I need some help with a head selection on a new motor I have built. I will apologize in advance if this question has been answered somewhere else. I have a 383 Short Block built with Forged internals and I will need heads in the 64 CC combustion range to have a usable compression ratio. I have 4 different cars that I can install the engine. This will probably be a TPI engine with a First Induction because they will flow more air and they look cool for shows. I know the issues with TPI really well and have 4 TPI engines. I will break the engine in on a dyno before putting it in the car.

My problem is staying legal in Texas with Emissions. I would really like to use Vortec heads, but no heat riser. Edelbrock has a 60Cc head with a heat riser, but it may raise the Comp Ratio a bit high. Stock Iron heads are crap. Is there anything else I can use to keep everything legal and maintain a stock TPI computer? We may alter the computer programming some, but it will still have an inspection required for 4 more years. I have read many posts on EGR and I know how it works. The real problem is that there are few performance heads with a heat riser. Any help out there? Thanks.

 

I like my AFR 180's but they are a bit pricey.

 

Does TX check for actual EGR operation somehow?

Not even CA does that.

 

Thanks for both posts. I checked the AFR heads and they look like a possibility for the 65 CC heads. The specs show that the exhaust port is 0.1 inch higher and I would like to know if that has caused any issues. the price is a bit higher but I can live with it. The motor is pricey already with coated pistons and forged components. And while I know everyone will laugh at me, this was originally going to be a Hydrogen engine using the same method that BMW used. I have a lot of experience in this area and wanted to set up a functional show car. Yes, it will work. However, the economy and my company has got in the way and I do not have much time to work on cars. I work on keeping people employed. So, for now, I will build a basic engine and move it from the engine stand to a car.

Regarding the TX inspections, I think they did look for the EGR on the last inspection. You can touch the intake manifold in that area and see if it is hot also. Someone might want to buy a head without the heat riser and mount a manifold with a fake EGR. I thought about that. I have two show cars and do not want any issues with keeping them legal.

Thanks again. I am open to any other ideas.....

 

You could even mount a real EGR if you felt like it. Maybe even, the one that belongs on the intake you use, such that no one can tell that there's nothing underneath it.

I can't imagine anybody trying to see, on a TPI manifold, if that are is hot. For the most part the people doing those inspections aren't that determined, anywhere. Not even in CA.

If your scheme requires a functional one for some functional reason other than "inspection" though, you could investigate whether it could be drilled into whatever heads of your choice.

 

You could use vortecs (or any head for that matter) and install all your EGR equipment and just have a chip burned to turn off the EGR and it will pass a visual inspection. I had no fitment issues with my AFR heads. I have Edelbrock headers and a TPIS big mouth manifold and it all bolted together nicely.

 

ive never had a texas inspector touch anything under the hood. hell i had one onetime that barely even glanced under the hood. emissions are relaxed here, you shouldnt have a problem getting it inspected without an egr.