Test drove new heads, headers...finally

give us a run down on your setup scooper.. i need to get some more HP out of mine.. funny... when i built this engine i was fed so much crap from the engine shop that did my engine work.. they told me my setup would yield 350 Hp at the wheels

i wish i knew then what i know now.. i would have gone with a bigger cam.. heads.. and a few other mods...

now i need money to buy the parts.. and time to tear into it..

but i have some ideas..

1. 512-530 cam
2. rpm or torker intake
3. gears
4.heads

 

stmanser,
What's your current combo? Engine/transmission/rear end.

 

Great job...glad to know that you love the changes. You can leave those pistons alone because with those heads, you have raised the comp. on the engine. Good job. I guess I will go with a 3.80 gear also.

 

cool thats one of the best investments on a motor.... cyl heads! now all you need is some N20

 

That is the Torker 289!
That is what I took for granted, then lost when I was told a Performer RPM would do the same, but better.

 

Shadow...no epoxy. But, you can tell that someone broke it at the water inlet near the thermostat, but a really good weld job. It sounds like you thought you recognized it? It has been reamed out pretty good, probably weighs around half what it started.

I didn't take any pictures of it prior to installation, but these are from e-Bay where I found it. I have been very impressed. Thanks, in part, to ratio411 for the suggestion of the old Torker. I found the ported one on accident, and it was quite a bit cheaper, I guess because of the break/fix?

My rundown is at the bottom of my "signature"...basically, new intake, carb, heads, and header, with mild/moderate cam. Probably more on the mild side, since the GT40P can only handle .500 lift (I have .479, I think). An aftermarket Acell coil, just a little better than stock, new wires, new $13 each plugs, 3.80 rear with spool...I guess quite a few modifications, just not much to the engine (or to the rotating assembly). Lost lots of weight with replacement and loss of seats, big/small bumper swap, and throwing away everything that doesn't make it run (charcoal canister, all egr and vacuum, anything I can't figure out where it starts :confused: ). Also, a B&M Bandit shifter, but that really isn't an improvement, just an ease of driving. Check out my website for a complete rundown of what I have done...one at a time, now, as it is Geocities, and 2 people at a time get on there and it will kick you all off

 

I been following this your work on this, never responded much cause I am still running iron heads and just plain dont know much of anything on this subject on these motors. I do know you worked hard and fought frustration many times. You perceveired and sounds like it was all worth it. Real hot rodding in my book, Congrats!!
Dan

 

Hey!
I thought I was the resident ricer.

 

Where did that T289 come from? What city?
It looks very familiar...
Did it come from around Memphis, Olive Branch, Horn Lake?

Us Torker guys get attached to our intakes!
Dave

 

That torker was won for $63 from Long Island NY. I did see a couple from Memphis area, one silver and one black but they were starting at around $125 and not ported, just stock.

 

Yeah....I did one for an old project years ago and I've seen it once since then. I filled the outside of the plenum area below the carb base (from carb base to top of the runners) with epoxy and commenced porting. There was no necked down area inside the plenum. It was a perfect right angle from the carb base into the runner transitions. Worked amazingly well too.

 

Shadow...it sounds like you are saying that I could port this out some more???

Hmmmmm

 

What I have read on the T289 is that the only place it needs porting is the top of the plenum. You raise the top of the runners into the roof of the plenum is how it was done for best flow numbers.
It is an interesting idea to epoxy the neck of the plenum and grind it open...
I know the flow tests I read never did such a drastic mod, so I have no opinion on if it should work or not. My best guess is that it would make throttle response a little spongy. If the mod was done on an engine needing a Vic Jr, then it would be a good mod. Needless to say, Vic Jrs are a recent addition to the SBF aftermarket when you realize the engines have been around since about 1960.

 

You? No. Me? Hell yeah! Just kidding.......

Actually, it works quite well. Think about lowering the plenum divider in a dual plane intake. This bumps the "top end" power. By opening the plenum area you are effectively adding plenum volume without shortening the runners (by any appreciable amount) so your throttle response and port velocity remains excellent. Your upper rpm power is where you'll pick up considerably. I lost no power below 3800 rpm with this modification. We gained 16 rwhp above 4100 rpm and carried that gain out to 6500 rpm. Yes, it made power up to 6500 without nosing over.

 

My unported T289 turned 7k, never slowing rate of rpm rise until the lifters started floating just over 7k. It really is a good intake. The rpm rise puts any dual plane to shame after about 2500 Rs.

Plenum volume does affect throttle response.
More volume acts as a cushion to the relation between runner pulse and vacuum signal at the throttle blades. Less volume amplifies the runner signal at the throttle blades and makes tip-in performance instant. The way to band-aid this, to extend top end, is to use an aggressive accellerator pump setup. That is why they make 5cc pumps to replace the standard 3cc. Squirter size and pump cam selection also can play a role in covering a 'soft' vacuum signal cause by plenum volume.
Don't get me wrong... just playing devils advocate, not argueing.
I like a good tech discussion!
We all learn new stuff... now I have your idea about the epoxy! Nah-nah
Dave