Indy LAX heads

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pittsburghracer

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A job that arrived unannounced during a pickup for a set of Edelbrock heads. One I wasn’t going to take, and probably shouldn’t have taken because I told him how many jobs were ahead of him and that it was going to be awhile. So it started out a valve job, then a flow test was added. Then if I had used springs that would work he wanted those too. I set one on my bench after a head pickup yesterday and the first thing I noticed was it takes a different Viton seal than the ones I stock. Intake ports are a funky shape and they are upgraded to 2.02 valves. Throat sizing is 1.782 (app 88% really not bad) and at the shortside down to 1.750. Yuck but not my problem as I will NOT be touching these heavy azz things with a grinder. I hope customer communication improves. I’ll update later with flow numbers.

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A job that arrived unannounced during a pickup for a set of Edelbrock heads. One I wasn’t going to take, and probably shouldn’t have taken because I told him how many jobs were ahead of him and that it was going to be awhile. So it started out a valve job, then a flow test was added. Then if I had used springs that would work he wanted those too. I set one on my bench after a head pickup yesterday and the first thing I noticed was it takes a different Viton seal than the ones I stock. Intake ports are a funky shape and they are upgraded to 2.02 valves. Throat sizing is 1.782 (app 88% really not bad) and at the shortside down to 1.750. Yuck but not my problem as I will NOT be touching these heavy azz things with a grinder. I hope customer communication improves. I’ll update later with flow numbers.

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Yeah they're based on a magnum head. That is a funky looking bowl and a lot of short turn in the way. They flow well for a magnum port. 260-270 are common numbers. Ootb I think 240's was all they do.i cant remember..they came and went in all of about 3 yrs
 
Yeah they're based on a magnum head. That is a funky looking bowl and a lot of short turn in the way. They flow well for a magnum port. 260-270 are common numbers. Ootb I think 240's was all they do.i cant remember..they came and went in all of about 3 yrs


I was going to do before and after flow numbers but screw that. I’m not making enough to waste time and do all that for only a valve job. I don’t even have 5/16 keepers and locks here so I’m hoping 8mm will hold it for the flow test.
 
The f.a.s.t. rule makers decided to make these legal to run for a small block Mopar this year because they apparently made a Dart head legal for a small block chevy 10 years ago without officially letting anyone know. Nevermind that these haven't been made in years. Very curious to know what they flow even if you aren't working your magic on them.
 
I'm kind of glad that you posted this. I have a pair of heads from a decade or so ago that a member here maddart had done by none other than bjr. He wiped out chambers scallop below the ssr Int exh.
Laid it back to the 45...back and then some. Lipped the pinch wall .
Looking at it ...they would have flowed what they flowed when he was done going in circles BEFORE he did half the things he did. I think he got too concerned with branding them or someone elses #/competition
 
I was going to do before and after flow numbers but screw that. I’m not making enough to waste time and do all that for only a valve job. I don’t even have 5/16 keepers and locks here so I’m hoping 8mm will hold it for the flow test.
I think it's only about a half or so thou diff.
Same pilot for cutting seals when you buy them. 2nd head from right I put ls valves in, had to hone them was all. Yeah they are popular, because they are the inbetween head and yet people have gone fast with them 10's. One guy iirr mentioned 9.99 but it dont really matter, its what makes sense for the build is what matters.imo lol
Not hijacking but for comparison
A speeddisaster mag vs a RhS chamber side n bottom runners. You can also see where bj racing flattened the chamber below the ssr. I have five or six videos that I just have not put up on YouTube yet and these are some screenshots from one that's on Magnum heads in the different variants. As you can see..you can get the rhs a bit larger than the Chinese knock off Seedmasters.

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FWIW - I don't have any flow numbers, but swapping a set of 587 heads w/1.88-1.60 valves for a set of LAX w/1.92-1.625 valves with about 4cc smaller chambers resulted in about 2/10 better 1/4 mile ET in my 360 Dart Sport. Ports were as cast, similar valves and same valve job on both. Same everything else. I don't recall MPH improvement without digging through my records.

I've run the Comp Cams 8mm 632-16 bead locks on the 5/16" valves that RHS had for those heads for years.

#Scampin - If F.A.S.T made LAX legal for LA engines, then MAX heads may be legal for Magnums and may be a little easier to find!?
:( (Nevermind. I forgot - no Magnums in factory cars. But IHRA did that when they had the Crate Motor Stockers.)
 
