Buying PI heads, pre-ported from patriot performance, am I missing something?

[MyEarsHurt]

Well, I was browsing through a muscle mustang / fast fords catalog today and came acorss this ad for patriot performance. They sell PI heads that are cnc ported with a 5 angle valve job, for 1195 a pair, no core exchange (cams not included). Here is the website....

http://www.patriot-performance.com/

So what am I missing here....I mean why would I want to buy a set of PI heads from steeda for $800, when I can pitch in the extra 400 bucks and get a set of ported heads? Granted, I will still have to buy a set of PI cams, but they cant be that much money. If anyone has any beefs with patriot performance, let me know cause I have never done business with them before. Last question, how big of a difference in HP/TQ will there be between a set of PI heads and a ported set of PI heads? Any input would be appreciated, thanks.

 

[stang976]

yea i looked into those but $1,200 for stock ported heads is crazy in my book... but since u r going to do the conversion anyway i would definatley do it

 

[NiteRydaGT]

You'll need a PI installation kit (You can get it from Randy Stinchcomb here Modular Depot Parts Forum , PI intake, and PI Cams. I'd recommend getting aftermarket cams and if the heads don't have them, upgraded valve springs.
If you have the money for P&P heads, go for it. Might as well do it now so you don't have to do it in the future.
I'll let someone else take a guess what kind of HP difference there will be between P&P heads and stock heads.

 

[BVille99GT]

FF & MM installed them in their project icebox. 00GT (I think) S-trim, Aftercooler, buillit intake, Longtube headers... the heads gave them about 140hp with cams, the thing is that these heads are from trucks. Some one correct me if I'm worng.

 

[Blev]

FF & MM installed them in their project icebox. 00GT (I think) S-trim, Aftercooler, buillit intake, Longtube headers... the heads gave them about 140hp with cams, the thing is that these heads are from trucks. Some one correct me if I'm worng.

Your correct, they are for trucks so you will need aftermarket valve covers. I think they used the BBk ones. I was also considering the Patriot heads as well. They offer packages that include upgraded springs and valve guides as well.

 

[nickthegenius]

Just a word of warning guys. I know I hate hearing the "you get what you pay for" quote that seems to get overused, but I just don't want fellow board members to end up with crap.

I've been looking at heads as my winter project and came across this info. I don't have first-hand experience with Patriot, but some people on the Modular Depot board have had some problems with valve seals, valves, etc. Most of the blame is placed on the "bargain-bin" Chinese parts they use in the heads. I'm sure there are two sides of the story, but there seems to be a lot of negative feedback about their products.

http://forums.modulardepot.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=38829&highlight=patriot

And one from the Corral.
http://www.corral.net/forums/showthread.php?t=543424&highlight=patriot

http://forums.modulardepot.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=38269&highlight=patriot

Quotes like this one from Cobra Killer (Tim Barth of T&J) would make me steer clear of Patriot:

Hmmmmmmmmm.We had a customer buy a set(didnt want to wait on ours) and had the exact same problem..I could not believe the oil comsumption.I took the heads off and you could wobble the valv in the guide ALOT..

We just got them back....

Im going to link this to our site.

 

[MyEarsHurt]

Thanks for the info nick, it seems like a lot of people are not happy with patriot performance, so I think i will forget about that idea....but does anyone know any other place, a good place, to buy pre ported pi heads?

 

[NiteRydaGT]

Steen Racing

 

[Blev]

Just a word of warning guys. I know I hate hearing the "you get what you pay for" quote that seems to get overused, but I just don't want fellow board members to end up with crap.

I've been looking at heads as my winter project and came across this info. I don't have first-hand experience with Patriot, but some people on the Modular Depot board have had some problems with valve seals, valves, etc. Most of the blame is placed on the "bargain-bin" Chinese parts they use in the heads. I'm sure there are two sides of the story, but there seems to be a lot of negative feedback about their products.

http://forums.modulardepot.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=38829&highlight=patriot

And one from the Corral.
http://www.corral.net/forums/showthread.php?t=543424&highlight=patriot

http://forums.modulardepot.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=38269&highlight=patriot

Quotes like this one from Cobra Killer (Tim Barth of T&J) would make me steer clear of Patriot:

I know who I'm NOT buying the heads from now. So who has the best bang for the buck? I'm going to be buying the heads within the next week, can someone please help me take the guess work out of this.

EDIT
Just checked out Steen Racing, I don't see anything about a core charge, so I'm assuming there isn't.

 

[bierbelly]

I'll let someone else take a guess what kind of HP difference there will be between P&P heads and stock heads.

Hmmm...I'll guess...........zero.

 

[ADRENLN]

im going to go with fox fake stage 1 heads this spring. their expensive but they are quality. my guess on hp between the pi and p&p pi heads would be about 20 to 25 rwhp. thats just a guess from what i heard posted here in the past.

i do have one qouestin that you might also want to consider. i origanally wanted the stage two fox lake heads because they have better flow numbers.

then i heard that stage 1 heads, the power increase will come in lower in the rpm range. in contrast the stage two power would kick in above 4000 rpm's.

any truth to this? after hearing this i thought i would just go with stage 1.

im keeping stock pi cams cause of emissions

 

[nickthegenius]

Depends on the level of modifications on your car. Supercharged, you'll get very noticable gains. On a N/A car with cams/headers/etc., this is one of the mods you almost have to have to get over the 300hp mark. There have been plenty of guys go from the 290s and get around 310-315hp with the addition of P/P heads.

I've been thinking heads or intake (Bullit) to get my car there, but I think I will go with heads.

 

[Blev]

Depends on the level of modifications on your car. Supercharged, you'll get very noticable gains. On a N/A car with cams/headers/etc., this is one of the mods you almost have to have to get over the 300hp mark. There have been plenty of guys go from the 290s and get around 310-315hp with the addition of P/P heads.

I've been thinking heads or intake (Bullit) to get my car there, but I think I will go with heads.

So any other suggestions on what head to go with? The Steen heads are starting to look really good for the price. I was also checking the stage II heads over at modular powerhouse.

 

[NiteRydaGT]

Here's another I forgot they P&P heads also...
VT Engines

 

[MyEarsHurt]

The kit at Steen racing looks pretty good, I thought that patriot performance package was too good to be true. Anyway, thanks for the great links, I guess now the only decision is, fox lake or steen racing?

 

[Makalani_96GT]

I will be ordering the Fox lake heads for my car next week. I was looking around a while before I desided on them. I can't waith to get them if your budget can handle them I think that that them or VT's arer the way to go
I called the guys at Fox Lake and they don't have any in right now but they can be ready in bout a week and the price out the door shipped for stage 2 heads assembled with the comp cam was about 2500 (+300 core) and the flow numbers are higher that steen