chevysmb.htm
I think I'd look hard at these things if I wasn't married to a smog legal build on this new motor!
http://www.araoengineering.com/Chevy/chevysmb.htm
I think I'd look hard at these things if I wasn't married to a smog legal build on this new motor!
Racer
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 379
Likes: 0
From: Helsinki
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 3,193
Likes: 1
From: Cincinnati Oh
I've been eyeing the arao heads for a while too. Being the complete package (heads, valves, springs, covers, etc) and having the flow #s that they do- I'll bet the cost really isn't more than 2K over what you would pay for a fully prep'd, ported and assmbled pair of high-end aftermarket heads with less numbers. SO it's big $$$ up front but how much do other people running wild smallblocks put into their cylinder heads?
My only beef is that the company is fairly small and untested. But then again, look at AFR's rep lately and maybe it's not so important.
If I had a little money to play with- I would try them for sure. Now 18* heads are probably comparable, but you have the same issues with exhaust and even more issues with manifolds and compatability.
My only beef is that the company is fairly small and untested. But then again, look at AFR's rep lately and maybe it's not so important.
If I had a little money to play with- I would try them for sure. Now 18* heads are probably comparable, but you have the same issues with exhaust and even more issues with manifolds and compatability.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,062
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Originally Posted by Ramanstud
I've been eyeing the arao heads for a while too. Being the complete package (heads, valves, springs, covers, etc) and having the flow #s that they do- I'll bet the cost really isn't more than 2K over what you would pay for a fully prep'd, ported and assmbled pair of high-end aftermarket heads with less numbers. SO it's big $$$ up front but how much do other people running wild smallblocks put into their cylinder heads?
My only beef is that the company is fairly small and untested. But then again, look at AFR's rep lately and maybe it's not so important.
If I had a little money to play with- I would try them for sure. Now 18* heads are probably comparable, but you have the same issues with exhaust and even more issues with manifolds and compatability.
My only beef is that the company is fairly small and untested. But then again, look at AFR's rep lately and maybe it's not so important.
If I had a little money to play with- I would try them for sure. Now 18* heads are probably comparable, but you have the same issues with exhaust and even more issues with manifolds and compatability.
Those araos make killer nimbers with very little cam timing...Only thing i can say is the heads are physically HUGE, and the portwork I saw the day I was there was pretty lousy. Perhaps they can CNC them. Don't know if they would clear/mount accesories.???
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Drifting
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 1,874
Likes: 1
From: Garden Grove CA
There are plenty of large budget sportsman racers out there - none seem to interested in these particular heads. The Arao/Dominion heads have actually been available for several years now. They would appear to be another one of those totally bitchin looking ideas that fail to deliver horsepower. As I've said in all the other posts on these heads, I get to see them every year at just one show: The L.A. Roadsters Father's day car show at Pomona. It is no accident that they can be found in show car venues rather than in any racing, they are lookers more than performers.
Thomas
Thomas
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
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From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
Just look in years passed the people that hopped up ZR1 Vettes. One of the guys on this forum has 4 valve 90 vette. That has bigger than stock valves and cam with a 415-427 ci under neath it and a 200 shot of N2O He was up for the 0-150-0 in the motortread shoot out.
I think he N/A 618 hp at rear wheels. big buck machine with @8000 red line
I think he N/A 618 hp at rear wheels. big buck machine with @8000 red line
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 7,562
Likes: 9
From: B'Ville NY
Cruise-In III Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05
Gkull why would the ZR1 only have a 8000rpm redline? I thought the whole idea of having the multiple valves (import cars come to mind) is that the smaller valves have lighter weight so the valve train can be controlled better for high rpm applications while the added valves don't hurt but add to the flow capabilities.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,444
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
Mike - It was his ci holding him back. I can't remember what he told me had for a crank. It was either a 3.875 in a 400 block to get 415 ci or it was 4 inch stroker to get 427 ci.
His other rpm limiting point was the ZR1 based injection manifold. Even though it was extensively modified it proved to limit the CFM of air flow in a big ci motor. Same idea of trying to use a ported Super Ram on a big ci motor. Your going to be limiting it to sub 6000 rpm because of limited air flow and how big of a roller cam duration that you can run.
His other rpm limiting point was the ZR1 based injection manifold. Even though it was extensively modified it proved to limit the CFM of air flow in a big ci motor. Same idea of trying to use a ported Super Ram on a big ci motor. Your going to be limiting it to sub 6000 rpm because of limited air flow and how big of a roller cam duration that you can run.
Thanks 
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,654
Likes: 190
From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
That blown 406ci in the video is one nasty motor, it is unbelievable how fast that thing revs from 1000 to 6000 RPM, take a look at the end the dyno operator gives it a few shots of gas it hits over 6000RPM in about 1/10th of second 
Racer
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 352
Likes: 0
From: Frisco, TX
I am with the Green Rocket on this one. I saw a set of these flow benched back when they were still called Dominion (I have no idea what, if any changes have been made now that they are Aero). There was also a set of Trick Flow Ford 351 heads that had just had a mild cleanup and flow test. The Trick Flows beat the Aero's across the valve lift range. Back then they were about $5500. Again, I don't know what if anything has changed in their design, but I was unimpressed.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
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From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
I believe Dominion was the marketing company that used to sell them for Arao. With a little reshaping (they look like huge squared off blocks of aluminum) and some CNC work they might work well. The 2 sets of heads I've seen were hand worked and didn't look good at all IMO
