TrickFlow head questions....

[MYGT8A4RE]

im in the market for a set of TFS heads. i know most of the aftermarket heads are set up for stud mount rockers. but i already have a set of ped mount rockers. do the street heat heads come set up for ped mounts? are the street heats capable of the factory lenghth pushrods? i know the TW & track heats requier a longer PR......
also, i went to TrickFlows website to research thier various model heads. i noticed the mentioned the R series heads, the track heats, the twisted wedge & then a "high port" cyinder head. i didnt see mention of the "street heats". are the highports & street heats one in the same? do the high ports require a special header? or do they retain the same bolt pattern & allow for most aftermarket headers(such as my BBK's)? basically im looking for a TF head that will allow me to retain my factory len PR's, keep my headers & keep my ped mounts rockers if possible. different len PR's wouldnt be a bad problem id needed changed though.... any input/suggestions/recommendations on the subject is appreciated!

 

[blkcobra50]

im in the market for a set of TFS heads. i know most of the aftermarket heads are set up for stud mount rockers. but i already have a set of ped mount rockers. do the street heat heads come set up for ped mounts? are the street heats capable of the factory lenghth pushrods? i know the TW & track heats requier a longer PR......
also, i went to TrickFlows website to research thier various model heads. i noticed the mentioned the R series heads, the track heats, the twisted wedge & then a "high port" cyinder head. i didnt see mention of the "street heats". are the highports & street heats one in the same? do the high ports require a special header? or do they retain the same bolt pattern & allow for most aftermarket headers(such as my BBK's)? basically im looking for a TF head that will allow me to retain my factory len PR's, keep my headers & keep my ped mounts rockers if possible. different len PR's wouldnt be a bad problem id needed changed though.... any input/suggestions/recommendations on the subject is appreciated!

TFS has a bunch of different heads but don't believe any of them are called street heat anymore. The only thing called street heat is the EFI 50 State legal intake. I just purchased a set of TFS Twisted Wedge heads and a track heat intake so I have done my hw on trickflow tw heads. TW heads require a longer pushrod than stock. Nearly .5'' longer. TFS heads are for stud mount rockers...and the TW heads are the same bolt pattern for headers as stock...so BBK FMS...etc would work.

There is a wealth of knowledge about each head on the TFS website and also on here.

 

[MYGT8A4RE]

i appreciate the input. i know the R series heads cant use standard headers, they require a special header. i thought the "high ports" had a port location change on the exhuast so i wasnt sure if standard headers would work...so basically its time for me to ditch the ped mount rockers for studs if i want to run TF heads.....bummer, better bust out the credit card.....i could have sworn a ran across a set or two of TF heads for sale in the classifieds in the past that were set up for ped mount rockers......guess i could be mistaken!

 

[blkcobra50]

i appreciate the input. i know the R series heads cant use standard headers, they require a special header. i thought the "high ports" had a port location change on the exhuast so i wasnt sure if standard headers would work...so basically its time for me to ditch the ped mount rockers for studs if i want to run TF heads.....bummer, better bust out the credit card.....i could have sworn a ran across a set or two of TF heads for sale in the classifieds in the past that were set up for ped mount rockers......guess i could be mistaken!

If you are checking out heads in general not just TFS, edelbrock has aluminum heads that are ped mount. FMS GT40 aluminum are too. just a thought...

 

[R2D2]

sell the ped mounts on ebay and step up to the wedge, stud head. Phenomenal potential in that head.

 

[MYGT8A4RE]

thanx for the input...

blkcobra50, i currently have a set of y-303 aluminum heads on my stang. im looking for somthing with a thicker deck sicne im planning on running more boost. the TF's have a great reputation for thier strong thick deck, that why my interest was there.....

sbftech, everyone i talk to tells me the same thing. i may end up going that route. probably sell my y's with rockers to aid the funds for the TF's & stud mounts.....i know the TW centers the exhaust valve, would i have problems with my current flat top flycut pistons since the exhaust valve gets moved/centered? thanx for the input....

