Class of the Head

Mark Yacavone · 01-23-2022, 10:45 PM

I might have told this story awhile back..but here it goes again , for the younger guys.

We were at Miami Hollywood in 1988 , tearing down one of the little Cimarrons.
Next to us there, was my mentor and team mate Joe DeLorenzo and Ritchie DeCola with a K/Stock 327 / 250 Chevelle.
A couple of the 327 exhaust ports looked like they had been in sea water for a few years. The tech guy made a comment about them , saying I guess we know why you used them..Joey just smiled, and then asked the guy what NHRA was going to do about the acid ported heads in Stock. The guy says "Don't worry. NHRA is going to crack down on them" This was 1988, don't forget.
Meanwhile , a good ol' southern tech man who was familiar with Stocker heads, was trying to develop a chemical test that would reveal the presence of acid at one time..
Time went by, and I asked the tech guy what happened..He told me he felt NHRA didn't want to get involved with a possible lawsuit for a bad call.
So, here we are today...
Happy about it? Sad ? Why, or why not?

Mark Yacavone · 01-25-2022, 01:08 PM

I had the 5 grand figure in mind when I started this thread...
I've been advised that one of the best in the "business" gets 7K for a pair of BBC heads...Plus the cores, plus the shipping both ways, plus misc.... Closer to 10 grand than 5 ... Maybe someone will care now ;-)

Billy Nees · 01-25-2022, 01:40 PM

I don't think that it's a matter of caring or not but what to do about it. The "lawsuit" issue has made NHRA very gun-shy about enforcing discretionary rules like "ported heads".
IMHO, NHRA has to come up with a better way of dealing with non-safety related (frivolous?) lawsuits.
Gee, remember the old days when what the Tech Inspector said was final?

GTX JOHN · 01-25-2022, 03:43 PM

I have been quoted $13,000 complete for a top quality set of
state of the 340 Mopar Heads from a well know engine builder
who I respect very much if I could even find a set of Aluminun
Heads to start with.

I would rather spend the money on my Grandkids and if
I get beaten Heads Up = So be it!!

Thirty years ago - I bought my Demon Turn Key and running
well under the index for $5,500 right @ the Track after the
pass. Times have sure changed!!

If Stock/SS racing gets any more expensive we will be DONE after
almost 60 years.

Race Clean · 01-25-2022, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTX JOHN

I have been quoted $13,000 complete for a top quality set of
state of the 340 Mopar Heads from a well know engine builder
who I respect very much if I could even find a set of Aluminun
Heads to start with.

If you deduct a hefty $3000 for valves,springs material for "machining" etc. just to be sure and pay $100 per hour for labour it would get you100hours of work.

Stock heads sure are bad out of the box nowdays

Bruce Fulper · 01-25-2022, 10:44 PM

Ya know it seems pretty doggone easy to me for NHRA to take care of ported Stocker heads, but I imagine they don't want to spend the money. They could mandate that they're going to procure 10 sets of heads. Average out those ten sets and call it a day. Sure, the first thing you're going to say is logistically and $$$$ wise that could be quite an investment.

But I'm sure there's some guys out there with castings and our shared attitude that would be glad to donate some stock castings for inspection. I know I have plenty of Pontiac castings, I'd LOVE to see a level playing field again.

Same with allowing Edelbrock heads. GET RID of THEM. I didn't work on my cast iron heads for five years to overnight have NHRA making a bunch of 428 guys heros. Some who never had a nine second ET slip in their life were running 9.20's overnight. Nope. Make everyone work with the same equipment.

And we all know 400 Stocker Pontiacs struggled to crack the tens for YEARS, and again, overnight, they're running 10.20's or better.

C'mon NHRA ~ Take five or ten sets of factory heads and average out their port sizes. Put your foot down.