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Well one head is clean enough for a valve job and 8 valves are cut (45 only no 30 degree back cuts on the intakes). I have one my set of Speedmaster heads that came today that are getting Ferrea intakes and exhaust than that it. My valve grinder is getting set up with a collet valve holder. I keep my mag base dial indicator setting there for ever valve I cut and what a pain in the butt it is to get less than .002 runout. A collet setup is supposed to go .0005 so hopefully we shall see. Got the valves cleaned up for the other head so the other head and valve are soaking in my kerosene tank.

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My IMM/RHS heads were advertised to flow 296 on the intake. About 10 years ago he offered a CNC program (intake only) for those and I got a set. They might be 4 angle seats? 62cc chambers, 2.02, 1.625. They went on my 500 hp @ 6,200 rpm 10.3:1 416" that would have done more with better parts selection. (more C.R., roller, better ported intake, bigger exhaust primaries, etc.)

When they were briefly available, I looked at the TFs but didn't pull the trigger because the only advantage that I could see over my current heads was the weight savings. Yeah, the TF are 'better' on the exhaust (at least on paper) and 'slightly better' at intake lifts over 6.00" than my RHS but not by all that much.

Based on available "advertised flow numbers" for both, (take that info for what it's worth, not trying to claim this or that or start any needless arguments!) I did a general comparison between the RHS Indy heads (CNC) and Trick Flow 190s. Both ad descriptions said flow was measured @ 28" of water. The .700" lift numbers are for the TFs. TF does not provide flow numbers for .550" and .650" intake lifts and .450", .550" exhaust lifts. The RHS heads did not advertise numbers over .650" lifts.

Just food for thought.

Intake
RHS TF
0.100 68 66
0.200 142 134
0.300 201 200
0.400 249 248
0.500 281 281
0.550 290
0.600 296 293
0.650 293
0.700 301

Exhaust
RHS TF
0.100 75 54
0.200 135 121
0.300 174 181
0.400 193 213
0.450 196
0.500 198 231
0.550 198
0.600 196 237
0.700 240
 
The head PBR is working on looks to me like it’s already had some blending done in the bowls and pinch area.
 
The head PBR is working on looks to me like it’s already had some blending done in the bowls and pinch area.

I think he said Hugh’s or someone worked them over but I may be missing. Very bad communication with this customer so I’m only doing what I originally agreed to do.
 
I think he said Hugh’s or someone worked them over but I may be missing. Very bad communication with this customer so I’m only doing what I originally agreed to do.
I had a customer like that once. I finally told him to come get his chit outta my yard.
 
Thanks for updating, I remember when you questioned your sanity when you took the job.
 
I would think the customer in his own best interest would want to verify what Hughes did and pay you to flow test at least one port.
 
Well guys I’m sorry but I told him by text that I’m done with this job and didn’t want to do it. The valves are sunk so bad that if I try cutting them it would turn out pathetic. I still haven’t heard from him so the little money I was making on this job isn’t worth it.

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Is that how they come from Indy? Or is that from the seat getting beat into the heads?
 
Here’s the last exhaust on that head.

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That's some time and stone shaping to fix that.
I wonder what the seat widths are. Any room there to keep the seat touch to a minimum in other words.
About a 1 11/16 or 1 7/8 30*/15* with softened/rounded off edge to dig the exh out after the 45 is touched and maybe see if you can narrow it just a smidge for the lower angle. Intake same deal. When theres that much chamber.. it's just more work in most cases. Then again..I guess it all depends on how carried away you wanna get.
 
That's some time and stone shaping to fix that.
I wonder what the seat widths are. Any room there to keep the seat touch to a minimum in other words.
About a 1 11/16 or 1 7/8 30*/15* with softened/rounded off edge to dig the exh out after the 45 is touched and maybe see if you can narrow it just a smidge for the lower angle. Intake same deal. When theres that much chamber.. it's just more work in most cases. Then again..I guess it all depends on how carried away you wanna get.


My stone seat grinder is shot and I refuse to buy a new one. My stone holder is also shot and is the reason I bought into the Neway system. I probably have over 5000.00 in my seat grinder so that my main go to now. But in a case like the stock valve 2.02 Speedmasters I just did my Neway cutters worked perfect on those with the .080-.090 wide 45 seat. I was able to hand cut a nice 70-60-45 and used their 30 on the intakes. My Neway cutter was riding on the 30 on this head being so sunk. And if I put it on my seat machine there’s a chance I would be into changing seats. With a 275.00 quoted price and no contact from the customer I’m done. Next up a Victor340. Lol. Then a set of 2.05 Speedmaster heads and another Victor340 then I’m on my car.
 
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