Speedmaster Small block porting tips and results Part 1

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Just curious today as to what I had into these heads money wise after seeing the aluminum heads cost per HP post with valves (2.05 ferrea and I’ll add in the exhaust valve cost but I had used ones) cost to open seats for oversized valves, and heads.

219.00 x 2 heads
300.00 valves
80.00 cutting seats (valve job on intakes)

818.00 for heads flowing almost 300cfm so far. ( did own porting) Now like I said I already had used exhaust valves so I can subtract 150.00 from to total. Others can simply add what porting costs would be if needed. Heads were also bought during Speedmasters 40% off Black Friday sale so that was a nice savings too. Thanks J Par.
 
I'm curious what your porting effort would cost from an average shop? I know Shady Dell had stage 2/3 level porting advertised on his site at about $800 and I assume that was per head so $1600 a set? I haven't seen cost break downs from other shops that I remember being any lower than that but I haven't looked really hard.
 
So do you feel that is worth porting these or just buy trick flows from the start? I have and am running the speedmasters but am considering the switch ( to trick flows) because they flow better out of the box then these or Eddie's ported.
 
73smallblock said:
So do you feel that is worth porting these or just buy trick flows from the start? I have and am running the speedmasters but am considering the switch ( to trick flows) because they flow better out of the box then these or Eddie's ported.
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I highly recommend TrickFlow heads to anyone that can’t do their own porting. My problem is I refuse to pay for something I can do myself. And honestly at 64 I’m burning out but it’s more my physical shape than anything. I love walking but as soon as I get going again it’s 50 degrees and raining in Pa. and with two bad knees makes walking almost impossible. I drug my exercise bicycle into my living room yesterday and hopped on it for 20 minutes today. I have to do an hour a day but I’ll start with two 20 minute sessions. I couldn’t imagine how nice it would be to drop off an engine in November and pick it up in March to install it. But I would quit racing before I ever did that. For me these heads are a steal. If they run the deal this year I will buy three sets. Get them up to 285 cfm or so and sell them. That’s the plan anyway.
 
To offer a counter point, I bought the loaded CNC heads. They flow a little less than what John got out of his, so far.

Heads were $1100. I paid to have a valve job done, and flowed before/after. I also bought a geometry correction kit from b3. Cost for all of that, plus shipping back and forth to @PRH was $1765 (including the heads obviously)

I ended up replacing springs/keepers/retainers to go with a roller cam, that was another $300ish

Guess my point is, if you're a great porter, like @pittsburghracer or if you plan to run them out of the box, they're a great deal. If you plan to do some work to them, take your time and cost it all out in advance, as best as you can.

Otherwise, what TF charges, for what they give, there's no question on the deal you're getting.
 
That's kind of my thought. I bought them bare non cnc. I have never ported and probably do it but how well I don't know. So for me to pay someone $1500+ to port them and put bigger valves in them and still not flow as well as trick flows, to me is a no brainier.

I had bought the speedmasters because all I had was a bare engine block to build. I ran them before the whole hype started and I'm ready to pick up some E.T. I still highly recommend the speedmasters to anyone looking for a good head at a great price.
 
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The really nice thing about the TrickFlow heads is you get a quality head with quality parts. Sure you have to pay more for different head bolts but I think B3 is even offering a cheaper deal than Summit and can suggest the right rocker to get your geometry right. I keep saying an even better head will be offered in the future for the all out racers. Stay tuned to see if I’m right. I sure hope so.
 
73smallblock said:
That's kind of my thought. I bought them bare on cnc. I have never ported and probably do it but how well I don't know. So for me to pay someone $1500+ to port them and put bigger valves in them and still not flow as well as trick flows, to me is a no brainier.

I had bought the speedmasters because all I had was a bare engine block to build. I ran them before the whole hype started and I'm ready to pick up some E.T. I still highly recommend the speedmasters to anyone looking for a good head at a great price.
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Please don’t do the upgrade and put a .500 lift cam in your engine. Lol.
 
Like me for my buddy. I told him he is wasting the heads with that little cam, but hey, it’s his motor and his money. Who am I to argue. Kim
 
pittsburghracer said:
Just curious today as to what I had into these heads money wise after seeing the aluminum heads cost per HP post with valves (2.05 ferrea and I’ll add in the exhaust valve cost but I had used ones) cost to open seats for oversized valves, and heads.

219.00 x 2 heads
300.00 valves
80.00 cutting seats (valve job on intakes)

818.00 for heads flowing almost 300cfm so far. ( did own porting) Now like I said I already had used exhaust valves so I can subtract 150.00 from to total. Others can simply add what porting costs would be if needed. Heads were also bought during Speedmasters 40% off Black Friday sale so that was a nice savings too. Thanks J Par.
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That's what I do... I save people money..
I just saved my customer $300 the other day. He said I ordered the Patriot headers, I said why didn't you order the summit headers that are the same as the Patriots but $100 cheaper? He said my total order is like $2,500 I said why don't you make Summit price match the Jegs build it promo twice and save 200? And split up your bill... It's just what I do...
So when we picked up his Pontiac engine today I asked him if he's paying me with all the money I saved him and getting free labor lol...
 
73smallblock said:
That's kind of my thought. I bought them bare on cnc. I have never ported and probably do it but how well I don't know. So for me to pay someone $1500+ to port them and put bigger valves in them and still not flow as well as trick flows, to me is a no brainier.

