5-0 Blackbird

Hey guys, the motor in my 87' Formula is knocking and I've been told by a few people that it sounds like the rods or rod bearings (which I figured it was ), but either way I'm probably gonna end up pulling the engine to take a peak around in there. Anyways, I've been looking at rods for it at Summit Racing and I was wondering if anyone knew if their internal engine parts were any good? I know most if not all of their parts are just another brand's stuff, but with their name on it. Any one have any idea what company they work with on the internal parts (what brand they actually are supposed to be)? Their parts seem to be a bit cheaper though so if they're good internal parts, then maybe instead of just bearings or rods, I could swing some new pistons and what not to give er a little more power while the motor is already out. I've bought Summit branded stuff before, but nothing as important as internal parts.

1989GTATransAm

iTrader: (3)

I'm in the same boat as you information wise. I have bought Summit brand parts and they have been of very good quality. Usually name manufacturers with the Summit label. Now as to rods and pistons I could not tell you. Maybe a call to Summit would be in order so that you know exactly what you are buying.

LAFireboyd

iTrader: (3)

Trick Flow

fryer1979

Personally I would use the Summit brand with no hezitation. All of their parts are made to the manufacturer's specs if not better/stronger. I have purchased many parts through Summit, and have repeatedly found that with the Summit brand I was often getting a better quality part for a better price. The only exceptions I would make would be if another brand had a specific feature I was looking for. The Summit brand will help you get more for less, which is all of our end goals right?

S10GUY

iTrader: (1)

Ive used alot of summit stuff also and likeit,I thnik when i build my 350 im going to try and use ALL and only summit parts just to prove to my friends there a good product.

5-0 Blackbird

Thanks for the replies, definitely gave me some thoughts. I think I'll go ahead and use them when I crack the engine open, their prices will allow me to replace more than I would have before. I guess I'll just take faith in them, never had any problems yet, so we'll see.

89formula350b2l

iTrader: (11)

Well I dont have Summit Brand internals, however i do have a Summit Brand distributor. The only issue I had with that was the ignition module went out on it/went bad because moisture got in there. After spending 15 bucks on a module its run fine since.

Brennan

ive been told to stay away from summit headers. but i just bought myself a summit oil pump and pickup for almost half of the other stuff and a see-through cap and rotor which looks freakin cool cant wait to install it! i also got a new basepan for about 40 bux, powder coated orange too

bart91406

I do not know about summit header quality, but I do know they are 1-1/2 primaries, yuck!

Pat Hall

iTrader: (31)

Good call on the headers. Everything else I've seen that's Summit brand seems to be great quality, but their headers are one area you'd be better off spending more on a known brand. My brother bought a set of their ceramic coated headers for his 69 Camaro, and couldn't get them to fit correctly no matter what he tried. In retrospect, I think they might have possibly sent him the wrong ones. Even so, the quality was pretty chintzy. I put a set of Hookers on my 69, and they fit like a glove right out of the box, and they're still holding up great after almost 20 years now. I don't think I'd worry too much about their engine stuff though. I've rebuilt several SBC's for people over the years using their engine kits and never had a problem with the quality. For a stock or mild performance motor, their engine stuff is decent quality for a great price.

5-0 Blackbird

Thanks for all the replies! As far as headers, with stuff like that, I probably would go with a proven company like Hooker first, because if Summit usually uses other brand's parts, they must copy someone like Flowtech or something for the headers (judging by price) and most people say they're not too great. I just noticed they're pistons/ rings and such were pretty decently priced, so I figured if no one has much bad to say about em, I'll buy those instead, that way I can afford more parts. The 350 I have has a knock so I was gonna open er up. Figured I might as well replace some other stuff for at least some gains while it's open. It's not gonna be some bad @$$ racing motor, but I would like to take it to the track once in a great while. Anyone try their new carbs? Saw the ad in a newer Summit mag. Seem pretty decent, probably the same as a Holley I'd imagine?

SiCkRs

iTrader: (6)

Thanks i was about to get some summit headers now i will go with flowtech

82Five-O

I,ve got summit shorty headers on my car, they fit great. And BTW they're 1 5/8 primaries. If you go with Flowtechs, you're paying more for the same thing. Reason i know is cause my "Summit" headers came with Flowtech stickers!

