Quote:

---

I have been looking into a few options for CNC ported aluminum heads to offer customers. I have a few questions for you guys to kind of steer me n a direction
If you were looking for,say a standard port small block head that had been CNC ported,what would sway you one way or another? If a casting were from a USA based company and flow numbers were the same or similar to an imported casting but the cost was higher,which would you choose???
If I offered USA based castings,but the flow numbers were slightly less than an advertisement showed for somebody else's foreign based casting but cost less which way would you go ?
If I offered a similar foreign based casting with some flow numbers that were less than someone else advertised,but were significantly less expensive,would that be your choice ??
Basically,is cost,advertised flow numbers,,or country of origin you main priority? Keep in mind that all flow benches read a little different . And most advertised numbers tend to be generous.
Thanks for any real opinions,but please don't just jump on an anti Chinese bandwagon if you have no interest in the main subject here.
Keith

---

Just went throughnt his scenario and ended up buying a set of CNC ported Edelbrock magnums from Hughes. Why you ask? Edelbrock is a reputable US company. Hughes is a reputable US company that I have used in the past - and got to deal directly with Dave - what a treat! Probably paid a little more than some others for the comfort level. I was able to use some of my existing Magnum valve train / head studs over again. Their stated flow #'s were with in 10% of the highest and lowest #'s available for this style head. I knew who cast the heads and aluminum used in their castings was a known quantity - not that I am a metallurgist . Options available included inserted LA intake manifold bolt pattern.

Quote:

---

I have been looking into a few options for CNC ported aluminum heads to offer customers. I have a few questions for you guys to kind of steer me n a direction
If you were looking for,say a standard port small block head that had been CNC ported,what would sway you one way or another? If a casting were from a USA based company and flow numbers were the same or similar to an imported casting but the cost was higher,which would you choose???
If I offered USA based castings,but the flow numbers were slightly less than an advertisement showed for somebody else's foreign based casting but cost less which way would you go ?
If I offered a similar foreign based casting with some flow numbers that were less than someone else advertised,but were significantly less expensive,would that be your choice ??
Basically,is cost,advertised flow numbers,,or country of origin you main priority? Keep in mind that all flow benches read a little different . And most advertised numbers tend to be generous.
Thanks for any real opinions,but please don't just jump on an anti Chinese bandwagon if you have no interest in the main subject here.
Keith

---

you could look at the boarded up windows in Detroit for some answers. If we had racers who could afford to race they would prefer American quality... welfare check can't buy very many parts these days.

Quote:

---

I would like to know the velocity or port volume along with port flow. Oversized, low velocity heads can be an issue at high altitude. I would prefer a USA made head IF it is better quality. Currently, I am not happy with the "quality" of my Edelbrock Victor heads. The quality of my B1bs Brodix heads is way better.

---

Some good points made here about the almighty flow number being the major deciding factor on head purchases - and I am as guilty as most. One thing Hughes does is equate their different heads to what HP they will support - a step in the right direction and a good way to keep it simple for us simpletons . When it comes to blown applications, not a lot of head / HP info out there. If the $ are in the ball park, I will support American made stuff every time, although determining that is becoming pretty "gray" these days.

Quote:

---

I may just buy imported heads and call them my "Quicktree Special"

Keith

---

And you can include a free pinion angle set-up chart with with each sale.

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

I may just buy imported heads and call them my "Quicktree Special"

Keith

---

And you can include a free pinion angle set-up chart with with each sale.

---

Kevin

Quote:

---

Basically what I am considering offering will be Edelbrock castings for small and big block both. The problems I am looking into are competitive pricing compared to imported castings with a similar level of work. There are some decent quality imported castings which look to be direct copies of Edelbrock heads as far as appearance goes. The other issues come from several places that advertise flow numbers that are not being seen on any one else's bench. I know of a few. I would plan on listing fairly realistic flow numbers,possibly runner cc's etc. Depending on what people want.
I may just buy imported heads and call them my "Quicktree Special"

Keith

---

nice

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

I may just buy imported heads and call them my "Quicktree Special"

Keith

---

And you can include a free pinion angle set-up chart with with each sale.

---

if he did they still wouldn't understand

Quote:

---

Basically what I am considering offering will be Edelbrock castings for small and big block both. The problems I am looking into are competitive pricing compared to imported castings with a similar level of work. There are some decent quality imported castings which look to be direct copies of Edelbrock heads as far as appearance goes. The other issues come from several places that advertise flow numbers that are not being seen on any one else's bench. I know of a few. I would plan on listing fairly realistic flow numbers,possibly runner cc's etc. Depending on what people want.
I may just buy imported heads and call them my "Quicktree Special"

Keith

---

Decent quality and fairly realistic flow numbers? Can't relate to those terms. Same material as the Edelbrocks? Have you sliced and diced a few up for an actual thickness comparisons? The price disparity is ether a labor issue or a quality issue - and often both. All you can do is post honest flow numbers as you see them on your bench. Making "happy" #'s will bit you in the end. I have the flow numbers that Hughes has posted for the heads I purchased and I plan on having the heads flowed by another shop just to see. My personal tolerance is 3% from advertised - and about 1/2 that between holes if they were CNC'd. Do all you can to check the import quality. Honesty is always the best policy - in the long run.

Quote:

---

guys here is what happens, an American company does all the research and testing to bring a product to you. then someone sends them over seas to be copied.you buy those and eventually put that company out of business. in the end you end up with a bunch of chinese crap and no more American companies.then blame it on someone else.

---

Quote:

---

" long-term cost-of-ownership implications are (e.g. paying additional $ to fix flaws, reliability issues that arise that result in additional repair expenses, etc)."

---

- and those long term costs can be big $ if the head related failures involve more than just the heads, as they often do.