Question: You said you researched the heads hard to make your decision on the Canfields... Why did you choose them over AFRs? I have a little time yet, but I have narrowed my heads down to AFR 205s, Twisted Wedge (Street), or Canfields. Your thoughts on why you chose Canfield may help. Thanks! Dave If it matters, the engine will be a 351w.
Dave the first thing I did was get a lot of input from folks at the strips I run at. Second I did a Google search on various heads and there is alot of info out there but I drew my conclusions on studies done by independent research labs. These heads have a 351 firing order and are made for any Windsor Block. After assembly, porting, roller rockers, porting of the intake manifold and installation I've got $2200.00 in them. From what I can tell so far it's been worth every penny. Unfortunately the first time I took it for a serious test at the strip I spun a bearing and broke the oil pump on launch or vice versa. We are rebuiding the short block now starting with a " fresh" block bored 30 over, Eagle 4340 Forged crank and rods, dampener, Ross pistons, internally balanced with a custom made 3500 stall converter to match the engine setup. Also a Milodon 8 qt. oil pan and Victor jr. intake are being added. Talk is cheap though, the proof is in the pudding, we may have it running this weekend and I might be able to get a time on it.
Sorry about the engine man... That sucks sooooo bad. I have confidence in my engine building until I crank an engine up. I am a nervous wreck every time it runs for a month or so. Good luck with the new build. Dave I am sure you broke it in your way, but this is how I was told to do it (hasn't failed me yet): Break in the cam 20-30 minutes at 2000-3000 rpm. Cool engine. Run at 3000 rpm for 3 hours, can be done in stages instead of all at once. The engine must be under NO LOAD. Tune should be dead on at this point. This polishes the bearings and seats the rings. Change oil. Now you can run under load.
If you're still narrowing down what heads you want, check out the new canted valve small block heads jegs has. I think they' are called kaase/jegs. They look really nice.
Ratio, not sure where you got that break in procedure, but it is quite the opposite of everything I have ever seen. The cam part is right, but 3000rpm foir three hours? Cylinder pressure seats rings, not no load running. I have never heard anything like that. riporter, how do these heads have a 351 firing order? Firing order is determined by the cam.
I got it from an industrial engine rebuild manual. It made sense. The idea is that the bearings get more of a beating under load, therefore to 'polish' them in and mate them to the crank properly, they should run "no load". It didn't go into detail about the rings, just that they seat better broken in this way. I have done this because industrial engines take a cruel beating, worse than the average automotive engine... alot like the beating us gearheads put on them. I figured what made an industrial engine run 24/7 under heavy load and high heat, would be good practice for a stressed car engine. Not sayin' it's right, just what I do. Dave
The cam is new also along with the heads Max...either way...it has a 351 firing order now. I'm gonna get a pic of the new setup before it is put back in and post the specs on the build. After break-in I'll get an 1/8 time and estimated HP.
That's a Very Good question. Maybe that it's built to such exacting tolarences and specs it does'nt have to be broke in. I never took it over 3000 rpm's during break-in...only after final adjusting when I punched at the track. I could be totally off base but I think the top end was just more than the bottom could take and something had to give.
