head work

[one more hook]

I have a pair of 906 heads and 452 what ones would be better. Im putting than in my pull truck with a 440. What is some things that i could do too tham? Ahy help i would be greatfull.

[rumblefish360]

Not a big block guy, but from what the guys here have been saying, the newer 452 heads have hardened seat and will port out very well.
Otherwise, there seems to be about a level ground betwen them.

Wait on a been there done that guy.

[dave571]

I'll go along with Rumble here.

All the data supports that the 452 will work as well as any other open chambered head.

I run a 440 in my pull motor pickup

452 heads, but I know full well they have had no port work.

A tow motor turns slow. All grunt. Cam selection is crucial, head flow is not.

I have outpulled some verry expensive newer diesel trucks with this old pig.

I have also seen examples of 440 trucks that were dogs. So don't think that you can't screw it up...LOL


71 440, 9:1, 452's stock valves, and no port work, road demon 625, 5 speed industrial trans, 3.5?dana 60, iron intake and exhaust manifolds.

How does it pull? Well, the guy in the 2004 super duty diesel ford I passsed while pulling my car up the coquhailla hiway will say it pulls well.

[ehostler]

I would go with none of the above. By the time you are done with a good port job, matching the chambers, valve job, new seals, new springs, new retainers, etc, you will be within a couple hundred dollars of the EB heads. Out of the box, the EB heads will out perform the 452 or 906 heads that have had all of that machine work done. The EB heads also have larger valves and hardened seats. Don't forget, they also weigh less.

[jelsr]

Everything I've read says the 906's are slightly better in the low and mid- range and the 452's are a little better on the top, this is ported BTW. In stock or near stock form not a nickles worth of difference except for the hardened seats on the 452's.

[pcrmike]

Port velocity is where it is at on towing, efficiency, etc. Either one will do you fine, I do recommend some bowl work and blending of the round throat to the squarish port. I have picked up MPG, torque, AND midrange doing this. The 452's can be done for about 200 bucks a head, and I happen to have a pair already done. If you are interested, let me know. I have a 74 D100 club Cab LWB I am working (SLOWLY) on, and I have had the heads done for about 6 months, and that was the last thing I did! Haven't had time. :-)PCRMike

[dave571]

Originally Posted by ehostler

I would go with none of the above. By the time you are done with a good port job, matching the chambers, valve job, new seals, new springs, new retainers, etc, you will be within a couple hundred dollars of the EB heads. Out of the box, the EB heads will out perform the 452 or 906 heads that have had all of that machine work done. The EB heads also have larger valves and hardened seats. Don't forget, they also weigh less.

Eddy's on a towing motor? You can't be serious?

Let's be real here. There are grumblings on some of the boards about eddys not lasting as long as iron heads, on street applications. A real Towing application is harder on a motor than ANY other. They won't last and the big valves will not gain anything on a motor like this. Eddys won't seem like such a good deal after the first set is in the dumpster after 20000 miles.

They weigh less? Does it matter if there is 50 pounds less on the motor when your dragging a 5500 pound car and trailer combo up a hill?

I'm not trying to flame you Ed, I am just wondering if you read the thread, or if you are just up too late.

I can see the value of eddy heads on some applications, but this isn't one of them. my .02

[ehostler]

I will admit that I didn't notice what his application was.

As far as the EB head not lasting long goes, that would be problems for people that either bought the first run, improper installation, and/or improper coolant.

[pcrmike]

Why would they "wear out"? That sounds a little far fetched, but I have never used them, so, enlighten me. :-) PCRMike

[dave571]

I have not seen a set of worn out eddys first hand.

From what I'm hearing, the dirty little secret about eddy's is that the seats wear/sink in them.

All heads do this, it's just that the sedddys do it faster than the iron heads used to. It doesn't seem like a stretch to me. Very few would notice this, because most of the cars that these heads are put on only see 1 or 2 K a year. It would still take many years to sink them./

Also seems to be the talk, that when the seats have sunk, the construction of the head does not allow for new seat installation.

I am not a machinist, I have never tried to put seats into eddy's, I am only saying what I have heard grumblings of.

[Stoga]

I prefer the 906s to the 452s in a full out racing situation like Super Stock where you are (were?) restricted to factory castings. But, the 452s respond much easier to opening up under the bowl than the 906s with alot less port work and less chance of hitting water if you're opening up the port after installing larger intake valves.
In this situation though, I'd probably recommend the 452s or similar later casting due to availablity and price concerns.
I have no experience with the Edelbrocks or other recent aftermarket heads, but I do find the comments about the valve seats and being unable to regrind for a valve job or install new seats, pretty disturbing.

[one more hook]

Hey guys thanks for all the info. I should been more clear on what i meant by a pull truck. This truck wont see the road once i build it. It wont be that xtream thow but the pic gives you guys an idea what i meant.

[dave571]

I think eddys are what you want...LOL

See ed holster's post for the reasons.

Nothing like clarity

[ehostler]

For a beast like that, I think that I would probably go with a set of Indy heads.

[one more hook]

Well i look into runing eddys the class im building for says no aftermarket heads so im stuck with the stock ones. Out of the two which ones would be better?

[ehostler]

I would go with the 452 heads, myself.

As the valve seats were induction hardened, if you decide to go with larger valves, the hardened area will be ground away. Go with SS valves and you shouldn't have a problem.