Trickflow heads - gone for good?

[Urgefor]

I saw a posting in private classifieds looking for Trickflow heads last night.  I checked Trickflow's website after seeing the post and noted their lead time was August or so of this year.  Might have been September or October, but I can't confirm since their website now shows this for availability.  Did we just lose a nice option for cylinder heads?

[mbrunson427]

I talked with them at PRI. They had a supplier issue on heads and intakes, sounds like they use 15+ foundries for their products and a handful of them closed. That caused them to have to start back from scratch changing foundries on certain products.

He didn't tell us this, but any wise business you'd assume would start by getting their most popular products back on-line and work your way down the list.

[Urgefor]

He didn't tell us this, but any wise business you'd assume would start by getting their most popular products back on-line and work your way down the list.

I agree with that statement wholeheartedly.  The part that concerns me the most (I forgot to mention it earlier) is that along with the heads being marked as "Not Available", you can no longer choose FE as an option for their Ford head offerings on their website.  That tends to make me think it might be something more than just getting a product back online.  I certainly hope that isn't the case though.

[thatdarncat]

I talked to Trick Flow at the SEMA show last fall, pretty sure this subject came up last year and I replied there after my conversation with them, but yes, they confirmed at that time just big issues getting back up to “normal” after the pandemic. Same issues Jay dealt with for a couple years - foundries got super busy, they had to take care of larger customers, even larger than Trick Flow, loss of experienced employees and difficulties getting them replaced. They’ve tried switching to different foundries but that often requires trial and error at the new foundry to get the “pour” to work right. And often using a different foundry requires totally new tooling, which is a major expense. The Trick Flow guys assured me the FE products, both heads & intakes have been good sellers, and they didn’t have any intention to drop them, but they’re extremely frustrated too getting stuff back up to speed. I believe they’re telling the truth, since I’ve seen Jay and other local companies dealing with the same stuff. Let’s hope so.

[hwoods]

don't know if still available?


https://www.racingjunk.com/heads/184460773/trick-flow-heads-fe-390-428-power-port-175.html?category_id=1283&np_offset=54

[Fordman]

There are several sets left on eBay, both assembled and bare. It's not like there are NONE left out there. Just saying....

[My427stang]

I hope they aren't gone, but it's not only the FE heads.  I have a couple SBC customers and a SBF that we ended up going with other brands because of the sliding delivery date

I hope Trick Flow itself starts to get going, they have been a unique and affordable option for many engines for a long time.

[galaxiex]

There are several sets left on eBay, both assembled and bare. It's not like there are NONE left out there. Just saying....

Beware the delivery date on those Ebay parts.
If they say a couple or 3 months out, that means the seller does NOT have stock,
and they are projecting the delivery "when" they get them from the manufacturer.

[GerryP]

One of these days, everyone will be over their covid.  People are tired of the excuses.  Businesses that don't live up to customer expectations will be replaced by a business that can.  It's not a useful model anymore to be long on excuses and short on products.  Trick Flow needs to find a foundry...even if it's in Iran, that can make the product.  I fully understand manufacturing is a complex system, but money always lubricates the gears so companies who are not motivated and are eager to say they got that covid monkey on their back need to be replaced by the movers.  I mean Edelbrock too.  It seems all they have in stock is the gift shop merch, and they won't be in business long selling t-shirts and stickers.

[galaxiex]

I have a Trick Flow FE head saved in my wish list at Summit.
It "used to" say available a few months out.

It now says "Not Available".

Not a good sign....

[1968galaxie]

The Trick Flow used to be cast at the Edelbrock Foundry. You can see the EF round logo on the TF castings.
Perhaps Edelbrock/CPG (CPG - Comp Performance Group) does no longer want to cast cylinder heads for competition? Or raised the cost making TF look somewhere else for casting.
Perhaps someone knows?

[351crules]

i've been collecting parts for my build but crap like this is why i'm seriously considering jumping into a 460 based motor..

