Anybody have Heads with Speed Density?

[Kdubslugga]

I tried to search, couldnt find anything. I can score a good deal on a pair of Edelbrock Performer Heads. Problem is i still have Speed Density. I also have a Cobra Intake! Ive heard people say that you need to convert before heads, others say heads are OK, just cant do a cam swap! So my question is, can i install these heads without converting? Have any of you done it, or know anybody that has??

 

[The Shape]

Don't know myself. But you might check out www.50tech.com there is alot of guys on there running HCI swaps as well as blowers still speed density so they would be able to steer you in the right direction.

 

[DCjuggalo]

you just have to get it tuned with speed density

 

[bmorrisj]

as long as the heads dont somehow magically make engine vacuum disappear you'll be alright....

 

[04sleeper]

I have done this several times with heads intakes and rockers. As long as you run the stock cam you will be ok.

 

[Kdubslugga]

Thanks for the replies guys!! Yeah, no cam until the mass air conversion though..

 

[87'GTstang]

Thanks for the replies guys!! Yeah, no cam until the mass air conversion though..

Smart move. But it's hard to get a good set of breathing heads and not throw that cam in there to actually take advantage of them

 

[lxboy]

believe it or not you can swap cams with speed density. You cant just go pick up a b cam and through it in there but comp offers some cams that work just fine with speed density. A friend back home has an 88 notch that makes 249 rwhp and 290 lbft with exhaust, edlebrock perfromer intake, fenderwall cold air kit, and a comp cam not sure the specs but he doesnt have any big issues and those are pretty dam good numbers for stock heads. The best thing to do is call a company and ask them they will help you out.

 

[Daggar]

as long as the heads dont somehow magically make engine vacuum disappear you'll be alright....

Correct statement. Check my Sig. I've got an E-cam installed and it works just fine. I didn't have to do much tuning for just the cam and heads and what's better is that you can drop in 24 lb.hr injectors and not have to worry about swapping mass air meters to co-exist with it. At idle I have roughly 20 lbs of vac. I guess the big thing with the cam is to not install a cam with allot of overlap. The computer tries to keep the AFR at a constant 14.7 (which is not ideal for making the most power but great for emissions). Depending on where you plan to go with your setup you may want to look into getting a chip burned for your speed density if you don't swap over to mass air. If you do decide to get a chip burned then you should probably look into a 'switch' chip. That way you can turn off the richer mixture if you have to go through the lanes. In my case it's not an issue due to the boost and the FMU. The FMU kicks in as soon as it detects boost and the fuel tables in the computer go right out the window.

 

[Kdubslugga]

So if i installed some new heads, i shouldnt have a problem?

 

[Daggar]

So if i installed some new heads, i shouldnt have a problem?

Those heads should be right at home with SD.

 

[Stang8URMPRT]

Daggar.... You say you have a "stock short block", yet have heads and cam... So you did what to make the valves clear? Notch the pistons?

Nick

 

[Daggar]

Did not have piston to valve clearance problems with the trick flow heads (which was my major concern when I went looking for heads). I spoke with several folks at trick flow about the heads before I bought them and was told that I "shouldn't" have any problems but that I needed to check to be sure (not what I wanted to hear but I gambled anyway knowing that worse case I'd have to take the car somewhere to have the pistons notched). I got lucky. On the 86 I guess it's pot luck although the twisted wedge are supposed to fit without clearance problems. I did find this recently when someone else was looking to put head on their 86:

http://www.trickflow.com/product/heads/twisted_wedge/pr_twiswedge.htm

 

[sn9550]

My set up works good. For cams it generally takes a 114 LSA or wider and [email protected] of 220 or less. Crower 15511 will work as well as a couple of Comp cams.

 

[Gearbanger 101]

1987 LX 5.0L

PnP E7TE heads, (runners, chamber work, undercut valves with 5-angle valve job, .030 deck)
Welded, straitened, ported lower intake,
1.7 RR
Full Exhaust
Opened up intake
Stock Cam

runs and idles like a charm.

 

[_jb_]

Those heads should be right at home with SD.

I second that. I was looking for heads for my car a while back and had the same question. I plan on moving to MAF this winter maybe when I get my engine rebuilt if all goes accordlingly. That way it will be easier to put a kick ass cam in when the engine is out.