 

[blkcobra50]

thanx for the input...

blkcobra50, i currently have a set of y-303 aluminum heads on my stang. im looking for somthing with a thicker deck sicne im planning on running more boost. the TF's have a great reputation for thier strong thick deck, that why my interest was there.....

sbftech, everyone i talk to tells me the same thing. i may end up going that route. probably sell my y's with rockers to aid the funds for the TF's & stud mounts.....i know the TW centers the exhaust valve, would i have problems with my current flat top flycut pistons since the exhaust valve gets moved/centered? thanx for the input....

If you have those y heads sell em and the rockers for the TW heads. Great heads.

 

[eagleautosports]

I have a set of the old Street Heat heads and the new High Ports are the same but with new and better features. I know these I have could accept either rocker as I have tried both without any machine work. Omega Gear made some bolt down with the offset roller tip and I switched over to stud mounts for the adjustability. The High Ports would do better with specific headers but the BBK would work as long as you know they'll be pulled up closer to the under side of the car because the mounting holes are higher than stock.

 

[MYGT8A4RE]

thanx for that input, i was kind of figuring the "high ports" are just the new name for the old street heats. guess they made a few changes like you said & just went with the high port name........

blkcobra50, yeah thats pretty much the plan now. im pulling the y's now & sending them to the machine shop for cleaning up. they have extremely low mileage on them. both the heads & rockers were brand new when i installed them about 7 months ago. hopefully i can pull a decent penny out of them to help cover the new TW's, stud rockers & pushrods.....

 

[MYGT8A4RE]

whats the deal with this? i was looking around at prices & info & when i was at the Summit site they had this listed as the description for the Track Heat heads:

"Trick Flow's Track Heat heads are ideal for the entry-level Ford bracket racer. The heads have patented 61cc combustion chambers with rotated intake and exhaust valves, 2.02 in. intake/1.60 in. exhaust stainless steel valves, .560 in. thick combustion chamber walls for.......yada yada"

i thought that was the whole deal on the TW heads, the rotated valves to center the exhaust valve in the bore! do the Track Heats do this as well? also why is it that the Track Heats are always more exspensive tha the TW heads? are the better in some way or is it just the heavier duty springs on the TH's? just curious, everyone raves about the TW heads wich makes them sound like they are a bit superior to the TH's....any input?

 

[BlownFiveLiter]

Track Heat heads from what I've heard, are the same as the standard Twisted Wedge heads, without the smog passages and upgraded valvesprings. I can't say that's a fact, but it's the understanding I got from the TFS website.

 

[vristang]

I have been emailing TrickFlow techs for the last few weeks in an attempt to find out how to convert my TW heads to pedastal mount rockers.

So far the only response I have had has been "No, it can't be done"

I have been asking what the problems are, but have had no response to that question yet.

I suspect the big problem is keeping the rocker straight, and aligned with the cam lobe/lifter/pushrod. In a stud mount setup the guideplate does this.

jason

 

[blkcobra50]

So far the only response I have had has been "No, it can't be done"

They are going to say that because they want you to buy the corresponding parts like pushrods and stud rockers from TFS for their heads. As far as someone who would know best would probably be a machine shop but I've never heard of converting stud rockers to pedestal mount, but that's not to say it can't be done. Pedestal mount can be converted to stud though.

 

[onefaststang]

The original trick flow heads were pedestal mount. They also ruined valve guides left and right. Making them ped. mount only solved the problem. There is a reason they don't sell them as pedestal mounts anymore.

Track heats are standard TW's with upgraded springs, and no emissions ports.

 

[vristang]

The original trick flow heads were pedestal mount. They also ruined valve guides left and right. Making them ped. mount only solved the problem. There is a reason they don't sell them as pedestal mounts anymore.

Track heats are standard TW's with upgraded springs, and no emissions ports.

The way I heard that story was that the guides were made from a wrong material for the application.

I wish I could reference a source, but that is by memory.