[cjshaker]

i've been collecting parts for my build but crap like this is why i'm seriously considering jumping into a 460 based motor..

It's still easier now to find parts than it used to be, even in the '70s and '80s. And there are still several good options for FE heads. It's hardly a 'make or break' deal.

[351crules]

no readily available single plane intakes, blocks aren't readily available, almost all heads live in the past. etc etc

[blykins]

Pond blocks are in stock, have Trick Flow Tunnel Wedges in stock.....

[Rory428]

Maybe it just seems that way to me, as the FE is my main engine of choice, but there have been numerous companies that offered some great products for FEs, only to have them disappear, or discontinue them. Obvious examples are Genesis, SideOiler Garage, for FE blocks, it certainly looked like BBM was going to finally be a reliable source for new FE blocks,heads, and intakes, based on their great looking photos of a huge, modern facility, but like others, seems almost all their FE parts have been on back order for far too long. I bought a set of the new Erson FE roller rockers when they first came out over 20 years ago, but they too disappeared some time ago. Dove is gone, Edelbrock, which used to be about the most reliable source of parts for a wide variety of engines, has been very spotty the past few years, Lakewood stopped making FE bellhousings almost as soon as they bought out QuickTime, and raised the prices on QT drastically, it appears that Blue Thunder has almost disappeared from the market, and much of the stuff from various suppliers (for all makes), has gone from high quality, reliable, American made products, to garbage farmed out offshore, to the highest bidder. I am sure the Covid deal was a large part of al this, but many long time businesses getting gobbled up by "investment groups" certainly isn`t helping, especially when it comes to engines like FEs, which are more of a small niche market, compared to big and small block Chevys, LS`s, SB Fords & 460s, etc. I hope things improve soon, but I certainly am not holding my breath.

[Tunnelwedge]

Remember when an aluminum head 390 was pretty much science fiction. 

[Rory428]

Remember when an aluminum head 390 was pretty much science fiction. 

Hell, I remember when the Edelbrock Streetmaster for a FE came out in the mid 70s, that was about the only new product for FEs in a number of years. The old FE was pretty much relegated to the history books by that time. I have to think that the growing interest in Cobra replicas was a major factor in the manufacturers taking another look at the FE, otherwise, we may have been just considered a vintage sideshow, like the Flatheads, Y blocks, 409 Chevys, Buicks, Oldsmobiles, and Pontiacs. I have to think that Edelbrock introducing so many heads and intakes for many of these less popular "niche" markets got the ball rolling for the FE, and other less common engine choices.

[351crules]

Maybe it just seems that way to me, as the FE is my main engine of choice, but there have been numerous companies that offered some great products for FEs, only to have them disappear, or discontinue them. Obvious examples are Genesis, SideOiler Garage, for FE blocks, it certainly looked like BBM was going to finally be a reliable source for new FE blocks,heads, and intakes, based on their great looking photos of a huge, modern facility, but like others, seems almost all their FE parts have been on back order for far too long. I bought a set of the new Erson FE roller rockers when they first came out over 20 years ago, but they too disappeared some time ago. Dove is gone, Edelbrock, which used to be about the most reliable source of parts for a wide variety of engines, has been very spotty the past few years, Lakewood stopped making FE bellhousings almost as soon as they bought out QuickTime, and raised the prices on QT drastically, it appears that Blue Thunder has almost disappeared from the market, and much of the stuff from various suppliers (for all makes), has gone from high quality, reliable, American made products, to garbage farmed out offshore, to the highest bidder. I am sure the Covid deal was a large part of al this, but many long time businesses getting gobbled up by "investment groups" certainly isn`t helping, especially when it comes to engines like FEs, which are more of a small niche market, compared to big and small block Chevys, LS`s, SB Fords & 460s, etc. I hope things improve soon, but I certainly am not holding my breath.

.  Spot on.