I had bought the speedmasters because all I had was a bare engine block to build. I ran them before the whole hype started and I'm ready to pick up some E.T. I still highly recommend the speedmasters to anyone looking for a good head at a great price.
Click to expand...

i Bought the CNC bare head too. They dont need any more porting...they need a good valve job. I also bought Speedmaster intake and exhaust valves.,,,Check ebay for the price i believe they are still on sale...I also bought their retainers and locks.....yes ....living dangerously......I purchased the valve springs that i needed for the camshaft i was going to use.

Paid local machine shop to do competition valve job on them....Probably 1400 total invested in the heads....

I would say they have exceeded my expectations on my 75 Duster...which is an old school bracket car with SS springs...CE 3 way shocks front and rear...and 6 cylinder Torsion bar...The motor is no high dollar build...stock crank...H beam wuhun rods...seal powered hypereteic pistons 116hcp...old MP oval cam...holley SD intake...750 double pumper.....

At 3000 lbs with driver...the last time down the track in Vegas with a DA of 3000 ft...it ran 11.194 @ 118.56......
 
pittsburghracer said:
The really nice thing about the TrickFlow heads is you get a quality head with quality parts. Sure you have to pay more for different head bolts but I think B3 is even offering a cheaper deal than Summit and can suggest the right rocker to get your geometry right. I keep saying an even better head will be offered in the future for the all out racers. Stay tuned to see if I’m right. I sure hope so.
Click to expand...
B3 sold me the heads ,free ARP head bolts + Free shipping for $2038
 
70aarcuda said:
i Bought the CNC bare head too. They dont need any more porting...they need a good valve job. I also bought Speedmaster intake and exhaust valves.,,,Check ebay for the price i believe they are still on sale...I also bought their retainers and locks.....yes ....living dangerously......I purchased the valve springs that i needed for the camshaft i was going to use.

Paid local machine shop to do competition valve job on them....Probably 1400 total invested in the heads....

I would say they have exceeded my expectations on my 75 Duster...which is an old school bracket car with SS springs...CE 3 way shocks front and rear...and 6 cylinder Torsion bar...The motor is no high dollar build...stock crank...H beam wuhun rods...seal powered hypereteic pistons 116hcp...old MP oval cam...holley SD intake...750 double pumper.....

At 3000 lbs with driver...the last time down the track in Vegas with a DA of 3000 ft...it ran 11.194 @ 118.56......
Click to expand...

I actually meant to say not cnc version, fixed above. I do agree, just the as cast version have exceeded my expectations.
 
70aarcuda said:
i Bought the CNC bare head too. They dont need any more porting...they need a good valve job. I also bought Speedmaster intake and exhaust valves.,,,Check ebay for the price i believe they are still on sale...I also bought their retainers and locks.....yes ....living dangerously......I purchased the valve springs that i needed for the camshaft i was going to use.

Paid local machine shop to do competition valve job on them....Probably 1400 total invested in the heads....

I would say they have exceeded my expectations on my 75 Duster...which is an old school bracket car with SS springs...CE 3 way shocks front and rear...and 6 cylinder Torsion bar...The motor is no high dollar build...stock crank...H beam wuhun rods...seal powered hypereteic pistons 116hcp...old MP oval cam...holley SD intake...750 double pumper.....

At 3000 lbs with driver...the last time down the track in Vegas with a DA of 3000 ft...it ran 11.194 @ 118.56......
Click to expand...
So your CNC version is retaining the 2.02 intake and 1.60 exhaust valve sizes, but with a good valve job performed?
 
yes.....on that engine.....
got another hand ported set on another 360 with 2.055 valve...
got another set of CNC in shop with the valve job being upgraded...this is completed set CNC from SM...and valve springs being swapped out.
and got another set of stock SM head being ported in the shop as the one above...and valve spring being swapped out....wont see these for a couple of months.
Black Friday.......lol
 
I think @pittsburghracer should set up an online distance learning video seminar for those of us that bought the bare speedmaster heads and we can pay to attend the class and do step by step with the instructor as we port the heads! Then he can do an advanced class for those that want to go all out!:icon_fU:
 
There is plenty of content in this thread to learn from...lucky people smarter than myself are willing to share!!!
 
I’m just a guy like any other guy that has picked up a grinder and started making dust. Kinda got lucky in the 70’s and 80’s and did enough to go pretty fast but didn’t get beyond my capabilities. That came later in life. Then I bought a flowbench and got downright dangerous. I have several “leaners” down in my basement as reminders. Building flowbench number 3 raised my interest enough that it forced me to understand what I was doing wrong. I have never been one to look at pictures and imagine them in 3D and most Head porters are going to show you just enough. Most porters are taught by coworkers, maybe a friend, or even a boss. I didn’t have that luxury so I trashed stuff. Lol. When I share pictures I try to explain what to look for. I will be doing at least one more set very soon and a Speedmaster intake and if you guys want pictures let me know. I don’t want to come across like a blowhard but if it helps a guy out I don’t mind sharing. I try to show before and after numbers along the way so then you can decide on a goal. I appreciate the thanks I have received by some of the members.
 
Well, I said it before and I’ll say it again!

Thanks! And hell yea on pictures!
 
I can tell you personally, I REALLY appreciate the info and your experience you share..I'm working on a set of new SM heads now, working over the valve job, and considering the headbolt and pushrod hole sleeve, so I can remove some of those bosses in the port...
20201207_160400.jpg
 
So, @pittsburghracer after a nice 4 or 5 angle valve job, and a bowl blend, staying with the 2.02 valve, how much is the pushrod tube and head bolt tube, and grinding, typically worth cfm wise?
 
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