SiCkRs

iTrader: (6)

So the summit ones are the same ones then for i could order them right now

82Five-O

yes. But the summit headers do not come with a y pipe, you will either have to order one or have one fabricated. Mine is fabricated 3 inch, but you could always have the tips of your stock exhaust flared and run collector flanges on them temporarily. i also did that til i got my new exhaust run.

SiCkRs

iTrader: (6)

But the flowtech don't include the y pipe and how much did you spend for your y pipe

Shadygrady

iTrader: (3)

I was under the impression,and I`m pretty sure summit headers are flowtech headers.Are you measuring the ID or OD?Are yall talking bout the shorties or LT`s?IMO all shorties should fit fine.My flowtechs went on farily easily.Not quite as easily as my Hookers.The flowtech/summit quality is the same.$hitty,with tiny collecters.
As for most of the suumit parts they are as good as stated.trickflow and others repackage thier parts for them.Just remember you get what you pay for and if it seems to good to be true......It probably is.I`ve been running thier alluminum 1.6 RR for awhile with no issues.Internals,I`d by name brand just for the peace of mind,however summit backs thier parts very well.

If its not a drag dedicated car alot of newer oem or summit parts will work fine.Depends on the engine speed you plan on turning,if it`s put together rightand what you expect out of the car.
I know people who have built drag cars with mostly summit parts and others who wont touch them.The ones I know who refuse to use the run boost,and a bunch of it.

1986Z28OWNER

iTrader: (1)

from what ive heard, 90% of summit brand stuff is just name brand stuff, with summits name on it

The Project

iTrader: (6)

I bought a Summit alum. timing chain cover to fit my double roller timimg chain. Cost....less than $10.00 and it works great.


I know summit ignition items used to be made by Mallory and roller rockers were made by Crane.

Currently considering buying their roller rockers for $250 vs Comps at $300.

SiCkRs

iTrader: (6)

I am gonna have them for a daily driver and like i am only 17 i aint got much money

5-0 Blackbird

My friend bought the Flowtech headers with their y pipe, they're only like $250-300 including tax I think. Just the headers are about $120. He took them off to build up his motor and someone told him they're restricting him like crazy, so he's switching to some Dyno Don's. If your on a budget, they'd work, but like someone mentioned above, you get what you pay for. I know when he first got em, I noticed the edges were horrible, needed to grind them down so they wouldn't restrict as much. If you can hold yourself back, you might wanna save up for some Hooker's, because you might find that you'll end up like my friend, he spent like $300 on the Flowtech's, only to have to ditch it later and still fork out the extra for better brand headers. It's up to you though. As for the summit internals, I think I might swap the motor later on down the road, so now I just wanna use the Summit parts needed to get it running right again. Just to hold it over till I can save the money for a swap.

SiCkRs

iTrader: (6)

Do you guys think headman are good headers

atc3434

iTrader: (4)

I've got a Summit cam and summit HEI, no complaints on either here.

SiCkRs

iTrader: (6)

DO you know anybody who has the summit headers and have they last i just want some to replace stock ones because the stock ones are cracked

5-0 Blackbird

Thanks for replying, that's nice to know. I was checking out their cams before, but noticed their rpm ranges were very small compared to other name brand cams.

As for the headers JR, I would say if your just replacing cracked stock ones, without big gains/ racing in mind, they'd be fine. I would check up on the Summit ones not coming with a y pipe though like someone mentioned above. If they don't come with a y pipe, you'd need to figure that part out.

GTA88t5

iTrader: (2)

i had the summit header and cam on my old 84 transam and both were great. cam was one step higher than a edelbrock performer cam and you could feel the difference over the stock cam and manifold setup

SiCkRs

iTrader: (6)

I already order them and then i would tell you guys how they come out what color shoulod i paint them my engine is chevy orange.

5-0 Blackbird

They come painted black and I'm pretty sure most people leave em black if they don't have em coated.

