These freakin things are a pain in my a$$. They should of called these twisted heads, cause their f'ed up. When I first built my engine I went through 2 sets of crane cams gold roller rockers (thats 600 buck$) and about 4-5 sets of pushrods because of the geometry of these things. Well I finally got it correct and it's been great for the past 30k miles(using self aligning roller rockers). Now I want to change to 1.470 springs, I called TFS and they said no problem, gave me all the part #'s and called summit and ordered them. Got everything in except for the spring cups which too 1 month(backordered) no problem. Got the cups in yesterday, started to install them last night. Wouldn't you know it I'm back to square one, everything is fuc'ed again. The retainers wont allow the rollers to contact the valve stem(SOB!). So I called Charlie at TFS (Which his is always very helpful and a pleasure to talk to) and explain to him my problem and he say's "Oh, you need to use non-self aliging rockers with the bigger spring". So now if I want to use these I need to buy new roller rockers, use the guide plates and make sure I have the correct length hardend pushrods. That sucks man! Or I was thinking, do you think it would be possible to machine the end of these self aligning rockers and use them as non-self aligning? This is crazy, I might just leave the smaller springs in and on the next rebuild change the heads to a non-twisted type! I guess that's why they don't manufacture these things anymore.
Sorry for the vent, I feel better now.


------------------
92 RS, 350, Street & Performance MPFI, TFS heads,
Crane Rollers,
MSD Digital 6 Plus, 22lb injectors,
ZZ3 cam, Edelbrock Headers 1 5/8, 3" Exhaust,
Hi Flow 3" Cat, stock T-5,
stock rear 3.08, koni yellow adjustable front, twin turbo glass hood, T-tops, Auto Meter Ultra Lite Series 2 5/8 gauges, Teal Green

 

I feel your pain. Those aren't the only potential problems with the TFS heads though.

I've had mine since 1995 and they work very well, but it helps to already know how to properly set up valvetrain geometry before you jump into performance aftermarket heads... so you kind of asked for problems by just bolting on parts and expecting everything to work right without checking. You definately need to use a pushrod length checker when determining the right lengths.. also the ideal length will be a little different between the intake and exhaust pushrods because the intake rocker is positioned further away from the lifter (requires a slightly longer pushrod.
It is ok to grind away the part of the rocker that makes contact with the retainer. Of course this weakens the rocker and could potentially cause a failure, but it's never happened to me over the last 12 years or so.
There are certain things you can do as options to prevent any major accidents caused by a valvetrain problem. First have valve reliefs machined into your pistons to match the TFS heads so you have a non-interference valvetrain. Next you could use a rev-kit between the lifters and head... allows you to use the smaller & weaker valvesprings, and also holds the lifter on the camshaft in the event of a rockerarm breakage.
I have also seen people use the valve-tip cups or valve protectors in order to help get the geometry right (or closer). I've never had to use the cups myself but I'm pretty sure you can get different thicknesses and they do increase the surface area of the valve tip.

good luck
ODB



------------------
*I do custom performance mods on Edlebrock Performer carburetors (dualplane intake mods in the works),
White 1986 Irocz, 305 with iron #416 heads,
383 with aluminum TFS heads,
Edlebrock Performer-RPM intake and Performer #1407 carburetor, +110hp shot of crack, 700R-4 tranny, Vigilante 2400 lockup converter, 3.25:1 Ford 9" rear, Mcreary Road-Stars, SLP-stainless 1.75" shortie headers & Y-pipe, single 3" Borla exhaust, Linginfelter-TPI camshaft part number 74216 pulls 17" vacuum solid. Cam specs 213/219 @.050 114-LSA, sometimes advertised at 216/219 @.050 112-LSA .462/.470 lift @1.5:1 ratio. Using Harland Sharp 1.65:1 roller rockers. MSD-6AL, billet distributor, multi-retard, blaster-3 coil, and RPM switch. SouthSide machine subframe connectors, SSM lift-bars, Moroso 4" underdrive crank pulley.

