Thread: Help Me Pick Some Heads For Christmas Present

Tweet

Originally Posted by glennsexton

I really like the 12558060 GM Vortec Cylinder Heads. I have used them for many builds and right out of the box they are fine. I bought six of them at one time from Scoggin-Dickey with “free shipping” and the UPS driver really hated me for a while!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Originally Posted by glennsexton

As to the press in versus screwed in studs – you will have no issues with pressed in studs with any reasonable valve train. Chevy used these heads on a lot of applications and the only time I have seen problems is when someone installs a monster lift cam beyond what the head was designed for. The rocker arm studs can be drilled and tapped 3/8" if you want to spend the money – but it is not necessary. Pinning is quite easy – use a cobalt 5/32" drill and rolled pins (available from Summit or probably your local parts house).

With screw-in studs, the expensive part is having the machine shop mill down the head front to back to allow for the thickness of the head of the screw-in studs and the thickness of the guideplates. Otherwise, if you screw the studs in without milling the head, valve train geometry is out the window. Press-in studs have no head height to allow for, but without the head, you have no way to retain a guideplate. So, you either go with pressed-in studs and guided rockers or you go with screw-in studs and guideplates. You cannot use both guided rockers AND guideplates. Something will break.

As I said before, try to get the rail rockers and the covers when you buy the heads, if you buy them used.

Originally Posted by glennsexton

Use AC Delco R44TS or NGK BP5FS plugs with a .045 gap.

Originally Posted by glennsexton

The Vortec heads require self-aligning rocker arms. Chevrolet Performance part number is 12495490 - Rocker Arms 1.5:1 Ratio 3/8'' Stud Self Aligning – about $100. I have also used COMP Cams roller-tip Magnum rockers 1.52:1 ratio (part number 1417-16). Almost twice the money and I’m pretty much with Richard that the stock ones are the best value as in this type of build the roller tip is bling only. Do not use 1.6:1.

I would advise against the Comp Magnum roller tip rockers.
1. It's the fulcrum that needs a roller, not the tip. Poor engineering in my opinion.
2. I have seen these rockers turn blue from the friction generated at the fulcrum. How is that a good thing?

Originally Posted by glennsexton

You will need a Vortec manifold as well. I like the Chevrolet Performance 12496820 manifold and a 750 Quadrajet but it’s an expensive combination - $300-350 for the manifold and at least that much again for a decent Q-Jet. Maybe the heads for Christmas and intake/carb for an early birthday present?

The 12496820 looks like a low-rise intake. The one to use, I would think, would be the high-rise 12366573. It has been dyno-proven time after time that a high-rise, dual-plane intake manifold will make more power 1500 to 6000 than any other manifold design. If money were no object, I would choose the 12366573 at a height of 5.400". If money were an issue, I'd back off to either the Weiand 8502 at 4.730" or the Edelbrock 7116 at 4.720". I would also use two intake gaskets with a 1" phenolic or wooden spacer and top the carburetor with a 14" diameter by 4" thick air filter assembly to allow the motor to breathe.

I would begin hitting craigslist for a used intake manifold, one of the 3 listed above.

Originally Posted by glennsexton

Great thread - love your boy and make the memories.