Hey everyone, ran into a snag today on my build went with the australian heads and the studs, screw in studs pulled out when we torqued them so not using the heads no way! Has anyone heard of the 320 patriet heads? If so are they descent for the price., I know there not brodix and so on but are they good? Thanks
Too bad. Were they really some kind of Aussie heads or just Chinese knock-offs sold and marketed as Aussie so you would buy them? Pro Comp maybe? Don't buy cheap heads, what you just learned ought to tell you what outcome to expect. JMO
Do you mean the threads stripped?
Are they aluminum or iron?
What did you torque them to- 7/16" studs, right?
What brand and details of the type head- who sells them? How much?
For a BBC?
i bought a set of the Pro Comp shaft mount roller rockers for my sbc. $200.00 sounded good to me until i installed them. All i could hear in my head was that little birdie cheeping. But i did buy a set of pro comp stud girdles that were nice for the price, except the poly locks were junk. We need more info to say ye or ne on the patriots. What engine, what is your goal?
Budget the lower end and don't go cheap on the top end
I've talked about this engine asking q's before on here. Its a 504 chevy big block. My builder is assembling so the details are at his shop. I trust his knowledge, he used to work on early nitro cars in the 60's or 70's. He's good. The heads were a cnc pro comp Aussie head. I actually talked with a few guys who use these heads seen it myself and they were fine but when my builder torqued the studs they pulled. One of them deals. Glad he caught it and said no fixin, no glue no way.
The bottom end is all forged eagle, mahle pistons,. 4 and 3-8 stroke, jesel rockers 700 some lift cam. All good stuff no scrimping. I have been around long enough to know that ofcourse brodix 18 degree and dart and so on are great but what about these 320 freedom fighter patriot heads. Rec ports. Were also looking at a set of oval port trick flows but really want the big numbers and the engine is designed to run rec port, opinions please. motor will make over 700 on pump gas
how much can you spend on a set of heads? From what I have seen, an un ported set of the patriot type heads will get you ~600 hp with your current setup. In order to get over 700 you will need some CNC, or hand ported Brodix/AFR/Dart... heads. Another idea that will get you in the ~600 range would be the Dart iron eagle 308cc heads. In order to know for shure, we need to know the cam specs, and compression at a minimum.
Thanks firestone for the patriot info. The bottom filler ad and dyno time said that with a little massaging and Some more cam 675 would be obtainable. I'm running 1000 cfm barry grant carb huge solid custom erson cam, more cubes and can spin 7000rpm. So I'm pretty confident on the numbers we're figuring. Also he said if it didn't make the numbers we agreed on he'd foot my bill and free engine time. I know he built a 496 with oval ports trick flow heads that made 697 I watched it and can hace the same trick flow heads but dont know know to much about the heads and wanted rec portss for the numbers. Any info on trick flow also would help and thanks again firestone info is great sounds like patriots make the numbers. No more pro comps ever here.,
Have you thought about the CNC combustion chamber AFR 305cc or 325cc heads? They seem to make great power and are a rectangular port head. I dont know how much you want to spend, but they are around ~$2500 a set. Here is a dyno test with these heads.
Here is a dynoed motor with the AFR 305cc heads. It made right at 700 hp. The combo is on the second page.
I've been doing my homework a little now firestone and like the 325cc afr's.
My problem is that we've been in this engine deal for 3 years. We started with a 494 buick that the old builder assembled with the dots on the timing chain lined up like a chevy and if you know anything about buicks its about six teeth off. So total carnage when it fired busted valves, head, cylinderwall, bad deal, that was the first year, the second year a new builder and he clearenced everything to tight in the buick so 2 miles no bearings it was actually so tight it ripped one started apart on the first startup and the second on when the bearings failed and i tried to start it again on the side of the rode. that altogether was about 16000.00. Now were close to about 8500 on this chevy so were trying to pinch alittle. I sure do appreciate your help and advise. Its appreciated
Wow, that is some bad luck. On one hand I can see trying to cut back on cost. On the other, after all that you have gone through, it would be dissapointing to end up with a motor that did not perform as you desired.
I build vintage chevy small blocks and big blocks.I also do performance work.I have jobber status with Engine Quest wich is a Aussie company.I have been using these heads on alot of my performance engines and have never run into any promblems.They are dam good heads.I have used every one from 180cc runners to there 235cc runners 64cc and 50cc chambers.I will put these heads up against Dart or RHS any time.Dont knock all the aussie heads just because you got a bad set.It might be the manufacture but I swear on Engine Quest Heads.They build IMCA spec heads for the modified division.They are just like the Brodix Race Saver that nascar uses in there sprint car race saver division where the guys have to run a flat top 305 with the race saver heads.
The heads i got had casting flash everywhere only weighed about half as much as a set of any other aluminum heads i've been around which isnt always a bad deal. But when screw in studs pull out well before there actually torqued tight is not a good deal. Im not knocking all aussie or pro comp heads at all. This is just my experience with these pro comps. I talked with lots of guys with these heads that liked them alot so maybe it was a bad set. Lots of strange looking heli coil stuff in the heads i got. These are new. I've had a couple engines go and if this one went because a stud pulled what a shame. I had actually argued how good these were on here with others who told me to stay awayfrom them so pistol i know where your at., Sorry for not listening everyone hine sights 20-20.
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