Very informative Video for buying aftermarket heads.

[t-typinator]

Would like to hear machinists/ engine builders opinions on how accurate this is.
He is talking about some well known companies ,Dart,Brodix,Pro Comp,Patriot ,indy,etc. he's more or less saying all aftermarket heads.
Something to think about for anybody looking to buy aftermarket heads.

It also brings up the question of OUR aftermarket heads,(T/A ,Champion) how do they compare to this video's depiction of out of the box aftermarket heads.
Ie: Should they be bought bare and done by a trusted machine shop using your own selected parts or are theirs done with high quality work and parts out of the box ???

 

["Turbo-T"]

Wow...I'm in the market for a set of ARP heads. I wonder if they too use "China valves"?

 

[t-typinator]

Wow...I'm in the market for a set of ARP heads. I wonder if they too use "China valves"?

Do you mean AFR heads ?

 

[bison]

I've seen some big name heads with day light, horrible machining, shit springs, cheap locks/retainers, etc. a friend bought a set of assembled heads for his Ford and one of them was missing seals on the intake valves. Out of the box without checking them is a roll of the dice. I've never personally taken a set of heads "out of the box" and been able to bolt them on without something needing to be done. I prefer the heads to come with valves and unfinished seats. The final result is always better when everything is fine tuned and documented. I personally would never buy a cheap set of aftermarket heads. The reason they are cheap is because the parts and machining is a bucket of shit just like he said in the video. Thankfully the TA and Champion heads come with good valves even on the cheapest sets they offer. People often ask me how much for heads and more than a few times my reply was if that's the only question you have then too much. You will not get a cheap head that is a quality head period. That doesn't mean an expensive one is good either. Pinching pennies on heads will really bite you in the ass. Look at all the threads about bad springs and engines laying over at high rpm/boost. 100% of the time the person op has no clue what their spring pressures are. If you aren't going to check it then pay the right guy to check it for you. The right guy will measure it all and document it for his own records. With engine work like this you aren't necessarily paying the person for what they are doing for you. You are paying them for what they know.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[t-typinator]

I've seen some big name heads with day light, horrible machining, shit springs, cheap locks/retainers, etc. a friend bought a set of assembled heads for his Ford and one of them was missing seals on the intake valves. Out of the box without checking them is a roll of the dice. I've never personally taken a set of heads "out of the box" and been able to bolt them on without something needing to be done. I prefer the heads to come with valves and unfinished seats. The final result is always better when everything is fine tuned and documented. I personally would never buy a cheap set of aftermarket heads. The reason they are cheap is because the parts and machining is a bucket of shit just like he said in the video. Thankfully the TA and Champion heads come with good valves even on the cheapest sets they offer. People often ask me how much for heads and more than a few times my reply was if that's the only question you have then too much. You will not get a cheap head that is a quality head period. That doesn't mean an expensive one is good either. Pinching pennies on heads will really bite you in the ass. Look at all the threads about bad springs and engines laying over at high rpm/boost. 100% of the time the person op has no clue what their spring pressures are. If you aren't going to check it then pay the right guy to check it for you. The right guy will measure it all and document it for his own records. With engine work like this you aren't necessarily paying the person for what they are doing for you. You are paying them for what they know.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Good info ,Thanks for the reply ?

I'm thinking on buying a Big block crate motor ,and i am now wondering if they just buy a done set of heads and throw them on to complete their crate motors vs buying them bare and doing them themselves. All the description says is aluminum heads,with not much detail so i'm guessing that's the case.
I'm waiting to hear back from the company .

Ps, Anybody wanting to learn alot about Aftermarket Heads,Valve Jobs, Head Porting,etc.
check out some of the other video's that the guy in the above video has made he really goes into great detail and explains how everything is done ,and the right and wrong way of doing it.

 

[Gene Van Horn]

I would like to check out other vids,but who is the guy and whats the company name? Thanks Gene

 

[t-typinator]

I would like to check out other vids,but who is the guy and whats the company name? Thanks Gene

Here is another one, but all you have to do is go to youtube and put in Headbytes Porting (Company Name i believe) and a bunch more will come up.