N/A runs 10.9 @124,
Crack-runs 10.3 @135
haven't run at track since Oct-99
* vizit miy homepayge * http://www.geocities.com/trailerparkpage/

 

You forgot one other thing '92. You have to gut your damn valve covers to make em fit!!!


bsa


------------------
"If they do not run, Then they will die." - Stonewall Jackson
#3
'87 IROC, 355 TPI, Converted to SD, 700R4, B&M Megashifter, 3.42, Trick Flow Twisted Wedge Heads, Edelbrock Intake, Accel Runners, Comp Cam, Crane Gold rockers, Lucas 23# injectors, Edelbrock headers, Flowmaster 3'' exhaust, Mallory Ignition, Transgo Performance Shift Kit, Corvette Servo, 2,000 Stall Torque Converter

 

Oh, yeah that's right....damn twisted heads!
ODB, your absolutly right about checking rod length. The valve caps might be my next step before machining the rockers. Thanks for the advise and herin me out.

------------------
92 RS, 350, Street & Performance MPFI, TFS heads,
Crane Rollers,
MSD Digital 6 Plus, 22lb injectors,
ZZ3 cam, Edelbrock Headers 1 5/8, 3" Exhaust,
Hi Flow 3" Cat, stock T-5,
stock rear 3.08, koni yellow adjustable front, twin turbo glass hood, T-tops, Auto Meter Ultra Lite Series 2 5/8 gauges, Teal Green

 

What do you mean they don't manufacture these heads anymore? That's crazy. You must be refering to the G1 heads. They have been upgraded to G2 and don't have any problems. I've had my G2's for almost two years now with zero problems.



------------------
86 Camaro Sport
383 Speed-O-Motive Crate Engine, Raptor 700R4 Tranmission, Trick Flow Twisted Wedge G2's, 58mm Accel TB, 3.73 Auburn Pro, SLP Cold Air Induction and Headers, Dynomax Cat-back, Serpentine Belt Setup, Dual IROC Fans, Jamex springs, 16" IROC Rims, 36mm/24mm Sway Bars, Global West Steering Brace. Hotchkis Rear LCA's,Panhard Bar and SFC's.
My Camaro Project

 

The only lash caps I ever found were one size fits all. IIRC they are .060 thick.

 

no problem,

A machinist friend of David Vizard named Denny should be able to get ahold of the different size lash caps if you need them. He works at
Motor Machine & Supply in Tucson AZ.

Vizard likes the caps because they protect the tip of the valve when he uses titanium or other expensive valves.
Most people I know just use steel valves, grind away on the rockers, and get the right length hardened pushrods.

ODB

 

Exactly, these are discontinued. When these were purchased in '95 they were referred as "Twisted Wedge" and not G1 heads. Maybe they got the name G1 later but I never seen them referred that way. I think the G2's are a totally different design from the "G1". Maybe someone can back that up.

If a head is upgraded and the previous design is not made anymore, that means it is discontinued and they don't manufacture them. Get it?


------------------
92 RS, 350, Street & Performance MPFI, TFS heads,
Crane Rollers,
MSD Digital 6 Plus, 22lb injectors,
ZZ3 cam, Edelbrock Headers 1 5/8, 3" Exhaust,
Hi Flow 3" Cat, stock T-5,
stock rear 3.08, koni yellow adjustable front, twin turbo glass hood, T-tops, Auto Meter Ultra Lite Series 2 5/8 gauges, Teal Green

 

Oh I see. I guess the Camaro was discontinued 4 times then?
The G2's are still advertised as Twisted Wedge, you can buy them today as well as years ago.


------------------
86 Camaro Sport
383 Speed-O-Motive Crate Engine, Raptor 700R4 Tranmission, Trick Flow Twisted Wedge G2's, 58mm Accel TB, 3.73 Auburn Pro, SLP Cold Air Induction and Headers, Dynomax Cat-back, Serpentine Belt Setup, Dual IROC Fans, Jamex springs, 16" IROC Rims, 36mm/24mm Sway Bars, Global West Steering Brace. Hotchkis Rear LCA's,Panhard Bar and SFC's.
My Camaro Project

 

Christ man, they discontinued the "G1" head.
I say it right this time? Do you comprehend what I'm saying? That design is not made no longer. thats it.
I'm sorry if I offended anyone with G2 TFS heads.

------------------
92 RS, 350, Street & Performance MPFI, TFS heads,
Crane Rollers,
MSD Digital 6 Plus, 22lb injectors,
ZZ3 cam, Edelbrock Headers 1 5/8, 3" Exhaust,
Hi Flow 3" Cat, stock T-5,
stock rear 3.08, koni yellow adjustable front, twin turbo glass hood, T-tops, Auto Meter Ultra Lite Series 2 5/8 gauges, Teal Green

[This message has been edited by 92 RSS (edited May 03, 2001).]

 

Why you so uptight?