GTA88t5

iTrader: (2)

the black does not stay on long at all! took mine back off and rattle canned some ceramic silver paint rated @1000 deg and it lasted alot longer. still wish i would have had them actully coated. i bought hooker this time just for the y-pipe and coating.

atc3434

iTrader: (4)

Its strange, a couple different people make the "same" cam as the Summit cam I have, and I've seen all sorts of different RPM ranges quoted for it. I have the 204/214* .423/.442" @ .050" 112LSA cam, the K1102. Summit gives it a power range up to 4000rpm, Lunati offer the exact same cam and specs it to 4800rpm. http://store.summitracing.com/partde...3&autoview=sku

In my 305, in accordance with a probably inaccurate stock tach and with a well breathing intake and exhaust, I shift at 5500rpm, and the power isn't falling off there. Assume significant tach error in the stock unit of at least 500rpm too high, and that still 5000rpm, and it's still pulling strong. I'm sure on a bigger cubed 350 it would run out of breath a little sooner, and its really not as much cam as I'd like either, but it works pretty good. If I had it to do over, I would have went with the 214/224 duration cam.

Pat Hall

iTrader: (31)

No surprise on the different rpm ranges listed for the same cam. If you look at a lot of the major cam manufacturer's websites, you'll notice nearly identical cams have different rpm ranges. It's just a general guideline really, and it mostly reflects the range where each cam makes its maximum power. They'll continue to make power to some extent above the top rpm listed. And yeah, you would've noticed more of a difference with the 214/224 cam probably. As long as you stay at or below 230, you'll have a healthy cam that's plenty streetable.

FormulaL98

I have personally used some summit stuff on the 350 in my Nova. Havent had any complaints about them but I did not buy any internal engine parts, however the summit crank dampner i purchased is holding up fine seeing 7200rpm shifts (shortblock is 5 years old now). I went with a eagle cast crank which I believe is about the same price as a summit crank, and it has taken everything I have given it (alot, and a lil No2). I heard from my fathers close friend at Ohio Crankshaft that summit cranks are just "Scat cranks that werent up too par." Thats just what I hear though

SiCkRs

iTrader: (6)

The headers got here already now they are installed on the engine

brandoz28

iTrader: (1)

buddy of mine bought a summit cam and it had crane printed on the corner of the cam card. they're headers look a lot like flowtech ones, which i'm not overly impressed with, but they did wake up my little tpi 305 a bit.

5-0 Blackbird

I see. So they're more like peak ranges? the range where the engine could make most of it's power? I never really went around and compared them, I don't know too much about cams, just research and learn little by little thanks to this site and guys like you that are willing to explain . I just thought it was weird because that's the first time I've seen (talking about me, you more knowledgeable guys probably have) a cam with only like a 2-3k rpm range, just figured maybe it's a range for peak power. It's nice though because a cam kit from them is only like $90, can't be as bad as the cam that's in my Firebird already, never even heard of the company and can't find anything about em.

SiCkRs

iTrader: (6)

My uncle gave me his edelbrock headers now should i keep the edelbrock or the summit his have 10,000 miles

atc3434

iTrader: (4)

I they are lisitng what they would call the usable range. Even thats a bit of a misnomer, because its going to vary a LOT depending on each engines setup. Those Summit cams arn't bad at all, nice decent duration, moderate lift cams, the one I have, and the next step up, should play nice with most stock heads.

5-0 Blackbird

That's nice too know, I might go ahead and buy one now. I had considered them before, but the numbers confused me, but now that you guys explained it, it makes sense. I see your from Weedsport, NY atc, I have and aunt and uncle up your way that I visit a lot. They live in Cato though, not too far from there.

atc3434

iTrader: (4)

We should defintely hook up this summer. I grew up in Weedsport, I'm acutally in Auburn now, just a few miles south. I've got a few car buddies that get together every couple of weekends or so, the more the merrier!

5-0 Blackbird

Ahh I see, I don't go to Auburn too much, but sounds fun. My friend and I have been looking for some fellow car guys somewhere nearby to hang out/ cruise with now and then. Gotta get my Firebird ready for summer though, needs motor work and paint, hence this thread. Until then I drive my 94' Caprice. My buddy has a 89' Camaro. Sounds like it'd be fun to hook up somewhere this spring/ summer. We're in Phelps/ Clifton Springs, Rt. 96 (if you're familiar) runs right through here. We'll deff have to stay in touch!