Are "peanut port" heads any good?
Michael LeJeune
no. 336236 if my memory is correct. The valves are 2.06" and 1.70". The
heads were port matched to an Edelbrock Perf RPM oval port intake. Can
these heads make power to approx. 5500 rpm? I've installed a Lunati
Bracket master hydraulic cam which is nominally rated 2000-5500 rpm.
I've heard mixed reviews on these heads with the negative side being high
rpm breathing is limited. My 70 Camaro will be used mainly on the street
with limited strip duty so high rpm power is not a major concern.
Any opinions and experience???
mike
70 Z28 powered by big old Rat.
M21 12-bolt posi 3.73
Phillip Patterson
Those heads are good for 5000 RPM at best. The ports are extremely small
for a big block. You must have had to do a lot of grinding to get the heads
to portmatch the Performer RPM intake. Are you sure you didn't use the
Performer intake? It has the smaller ports like on the peanut heads. I
have a set of peanut heads that I was thinking about using, but saw the
light. If you want to use factory oval port cast iron heads, look for
either 049 or 781 castings. These are the best flowing factory oval port
castings. These are '74-'76 model heads. These heads are commonly known by
any BB person to be the best oval port heads. These (all oval port) heads
come with 2.065/1.72 valves. I found mine in Birmingham, Al, and paid $100
for them. Then I spent about $500 more on machine work, valves, spings,
etc.
Those oval port heads will give you excellent torque and good RPM. I shift
mine at 6000 RPM. It pulls hard to 6200 RPM. I did the standard portmatch,
and pocket porting on mine, and put 2.19/1.88 Manley valves in them. I use
the Lunati 292 Bracket Master Cam (00024) setup in mine. Very good cam,
only 230 duration @.050, but still has pretty rough idle, because of the 109
degree lobe seperation. Mine has great torque, even with a Victor Jr.
intake. I'm guessing 500-520 HP in my setup, and it is very streetable,
running pump gas. If you have any other questions feel free to e-mail me.
Also, check out my homepage, to see my motor and more specs on the motor.
See Ya!
Phillip Patterson
'79 Malibu 454 - 7.66 @ 90 MPH (1/8 mile) All throttle, no bottle...
http//fly.hiwaay.net/~ppatter
***Remove *AS from my e-mail address. This is done for Anti-Spamming
reasons.***
Cam406
a 468, with a decent roller cam, 252-262 at .050, and .680, and .708 lift, the
motor, with an edelbrock Victor 4500, don't add the jr, a 1050 dominator, 2
inch headers and around 11.5:1, made 610hp at 6000, and 588ft/lbs at 5000. This
is a fairly mild cam, for a race motor, and, it saw a lot, still does, street
miles, the only drawback, is the fact that it goes thru valve springs, about a
set a season, with the street miles, it kills them fast. I would estimate that,
there is about 650hp in them heads, with some more compression, and a bigger
cam, but for what he does, it's brutal
Phillip Patterson
Michael LeJeune wrote in message <01bdaf97$b9ca3040$8b3a51ce@oemcomputer>...
>No I definitely used the RPM model and yes there was some metal removed to
>match but not as much as you would think. The peanut ports are about the
>same width as oval ports but the height is reduced resulting in an almost
>round shape. I took an air powered die grinder and opened up the ports to
>match the manifold. I was also careful to contour the change in port size
>from round to oval as much as possible. All in all, the port match
>extended about 1" into the port and I was scared to cut through but there
>seems to be enough metal there. Not ideal i know, but I figure I can save
>for some good oval ports later.
>
>I've installed the same cam and I love the idle. It has great throttle
>response too.
>I'm using a 750 Edelbrock vac secondary carb which helps too. Overall the
>engine seems very strong off idle. High rpm's remain to be seen since its
>not on the street yet. I'm working on the body so a 1/4 mile trip is
>upcoming in the fall/winter. I'll post the results. I'm expecting
>mid-upper 12 second range on the first trip if I can hook the thing up.
>
Just keep what you got, make some passes. Get a good baseline. In the
meantime, look for some 049 or 781 heads. You never know you might find
some for close to nothing, since you're in no hurry. I think you would be
suprised at how much you could pick up. BTW, I have seen some build-ups
that John Lingenfelter did using the 781 heads. He got 660 HP out of a
roller motor (pretty radical). But, he also got 580 HP out of a moderate
solid lifter cam. Have Fun!
Phillip Patterson
'79 Malibu 454 - 7.66 @ 90 MPH
Michael LeJeune
Phillip Patterson <ppatter*A...@hiwaay.net> wrote in article
>
> Those heads are good for 5000 RPM at best. The ports are extremely small
> for a big block. You must have had to do a lot of grinding to get the
heads
> to portmatch the Performer RPM intake.
> Are you sure you didn't use the
> Performer intake? It has the smaller ports like on the peanut heads.
No I definitely used the RPM model and yes there was some metal removed to
match but not as much as you would think. The peanut ports are about the
same width as oval ports but the height is reduced resulting in an almost
round shape. I took an air powered die grinder and opened up the ports to
match the manifold. I was also careful to contour the change in port size
from round to oval as much as possible. All in all, the port match
extended about 1" into the port and I was scared to cut through but there
seems to be enough metal there. Not ideal i know, but I figure I can save
for some good oval ports later.
> I have a set of peanut heads that I was thinking about using, but saw the
> light. If you want to use factory oval port cast iron heads, look for
> either 049 or 781 castings. These are the best flowing factory oval port
> castings. These are '74-'76 model heads. These heads are commonly known
by
> any BB person to be the best oval port heads. These (all oval port)
heads
> come with 2.065/1.72 valves. I found mine in Birmingham, Al, and paid
$100
> for them. Then I spent about $500 more on machine work, valves, spings,
> etc
> Those oval port heads will give you excellent torque and good RPM. I
shift
> mine at 6000 RPM. It pulls hard to 6200 RPM. I did the standard
portmatch,
> and pocket porting on mine, and put 2.19/1.88 Manley valves in them. I
use
> the Lunati 292 Bracket Master Cam (00024) setup in mine. Very good cam,
> only 230 duration @.050, but still has pretty rough idle, because of the
109
> degree lobe seperation. Mine has great torque, even with a Victor Jr.
> intake.
I've installed the same cam and I love the idle. It has great throttle
response too.
I'm using a 750 Edelbrock vac secondary carb which helps too. Overall the
engine seems very strong off idle. High rpm's remain to be seen since its
not on the street yet. I'm working on the body so a 1/4 mile trip is
upcoming in the fall/winter. I'll post the results. I'm expecting
mid-upper 12 second range on the first trip if I can hook the thing up.
>I'm guessing 500-520 HP in my setup, and it is very streetable,
> running pump gas. If you have any other questions feel free to e-mail
me.
> Also, check out my homepage, to see my motor and more specs on the motor.
> See Ya!
>
> Phillip Patterson