Reply to "AFD Alum heads"

Kevin,

My only advice at this point is to use an engine builder that knows the Cleveland. A guy who does Chevys will make a mess of a Cleveland job. And don't use a "rebuilder" which is a guy who normally just does rebuilds of oem motors. In the mind of a rebuilder, all the things a hot rodder does to make an engine stay alive while producing 60% more power is silliness.

My apprehension would be, if the builder you've selected knew Clevelands, why couldn't he have advised you regarding cyliner heads.

Restricting oil to the cam bearings is just one of several considerations in building a Cleveland.

If you don't zero deck the block, you're giving up at least 20 bhp. If you don't do a half fill with hard block, at the right time in the block prep process, you'll give up at least another 20 bhp. At 500 bhp, you are entering the area with a Cleveland block where you "need" to use hard block due to the increasing likelihood of cylinder wall failure. At 500 bhp you also need to install a main cap girdle (not the same as a rocker stud girdle).

Good Luck, George