difference between china/new zealand EQ iron heads

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Rapid Robert

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I thought EQ heads was new zealand only item but I see some on ebay advertized as EQ but are made in china. thank you for your time. RR
 
I would like for someone else's money to buy a Speedmaster Magnum head and compared it to the China EQ and New Zealand EQ. I think they could all be one in the same.
More directly I'm saying that it's the same casting possibly with different finish work done to it by different re boxers
 
I thought EQ heads was new zealand only item but I see some on ebay advertized as EQ but are made in china. thank you for your time. RR
I bought the original made in New Zealand heads back in 2016, now they are made in China I guess. The made in NZ heads ends are significantly different from the China versions, the chambers of the NZ heads casting has a finer vs coarser finish, the color of the as cast iron is different as well. Among other things. The NZ head was a high quality finished piece.

NZ chamber texture:

32F6048A-1541-4BE7-948B-5D93C6E6C484.jpeg


Look at the single flat surface of the ends of the heads, no core plugs:

48D9F2F6-3C49-464F-8F04-D7E77FAB999C.jpeg


The latest version with core plugs and very heart shaped chamber, more pronounced than the NZ chamber:

379FD1C2-419E-4627-B76A-59E76614678E.png
 
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I bought the original made in New Zealand heads back in 2016, now they are made in China I guess. The made in NZ heads ends are significantly different from the China versions, the chambers of the NZ heads casting has a finer vs coarser finish, the color of the as cast iron is different as well. Among other things. The NZ head was a high quality finished piece.

NZ chamber texture:

View attachment 1715854784

Look at the single flat surface of the ends of the heads, no core plugs:

View attachment 1715854785

The latest version with core plugs and very heart shaped chamber, more pronounced than the NZ chamber:

View attachment 1715854786
I read awhile back that edelbrock heads and intakes are still made here in the states, is this true? Are there any cylinder heads, intake manifolds made in the USA?
 
I read awhile back that edelbrock heads and intakes are still made here in the states, is this true? Are there any cylinder heads, intake manifolds made in the USA?
I’ve no idea
 
Yippee! My heads are NZ castings on my 408!

68ECC233-6994-47E1-A442-DF20F32F1865.jpeg
 
The New Zealand plant shut down a number of years back, and the EQs we knew and loved were no longer available except for remaining inventories, including the LA intake pattern version. Production was shifted to China, and the enhancements on the NZ heads went away. They're more of just a replacement head now. Better than nothing, but not as good as the NZ heads.
 
The New Zealand plant shut down a number of years back, and the EQs we knew and loved were no longer available except for remaining inventories, including the LA intake pattern version. Production was shifted to China, and the enhancements on the NZ heads went away. They're more of just a replacement head now. Better than nothing, but not as good as the NZ heads.
Are speedmaster or promaxx heads a good budget cylinder head for the sbm?
 
Are speedmaster or promaxx heads a good budget cylinder head for the sbm?
Haven't used the Promaxx heads, so I couldn't give you a fair assessment.
I will say this, though- whatever you get, go through them or pay to have them checked over, have heard a lot of horror stories about heads of all brands coming through with inadequate clearances and/or poor casting/machining. I wouldn't run anything "out of the box" now.
 
Haven't used the Promaxx heads, so I couldn't give you a fair assessment.
I will say this, though- whatever you get, go through them or pay to have them checked over, have heard a lot of horror stories about heads of all brands coming through with inadequate clearances and/or poor casting/machining. I wouldn't run anything "out of the box" now.
I thought about what ever cylinder heads that I would buy that I would buy them bare, that way I can get quality valve's, spring's and since everyone suggest that they be checked out anyway, I'd have a comp valve job done and guide clearance can be checked and correct
 
I thought about what ever cylinder heads that I would buy that I would buy them bare, that way I can get quality valve's, spring's and since everyone suggest that they be checked out anyway, I'd have a comp valve job done and guide clearance can be checked and correct
Correct valve spring install height checked
 
I have what i assume is a china made magnum casting that was on a 360 in a car i bought.
The end looks exactly like the china cast enginequest heads 12many posted. Im might have the valvejob checked and put them on a 318 in a truck. I don’t think i would consider them a performance head casting.

335A8804-3DBF-420F-B2FA-DBA00ADDCF47.jpeg
 
good info guys. way back I bought a set of supposedly new zealand heads from that crook Ben Gorman of promaxx or promax I forget which & they were chinese & junk.
 
Promaxx heads....... Promax carbs

Different companies.

From what I understand the big difference in the NZ vs China EQ’s is the flow.
The NZ heads flow in the 260 range ootb.
 
Promaxx heads....... Promax carbs

Different companies.

From what I understand the big difference in the NZ vs China EQ’s is the flow.
The NZ heads flow in the 260 range ootb.


That sums it up...the difference between the heads is 40cfm
 
I have no knowledge if this is the case or not, but I find it hard to believe that there is more than one foundry in China casting these things up.
I think wherever you buy them, they’re more or less the same.

Although....... that being said, Moparofficial did end up getting two different castings when he bought a pair from Speedmaster.

Nonetheless, I think if there was a version from China that was truly the “equivalent” to the NZ EQ....... that it would be common knowledge by now.
 
That sums it up...the difference between the heads is 40cfm

The NZ EQ’s were surprisingly good....... and a real bargain.

I haven’t had a China Magnum head here to test for myself...... and to be honest, since I bought my current flow bench in 2007, I haven’t had an OE Magnum head to test either.
(Yeh...... I don’t seen much Magnum stuff)
 
I have what i assume is a china made magnum casting that was on a 360 in a car i bought.
The end looks exactly like the china cast enginequest heads 12many posted. Im might have the valvejob checked and put them on a 318 in a truck. I don’t think i would consider them a performance head casting.

View attachment 1715854814
Check these for casting numbers around the valve spring areas to see if they are original Chrysler castings before discounting them as Chinese versions, just to be sure.
 
12many is rite about the external physical characteristics being diff. The ends are the same looking as rhs in regards to eq heads.
In my mind I wonder if the ports are different at all is more my point. The speed disasters are rough and half finished.
The seat job is recessed and needs deshrouding to the chamber.
 
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