Swirl port heads and why they need to go
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From: santa maria,ca
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Re: Swirl port heads and why they need to go
Wow! Didn't see how bad these are in stock form. Good thread
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Re: Swirl port heads and why they need to go
So just a quick question whats the difference bewteen the 193's and the 191's...just wondering cuz I have a set of 191's...
Ken
Ken
Re: Swirl port heads and why they need to go
You head guys are misdirecting the average engine builder by dismissing the swirl jobs entirely. I've got three small blocks running them and for use under 5000 RPM they seem like they would be more efficient than some stock heads. I drive my cars on the street, they never see 5000 RPMs. So what matter is flow up there? If you don't own any heads, I agree, don't buy swirlys,, If you have a set and they are not cracked, put your money in pistons and cams..If you haven't won a race by the time you get to maximum head flow---
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Re: Swirl port heads and why they need to go
what is the biggest lift you can run with the swirl port heads??? i am trying to deside what to run with my combo. i have a gm short block with 345np pistons and gm performance rods bored .30 over trying to deside between the 350 swirl port heads or the l69 305ho heads
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From: Cincinnati, OH
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Re: Swirl port heads and why they need to go
what is the biggest lift you can run with the swirl port heads??? i am trying to deside what to run with my combo. i have a gm short block with 345np pistons and gm performance rods bored .30 over trying to deside between the 350 swirl port heads or the l69 305ho heads
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From: dallas, tx
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Re: Swirl port heads and why they need to go
I have a free set of 193s and considering a budget build with them an a comp 423-8 Hr retro roller 224/236 501/510 lift in a 355 with fletcher top pistons. don't mind putting a fee hundred in these heads if I had a direction or tips on whether this cam is too big or how of a valves and how much milling I can do to them.
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Re: Swirl port heads and why they need to go
No offense, but I think someone gave you a free set of boat anchors
If you know what your doing, they can be made to flow ok, and work alright for something like a truck build where you want both torque and some top end power.
Those heads will need a lot more work then theyre worth to work with that cam. Id move on and get another set of heads to work with. That cam is all wrong for the TBI heads. I have a small version of the XE roller cams, and those have a lot more lift under the curve, sort of speak. That cam is pretty big, and will want good flowing heads to go with it.

If you know what your doing, they can be made to flow ok, and work alright for something like a truck build where you want both torque and some top end power.
Those heads will need a lot more work then theyre worth to work with that cam. Id move on and get another set of heads to work with. That cam is all wrong for the TBI heads. I have a small version of the XE roller cams, and those have a lot more lift under the curve, sort of speak. That cam is pretty big, and will want good flowing heads to go with it.
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Re: Swirl port heads and why they need to go
Well I've been out of the tuning/building arena for awhile but am starting to get the itch again and was researching threads when I came upon this one. One thing noone has mentioned in this thread is how much of a PITA it is to port ANY steel head due to all those tiny shards of metal!!! I do realize there is a certain satisfaction in modifying heads for better flow results, and the end result can be quite gratifying and measured by performance numbers, but I personally can't stand the hand cramps and cleanup afterwards! IMO stock junkyard Vortechs that are in abundance, matched with a summit brand, performer knock-off are the way to go if man-hours and limiting self sacrifice is a concern. Then again maybe I'm just whining....
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