Will AFR 185's fit on a stock bottom end???

OiDALE · Oct 15, 2011

I found a really good deal on a pair of afr 185's that one needs very minor work but I just looked on AFR's website and they said that the 185's wil not fit a stock motor even with a stock cam without notching the pistons...Is that absolutley true??? I am not taking my motor apart nor out of the car if it is...I wanted to have them fixed and install them in a weekend.

Please help??? Should I buy them or pass them up...Man I really wanted some afr's...What set of heads are comparable and that will match my sytemax intake besides these without tearing into my low mileage bottom end?

Has everyone that run afr's been into the bottom end of there 302?

88gt373 · Oct 16, 2011

OiDALE said:
I found a really good deal on a pair of afr 185's that one needs very minor work but I just looked on AFR's website and they said that the 185's wil not fit a stock motor even with a stock cam without notching the pistons...Is that absolutley true??? I am not taking my motor apart nor out of the car if it is...I wanted to have them fixed and install them in a weekend.

Please help??? Should I buy them or pass them up...Man I really wanted some afr's...What set of heads are comparable and that will match my sytemax intake besides these without tearing into my low mileage bottom end?

Has everyone that run afr's been into the bottom end of there 302?

If your pistons have valve reliefs in them (witch i think all efi pistons do) you will be fine. My buddy has a 93 cobra with a stock bottom end and has afr185's and had the heads milled a little bit to bump up compression and has 1.6 Roller rockers, TFS stage 1 cam and doesnt have issues. he regularly spins the motor to like 6k.. those heads are really good heads for the money and his motor is very street friendly..

id deff get hardened push rods and roller rockers if your budget calls for it. just make sure to measure your push rod length! hope that helps...

FastDriver · Oct 16, 2011

I've heard of guys running the 185s with stock pistons before, but I wouldn't chance it. Just get the pistons notched. The motor doesn't necessarily have to come out of the car. Rick might be able to tell you how to get the notching done in the car.

2000xp8 · Oct 16, 2011

Buy 165's.
First thing you are going to find is the too big is too much debate, but is it true? Honestly at this point i don't know.
What i do know as someone that had to notch all his pistons, i would NOT do it again.
It's a PITA and the tool costs like $150 alone.

I believe rick doesn't mind the notching because he has a jig setup to do it, as a home owner getting the tool and doing it is tedious.

By the time you pay for whatever head repair your heads need and the tool, i bet you are at least at the original costs of the heads.
You have to assume head work is $250+ then a $150 tool. I'd also be prepared to take both heads to the shop not one, most head work involves a valve job, which you have to do to both, not just one.

OiDALE · Oct 16, 2011

Thats what Im thinking...The heads are around $350/400 so I think I will just pass and stay looking...Thanks for all the help.

2000xp8 · Oct 16, 2011

OiDALE said:
Thats what Im thinking...The heads are around $350/400 so I think I will just pass and stay looking...Thanks for all the help.

For the pair?
A price that low changes things, although anyone selling them for that price probably thinks damage is more than "minor".

OiDALE · Oct 16, 2011

Hes actually asking 500 but I know his neighbor and he told me 400 but I know a can show him 350 and he would take it...Im thinking of buying them and just reselling them...How much can I get for a pair thats fresh from the machine shop? For a fast sale that is...

FastDriver · Oct 16, 2011

AFR 185s in good condition should go for a grand or more in a flash.

90lxcoupe · Oct 16, 2011

For that price buy them and make it work, or leave them on the shelf till you build a motor.

OiDALE · Oct 17, 2011

HERE ARE SOME PICS, SALVAGEABLE? ANYONE KNOW WHERE TO HAVE THEM REPEARED IN CENTRAL FLORIDA?

OiDALE · Oct 17, 2011

MORE PICS

90lxcoupe · Oct 17, 2011

That damage dosent look terribe, how many chambers are messed up? What exactly happened there?

Noobz347 · Oct 17, 2011

That piston came up and pwn3t the top of that chamber.

OiDALE · Oct 17, 2011

Only one...He said that the valves werent properly lubed when put together. It really doesnt seem too bad but how much do you think a shop could charge to fix it? Like I said its only one chamber and it looks like they would have to fill it in then grind smooth.

Noobz347 · Oct 17, 2011

Call around to teh machine shops in your area. Tell them you need a set of heads worked completely over with seal and seat replacements. It shouldn't be a CRAZY number.

90lxcoupe · Oct 17, 2011

Something like that is subjective, the price is going to vary depending on who you take it to. I would really do my homework on whoever you get to repair it and dont just go with the cheapest price. Id bet that you have some other bent valves there too.

I think by the time you are done with the heads you will have a minimum of 1k into them.

OiDALE · Oct 17, 2011

thats what im thinking...I actually wanted to have at the most 700 into then including the 350 for them, but Its a gamble to make 200/300 bucks if I can make that much by selling them...I will look into the tfs twisted wedge instead...thanks.

Will AFR 185's fit on a stock bottom end???

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