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Performance Cylinder Heads

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Montero65

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I'm looking at doing some engine mods to my '79 B, and I'm considering looking at a new aluminum head. I have seen two different styles though, and I'm not sure which would be better. I have seen a stock design head but in aluminum, and I have seen the aluminum cross-flow head (intake on the side opposite of the exhaust). Anyone out there have experience with either of these, or can anyone give me good reasons/proof to choose one over another? Thanks.

(I'm not sure, but this may be detailed in the book from Burgess, which I ordered online 10/27/04, but I still don't have it.)
 
Go with the crossflow. If you don't have a problem with the cash of course as now you will need new header and intake, but that's what they make money for, to spend. Crossflows are better in all ways,, to bad they don't do a Hemi. Wayne
 
Peter Burgess says that a well modified cast iron head flows better than a cross flow head. The only benefit of the cross flow head is 15% better midrange torque.

He highly recommends raising your compression ratio to 10.5:1 or a little higher for road use. So that means the pistons would need to be changed. The cross flow head is expensive $1800. Then you need the $400 intake manifold!! Plus once its installed it makes it really hard to get to the distributor and oil filter if its not mounted inverted.

For around $1100 (using your existing head) you can get it fully modified (ported and polished) with rim flow valves and heavy duty valve springs. This will give your engine a 25-30 hp increase as long as your compression and cam are in good shape. Contact Tom Bedenbaugh at www.importandsports.com
 
One of your local shops does a port and polish on a aluminum head and then installs pistons at about 10:1 compression. They also modify the Su carb to increase the flow through the carb by grinding down the throttle shafts to a width slightly wider than the throttle plate. Combined with a good cam and a good ignition system you can have a strong engine that is reliable.
 
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