Joined: Thu Nov 24 2005, 07:29PM
Location: So Cal.
Posts: 1111
I'm on the verge of making a purchase. I am leaning towards the Sidewinder heads because they sound like they get more personalized attention before being shipped out. My biggest concern is the plug angle. I'm afraid it may interfere with my HP manifolds.
Yes I know I won't get the full potential of the heads with the manifolds but this is a baby step towards more. I planned to run the heads with a Summit 6401 cam (because I have had it on the shelf for years) on my 440 and see how she does. I think it should still drive well and give a small bump in power from where I am, which is basically a stock TNT440.
The guys on Moparts claim the Sidewinders flow more than advertised and the Stealths flow less. Bummer, as I really like the look of the Stealths but am also concerned about the quality of valves/etc. hardware.
Joined: Sat Aug 19 2006, 05:03PM
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 2919
I strongly recommend you either get the Stealths or spring for a set of headers at the same time as the heads with angled plugs.
As you may have read here before, I did what you're thinking of, reusing my HP cast iron manifolds with Edelbrock heads until my budget allowed an exhaust system upgrade. I was sooo much happier after I upgraded to a set of Schumacher tri-Y headers.
Angled plugs don't play well with HP manifolds, specifically plug #7 is almost touching the C-body driver's side manifold. You'll be constantly burning boots, the only way to access the plug is from underneath the car, and even then you can't get a spark plug socket onto the plug.
I wound-up using a spark plug boot insulator made from woven ceramic fibre. They were made by 3M Nextel and sold by Moroso. Very expensive and I don't believe available anymore, at least not from Moroso. http://www.3m.com/market/industrial/ceramics/
This insulator allowed me to only have to replace the #7 boot once per year instead of once per day. I always carried an extra pre-made plug wire in the truck though, in case the boot burned through and started arcing to the manifold when I was far from home.
To change the spark plug, I made a special cut-down spark plug socket by cutting about 1/2" off each end and enlarged the hole through the center so the insulator on the plug would pass through it. This socket would slip onto the spark plug. I ground a new hex into the outside of the socket so it could be worked with an open-end wrench.
Joined: Thu Nov 24 2005, 07:29PM
Location: So Cal.
Posts: 1111
That is exactly what I was afraid of. I will have to reevaluate my plan. Down the line I would like to build a stroker. How much power will the tri-y's support?
Edit- I checked out the tri-y's and of course the z bar on a 4-speed gets in the way. Always something. Another $285 to modify an uncoated header for a 4-speed car.
The Hedman shorty headers are an option so long as you use the small starter.I would go with the sidewinder heads myself from Todd Marsh and he can assemble/port them to your liking.
Joined: Wed Dec 21 2005, 07:34AM
Location: indiana
Posts: 791
The Hedman shortys are only 1-3/4" primaries, and 2-1/2" collectors, so those may limit you depending on stroker size.
But that's what I'd step to in the interim for sure, very cost-effective compromise to allow those Sidewinders. And from what I read when the SW heads came out, I'd pick them over the Stealths without a 2nd thought.
Joined: Sat Aug 25 2007, 11:47AM
Location: new jersey
Posts: 367
Those cnc'd stealths flow over 300 cfm on the intake and almost as much on the exhaust. You can make 600 hp with those flow numbers with a sorted combination of parts.
Joined: Sat Apr 29 2006, 05:11PM
Location: Cincy
Posts: 269
I am building a 69 GTX street/strip car. Shooting for 630 hp +/- 20 hp. I ended up with fully ported Sidewinders. I really like the quality of the castings and stock location for everything.
Joined: Thu Nov 24 2005, 07:29PM
Location: So Cal.
Posts: 1111
BODE, mind if you share the details of your build? I wouldn't mind being near the 600 hp number someday. Guess if I go that far, I'd have to do headers and then the angled vs. straight plug thing isn't an issue anymore. LOL
Joined: Sat Apr 29 2006, 05:11PM
Location: Cincy
Posts: 269
TNT440_Cbody wrote ...
BODE, mind if you share the details of your build? I wouldn't mind being near the 600 hp number someday. Guess if I go that far, I'd have to do headers and then the angled vs. straight plug thing isn't an issue anymore. LOL
I'm shooting for 505 cubic inch. If a mega block shows up soon I will be going with that because I want piece of mind. To get to 505 CI it will be a .030 over 440 with a 4.25 inch stroke. Compression will be in the 10.3 - 10.5:1 compression. Still on pump gas.
MI intake with a 850 CFM carb. Cam is not a perfect choice as its a hydraulic roller mid .500 lift. Better cam would get closer to 650 hp. The Sidewinders will be fully ported.
Nothing fancy just lots of cubes with decent heads.
Joined: Mon Feb 18 2008, 11:08PM
Location: Tewantin, Queensland, Australia
Posts: 405
I'll be running port and polished Super Stealth heads with larger valve fitted, flow figures are 330cfm on the inlets and 670hp. 1.6 rockers and Mopar Performance .590 solid lifter "Purple cam". Induction well, me engine builder want a ProSystems Dominator carb, but i want my 3 x 500 "Triple Pumper" but the manifold wont breathe enough, i even modified a Weiand tunnel ram with a Hemi Hot Heads six pack adaptor, but the cross sectional area is still too small for my 500 stroker.
Guess if I go that far, I'd have to do headers and then the angled vs. straight plug thing isn't an issue anymore. LOL