01-23-2022, 10:45 PM	#1
Mark Yacavone Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Miles From Nowhere Posts: 7,785 Likes: 2,878 Liked 5,073 Times in 1,934 Posts	Class of the Head I might have told this story awhile back..but here it goes again , for the younger guys. We were at Miami Hollywood in 1988 , tearing down one of the little Cimarrons. Next to us there, was my mentor and team mate Joe DeLorenzo and Ritchie DeCola with a K/Stock 327 / 250 Chevelle. A couple of the 327 exhaust ports looked like they had been in sea water for a few years. The tech guy made a comment about them , saying I guess we know why you used them..Joey just smiled, and then asked the guy what NHRA was going to do about the acid ported heads in Stock. The guy says "Don't worry. NHRA is going to crack down on them" This was 1988, don't forget. Meanwhile , a good ol' southern tech man who was familiar with Stocker heads, was trying to develop a chemical test that would reveal the presence of acid at one time.. Time went by, and I asked the tech guy what happened..He told me he felt NHRA didn't want to get involved with a possible lawsuit for a bad call. So, here we are today... Happy about it? Sad ? Why, or why not? __________________ "We are lucky we don't get as much Government as we pay for." Will Rogers

01-25-2022, 01:08 PM	#2
Mark Yacavone Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Miles From Nowhere Posts: 7,785 Likes: 2,878 Liked 5,073 Times in 1,934 Posts	Re: Class of the Head I had the 5 grand figure in mind when I started this thread... I've been advised that one of the best in the "business" gets 7K for a pair of BBC heads...Plus the cores, plus the shipping both ways, plus misc.... Closer to 10 grand than 5 ... Maybe someone will care now ;-) __________________ "We are lucky we don't get as much Government as we pay for." Will Rogers

01-25-2022, 01:40 PM	#3
Billy Nees VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: On a hilltop in Pa. Posts: 4,479 Likes: 3,574 Liked 7,636 Times in 1,724 Posts	Re: Class of the Head I don't think that it's a matter of caring or not but what to do about it. The "lawsuit" issue has made NHRA very gun-shy about enforcing discretionary rules like "ported heads". IMHO, NHRA has to come up with a better way of dealing with non-safety related (frivolous?) lawsuits. Gee, remember the old days when what the Tech Inspector said was final? __________________ Billy Nees 1188 STK, SS I'm OK..........it's everybody else.

01-25-2022, 03:43 PM	#4
GTX JOHN VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Boulder City, Nevada 89005 Posts: 2,719 Likes: 2,765 Liked 2,425 Times in 687 Posts	Re: Class of the Head I have been quoted $13,000 complete for a top quality set of state of the 340 Mopar Heads from a well know engine builder who I respect very much if I could even find a set of Aluminun Heads to start with. I would rather spend the money on my Grandkids and if I get beaten Heads Up = So be it!! Thirty years ago - I bought my Demon Turn Key and running well under the index for $5,500 right @ the Track after the pass. Times have sure changed!! If Stock/SS racing gets any more expensive we will be DONE after almost 60 years. __________________ John Irving 741 Stock 741 Super Stock Last edited by GTX JOHN; 01-25-2022 at 03:47 PM.

01-25-2022, 10:44 PM	#6
Bruce Fulper Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: So. Cal. Posts: 651 Likes: 4 Liked 54 Times in 33 Posts	Re: Class of the Head Ya know it seems pretty doggone easy to me for NHRA to take care of ported Stocker heads, but I imagine they don't want to spend the money. They could mandate that they're going to procure 10 sets of heads. Average out those ten sets and call it a day. Sure, the first thing you're going to say is logistically and $$$$ wise that could be quite an investment. But I'm sure there's some guys out there with castings and our shared attitude that would be glad to donate some stock castings for inspection. I know I have plenty of Pontiac castings, I'd LOVE to see a level playing field again. Same with allowing Edelbrock heads. GET RID of THEM. I didn't work on my cast iron heads for five years to overnight have NHRA making a bunch of 428 guys heros. Some who never had a nine second ET slip in their life were running 9.20's overnight. Nope. Make everyone work with the same equipment. And we all know 400 Stocker Pontiacs struggled to crack the tens for YEARS, and again, overnight, they're running 10.20's or better. C'mon NHRA ~ Take five or ten sets of factory heads and average out their port sizes. Put your foot down.