ATK 5.9 Magnum crate motor horse power

GFlo said
So I just confirmed with ATK: they DO NOT use the EQ (Engine Quest) heads on their iron head 360 crate motors! Stock Magnum heads. Very disappointing. Those stock Magnum heads are extremely crack prone. Why you would use those to save a couple bucks is beyond me. I asked them to consider using the EQ's and charging a bit more. We'll see if I get any response.

Given that, I'd have to scratch ATK from the list. So, my crate engine short list is even shorter now:

No #1 - For sure the BluePrint Engines 408 (BPC4085CTC): 465hp / 494 tq / Alum head / roller cam / $7,300 complete (without damper and water pump) or $7,800 (w/ damper, water pump, air cleaner, plug wires). This is top shelf in my mind, but a little pricey.

No #2 - Same as above but iron heads and flat tappet (BPC4082CTC) : 375hp / 460tq. Saves about $1,300. I assume they use the EQ heads, but need confirmation from BluePrint. If they are stock Magnum heads, then this would have to get scratched from the list too.

No #3 - PIE (Performance Injection Equipment) 360 : 450hp / 465tq / EQ modified iron heads / roller cam / $6,350 complete incl. damper and water pump (but minus carb). CONFIRMED they use the EQ heads, then they modify them from there with mild porting, manganese valve guides and 2.02 intake valves. They do make this as a 408 for $650 more, but then you're getting really close to the BluePrint.

After much research, this is my short list. If anyone knows of a good low-cost EQ-based iron head roller 360, I'd be all ears to add it to the list, but I haven't found it. Thanks all for the good discussion and help.

BPC4085CTC DOES come with a damper installed. the picture just needs updated. So maybe consider that $120 "to the good" if you were buying a damper elsewhere.

The iron headed engines do use an OEM 671 or 302 casting. If the belief is that despite our hand assembly, inspection, and QC process's is that any OE magnum head isn't for you, then this one isn't on your list.

I'd rebuttal with the fact we produce and dyno 50 engines a day here. If cracking magnum heads was on our repeat warranty reports, we wouldn't be using them. (do we find them and scrap bad castings in QC BEFORE any assembly, YES!)

considering the damper clarification, With only an approx $1500 difference from an iron headed flat tappet engine, and an aluminum headed, roller cam engine, I can't see offering one somewhere in the middle where an assembled iron head from a third party would require as much QC and Labor as our aluminum ones do.

Its easy for me to spend someone else money, I get that. But the retail value on a set of edelbrock, assembled, magnum heads is $999 EACH. considering we add those AND a roller cam/valvetrain to the bpc4085, vs the bpc4082... makes "pricey" a very, very, relative term, for only the $1500-1600 difference.

just my 2 cents here. Hopefully one of our options ends up being what you're looking for. As always. happy to help anytime.