It wouldn't be the first time there was confusing in regards to a Trickflow head.
I had a machine shop tell me that my oil control problem was due to oil seeping through the aluminum, because it was a porous casting.

I don't want to start a battle, that is just how I heard it.

jason

 

[MYGT8A4RE]

i appreciate the info everyone. im glad to hear the track heats are an upgraded TW design! i thought they were just better flowing/upgraded from the street/highport design......

VRIstang, i gave up on trying to keep my ped mount rockers almost immediately. i realized selling them with my y heads would be easier & then just buying new stud rockers when i buy my trick flow heads. plus the research ive been doing on the stud rockers really convinced me to go with them. ive been using ped mounts for years, in 4 different sets of heads actually. i was so used to them & comfortable with adjusting them i thought it would be easier to stay with them once again. i was wrong, the studs are far superior.......

my explanation(wich may be wrong) as to why you cant install ped mount rockers on the TF's is because the hole is drilled already for the 3/8" stud while most ped mount rockers reside on a 5/16" bolt that runs through the pedestal. i beleive you would have to fill the holes, redrill them & then retap them. unless they make 3/8" support bolts for the ped mounts. thats alot of work & costs to keep ped mount rockers IMO. i may be wrong, but im picturing the ped bolts being 5/16" & not 3/8"........

 

[vristang]

I had not looked into the threading problem too deeply, but I assume that the holes could be Heli-Coiled down to size. Possibly larger bolts could be found for the pedastals? Regardless, I don't think this would be a major issue.

As I said before the only problem I see is getting the rockers to remain in alignment, as there is a twisting force placed on them by the pushrod.
The stock heads had a small stamped steel guide plate that was bolted under the pedastals, which kept them both aligned.
This would be tougher to do with the angled valves in the TW heads.

The only reason I want to get rid of the stud mounts is because of the constant noise resulting from the pushrods hitting the guideplates. (this is the result of the twisting force I mentioned above).
I am just sick of the noise.

Yes the stud rockers are stronger, but I don't think the strength will be an issue in my relatively low revving motor.
And most likely is not an issue for most windsor cars running on the streets.

Just my hair brained ramblings though,
jason

 

[MYGT8A4RE]

I had not looked into the threading problem too deeply, but I assume that the holes could be Heli-Coiled down to size. Possibly larger bolts could be found for the pedastals? Regardless, I don't think this would be a major issue.

As I said before the only problem I see is getting the rockers to remain in alignment, as there is a twisting force placed on them by the pushrod.
The stock heads had a small stamped steel guide plate that was bolted under the pedastals, which kept them both aligned.
This would be tougher to do with the angled valves in the TW heads.

The only reason I want to get rid of the stud mounts is because of the constant noise resulting from the pushrods hitting the guideplates. (this is the result of the twisting force I mentioned above).
I am just sick of the noise.

Yes the stud rockers are stronger, but I don't think the strength will be an issue in my relatively low revving motor.
And most likely is not an issue for most windsor cars running on the streets.

Just my hair brained ramblings though,
jason

good points, i think you hit it on the head with the angle in wich the ped mounts would reside to keep contact wiht the "twisted" valves. i didnt realize that the stud mounts were noisey, so the pushrods really hit the guide plates to create alot of noise? does it sound like missadjusted rockers? guess ill have to get used to that. i just picked up a set of TF track heats, 3/8" stud rockers & longer pushrods that will be going in next weekend.....best of luck in your quest, keep us posted on what you find, im curious to hear the results....

 

[vristang]

It sounds exactly like the rockers need to be adjusted.

But, no matter how I adjust them, it still makes that horrible noise.
I have tried atleast half a dozen adjustment methods, and always get the same result.
(All the gear is new too.)

It really isn't all that bad, and most people don't seem to mind.
It just drives me nuts.

I'll keep you guys posted if I find anything out.
However, I have not heard from my TrickFlow "techie" contact in over a week now.

good luck with your project as well

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