Iron tunnel port heads, what to do ??

[fekbmax]

Factory iron tunnel port heads. Whats the best that can be expected from them as far as max effort, max flow and max RPM. I'm talking the best port, pocket and chamber work without a ton of welding . What kind of performance has been gotten from them ? Would it be wise to work them over or sell to someone needing them UN molested? Any ideas what a really good set along with a 2X4 intake would be worth ?
Weighing my options.  There only good to me at max effort.  Could bring to Fe reunion if i decide to sell or get the right offer.
Thanks guys to anyone that would reply. 

[jayb]

I know of a couple guys who have made over 700 HP with the tunnel port heads, but I think you could do better with some aftermarket high risers.  Which intake do you have?  The 2X4 dual planes seem to be worth the most, followed by the 2X4 single plane tunnel wedge style intakes. 

[fekbmax]

I have the single plane 2X4 intake.
Im about to go down this weekend and dig that stuff out.
I think your right about the hi rise heads. Always wanted a set of blu thunders but 1st i need to sell a bunch of stuff off and second they need to be available . Blue thunder, Dove, or other lol.

[blykins]

If you're wanting to go that route, it's a unique way to go.  I'm not saying that to be discouraging, but in the era of cookie-cutter 482's with Edelbrock/Pond/BBM heads, seeing some old iron make horsepower can be fun.

I have several TP builds in the dyno section of Jay's forum.   I made 700 hp with a 465 inch FE (solid roller engine) and 725 hp with a 511 inch FE (solid flat tappet). 

The heads don't have to be welded but do have to have the floors raised and the overall CSA reduced. 

[garyv]

The one draw back to using TP heads is if you want to run a big solid roller cam the standard way to mount
the rocker system is not enough to keep them from moving around. We even used the Dove set up with the
end stands that bolt to the head bolt and still got some movement.  In order to mill them for T&D race rockers
you run the risk of hitting water with them. It has been done but I've been told it's risky business.  On my TP
build we opted to ditch the solid roller and go with a solid flat tappet cam and T&D non race rockers which worked fine but probably cost us a few HP but still made over
700HP with 511 cubes and 11.5:1 compression.
For an all out max build with old FE Iron a HR head is probably the way to go but it's hard to beat a TP for the cool factor.
Really all depends on much HP you need to make.
I have everything now to build a High Riser but will enjoy my TP for now.
my 2 cents
garyv

[mike7570]

Not sure what your "max effort" refers to? Street car, race car, pulling truck?
For max effort FE go with the Pro port heads and good port work with sheet metal intake and big cubes. For a somewhat fast car you can keep your tunnel ports and intake stock to not hurt their value and put some money toward the car. 700hp is great but if you can't use it or the car is heavy a 500hp car can out perform it. My tunnel port had stock heads and intake and a cam around .650 lift and the car it was in would run mid 9's over 140.

[machoneman]

Factory iron tunnel port heads. Whats the best that can be expected from them as far as max effort, max flow and max RPM. I'm talking the best port, pocket and chamber work without a ton of welding . What kind of performance has been gotten from them ? Would it be wise to work them over or sell to someone needing them UN molested? Any ideas what a really good set along with a 2X4 intake would be worth ?
Weighing my options.  There only good to me at max effort.  Could bring to Fe reunion if i decide to sell or get the right offer.
Thanks guys to anyone that would reply.

If you already have a TP intake (pricey in their own right) I think I'd run the all TP top end. Or, w/o any TP intakes tucked away, the sale of the heads sounds better.

I'd figure the total cost of your TP combo (heads/intake) versus selling same and buying outright an all new Hi-Riser topside. But, if you're going bucks up on this build, all this is wordsmithing! LOL   

[cammerfe]

The problem with all factory heads is that they all had a slight variation of the same exhaust runners. What was OK sixty years ago is not the best possible set-up in today's thinking. If you want to stay with tunnel-ports, take a look at what Dove can offer in the way of more modern exhaust design to go with them.

KS

[fekbmax]

Im thinking sell,sell,sell.. they really wont meet my needs and rather than butcher them up and still not be happy i think its best to sell the heads and intake as a package if i can. Have no idea what they would be worth but i hope to go down this weekend and pick um up. Take some picts and go from there. Hoping to maybe get a Set of high risers someday. Or just be happy with the Kuntz heads i have and cut them for T&D .

[garyv]

The value of the heads will be according to what kind of condition they are in.
Pristine set may fetch up to $2K, sometimes more if NOS. Hard to find any that don't have some type of issue.
I've seen others in the $1200 range that needed a little work but turned out fine.
Intakes again is all about condition, 2x4 single plane $1500-1800, 2x4 dual plane up to $2500,
single 4 intakes $750 plus or minus depending on condition.
Hope this helps some with their value.  You alone will have to decide what you are willing to part with them for.
Good luck with your project.
garyv

[Joey120373]

those old iron TP heads are basically paper weights, they need a lot of work, they are heavy and no one really wants them.
tell you what, ill do you a solid and take them off your hands for $15, if you will pay shipping.....

Ok, in all seriousness, if you do decide to sell them, i doubt you will have much trouble, i would sure like to get my hands on a set just for the cool factor.

but I tend to agree with previous posters, for an all out build there are probably better options available.

[babybolt]

I don't know much about FE tunnel port heads.  But my buddy had a pile of them.  He claimed the original iron tunnel port heads were prone to cracking in the chamber.  It would be worth your time to have them magnafluxed before investing money and time into them.

[Leny Mason]

They are Cool I sold mine a while ago dam it, now I wish I still had it. Leny Mason


http://i1259.photobucket.com/albums/ii551/LENYM/Comet/IMG_0616.jpg

[fekbmax]

A few shots of the heads and intake.  Have all the spring cups and new valves as well. All been setting since 2008

[jayb]

I see the one head has the common welded up area between the spark plug hole and the intake seat.  Very common to see the tunnel port heads crack there.  Fortunately there's no water there; I've heard of people running them cracked for long periods...