Because I am looking into etiher a stroker kit or supercharger I need heads that will allow me to grow. I would get AFR 165's but i dont think they will support my ending mods. I was thinking of AFR 185's but i hear you have to notch the pistons or something like that to make them fit. Unfortunatly I am new to this kind of stuff so my questions are, Can I do this on my own or is it something that I need a shop for. The other is can anyone explain how to do this or show pictures or something to better assist my understanding? This is prob a newb question but i havent found anything on the board before.
Notching piston
- Thread starter townethug
- Start date
I have heard you will have to notch the pistions for the 185s. The 165s are good for the 302 but the 185s are where its at for larger displacement. I would buy the 185s and the stroker kit and put the supercharger on later. That solves the pistion deal and gives you some room to work later.
Also call AFR and talk to there support staff.
Also call AFR and talk to there support staff.
Smoke,
Is there a special tool or intruction manual that you used to notch the piston? Ideally i would do the stroker kit at the same time at the as the head, but my plans where for this summer to do h/c/i. Then the following summer go for a stroker 331 and then the summer after then attempt a supercharger or put a small shot on. I dont think i will be able to find an extra grand to do the stroker at the same time as the h/c/i so if i can notch the pistons myself then i could make the 185's work until i have the cash to put the stroker on with new pistons. So bascially the question is, how did you go about notching the pistons?
Is there a special tool or intruction manual that you used to notch the piston? Ideally i would do the stroker kit at the same time at the as the head, but my plans where for this summer to do h/c/i. Then the following summer go for a stroker 331 and then the summer after then attempt a supercharger or put a small shot on. I dont think i will be able to find an extra grand to do the stroker at the same time as the h/c/i so if i can notch the pistons myself then i could make the 185's work until i have the cash to put the stroker on with new pistons. So bascially the question is, how did you go about notching the pistons?
-86GTStang
Member
You can by special tools for notching pistons, or make one ..
Search on the internet for Flycuttingtool etc.
I made my own tool, and it worked great. Made from MDF wood, an old valve,and some glue and matematics...
See pics
Search on the internet for Flycuttingtool etc.
I made my own tool, and it worked great. Made from MDF wood, an old valve,and some glue and matematics...
See pics
-86GTStang
Member
I made my own tool by modifing and cutting up a old E7 head...it works great and you can do them while it is in the car/block. Isky does make cutters if you want to buy one, it is made to be used with your own head.
Notching consistant is VERY IMPORTANT.
The larger valve in the AFR185 WILL HIT at the outsode edge of the eye brow.
Notching consistant is VERY IMPORTANT.
The larger valve in the AFR185 WILL HIT at the outsode edge of the eye brow.
Wow, thanks for the ideas and posts. Did you guys have any instructions or manuals that you used while doing it or did you just eye it up? Also people have suggested using putty, i suppose this is to add alittle extra clearance. Is this a better or worse idea then notching the piston? And why.
Putty is to check the PTV (Piston To Valve) clearance. you fill the reliefs on 1 cylinderwith some playdoh, clay etc then bolt the head on and turn the motor over 1 or 2 times, pull it back apart and measure the clearance at the edge of the eyebrows.
There are obviously better tools for this than just the eye, but FWIW that is what I used. It took a long time and alot of patience. I clayed the PTV, marked the eye brows with a sharpie, duct taped the whole top of the short block (except the piston I was working on at the time), and carefully with a pneumatic die grinder clearenced what I needed. Re-check ect. Bring the next piston to TDC and repeat.townethug said:
Derick