[fryedaddy]

back in 83 i bought a set of hookers at Nickels speed shop for 220 dollars and the sign outside said headers sbc 39 dollars. the guy at the counter felt sorry for me and let me have them for an even 200. i bought a streetmaster,moroso breather,holley valve covers ,a mallory dp dist..and an old isky solid full race cam with pushrods and rockers.that was all i could do at the time being an average guy. i used to set around and wish they would come out with some alu heads or something else good for the fe

[427Fastback]

I agree with Rory...We are still farther ahead that we were 30-40 years ago..When I built my 427 in the late 80's cam selection (solid) was slim. Intake choices were even slimmer.  So i found a C7-F intake .. Header choices were not good so I redrilled the heads and put CJ exhaust manifolds on. There was no ARP we used SPS rod bolts..When I bought my aluminum heads only Edelbrock had them..I bought empty 427 heads and had them built the way I wanted. They have been surpassed but i don't care..I built my engine for torque not HP...Its a street car...It sucks that the venders come and go..My advice is..grab it while you can...Cory

[hwoods]

if I am reading their web site correctly, Bear Block Motors looks to have FE heads in stock

[GerryP]

if I am reading their web site correctly, Bear Block Motors looks to have FE heads in stock

That's how it reads.  I'm waiting to see what the Brunson TP head does.  Hopefully that one will actually get poured and in sufficient volume to make our community flush with product.

[fekbmax]

Trickflow update

[Barry_R]

if I am reading their web site correctly, Bear Block Motors looks to have FE heads in stock

He sent me an email indicating that yesterday.
Also said blocks are due in August (!)

[Tunnelwedge]

It's been almost 20 years now since Barry_R had the dinosaur in Hot Rod.
I near fell over reading that article.
I feel lucky to have built one of those Genny's.
I hope the FE parts for the next 20 are as spectacular as the last 20.
Reg FE blocks will become very rare as time goes on.

ps: not trying to date you Barry.

 

[Urgefor]

Trickflow update

    That's the best one I could use from the choices for a smiley.

Jay, we need a "let's party" smiley.   

[mbrunson427]

I'm waiting to see what the Brunson TP head does.  Hopefully that one will actually get poured and in sufficient volume to make our community flush with product.

We continue to make progress. I'd hate to update everybody every step of the way, because to us the hurdles we cross feel like big accomplishments, but from the outside looking in they probably seem trivial and slow. I figured next time John Bamber or I update everybody it would sound more like "hey we have the castings, this is what they look like, and they'll be available on the website xxx date."

[GerryP]

Thanks, Mike.  If it were easy, everyone would be doing it.  Just to clarify my memory but I seem to recall that your TP head will fit a 428 bore without modifications.  Are you still moving in that direction?

[Barry_R]

It's been almost 20 years now since Barry_R had the dinosaur in Hot Rod.
I near fell over reading that article.
I feel lucky to have built one of those Genny's.
I hope the FE parts for the next 20 are as spectacular as the last 20.
Reg FE blocks will become very rare as time goes on.

ps: not trying to date you Barry.

Was thinking about that the other day. 
Those were some really exciting years - new blocks, new heads, new cranks.
Miss that time....

[MeanGene]

It's been almost 20 years now since Barry_R had the dinosaur in Hot Rod.
I near fell over reading that article.
I feel lucky to have built one of those Genny's.
I hope the FE parts for the next 20 are as spectacular as the last 20.
Reg FE blocks will become very rare as time goes on.

ps: not trying to date you Barry.

[mbrunson427]

Thanks, Mike.  If it were easy, everyone would be doing it.  Just to clarify my memory but I seem to recall that your TP head will fit a 428 bore without modifications.  Are you still moving in that direction?

Yes sir, that's the design criteria. MR head to fit on bores as small as 4.08" and TP head to fit on bores as small as 4.16".

[GerryP]

...Yes sir, that's the design criteria. MR head to fit on bores as small as 4.08" and TP head to fit on bores as small as 4.16".

Thanks!