Thanks, I'll check out the W9's. They sounded kind of exotic as far as the water manifold and valve train, and coming without valve seats and guides so I hadn't really considered them. I'm assuming they would require custom headers too. I think TTI makes an A-body header for W2's, and I see that Jeg's still sells a W2 head for 48 degree blocks. I only paid a grand for the R-block, it's an early one without the extra bolt holes for the head, and it's not siamesed bore, 9.6" deck.

6 grand for those heads to make them work!

I didnt pay anywhere near that price for my W-9s

6k are you kidding me where are you coming up with 6k rockers 1400 intake 350 valves 400 no whereclose to 6k

i know of few pairs of w7 heads and intake rockers etc cheap ,great heads mine is a r block w7

I think MattW is probably dead on. First, you purchase the heads, then you have them ported and flowed right? Because I've always been told they are ueseless as cast. So what is my bill from Brett Miller or someone when I get them back assembled and ready to bolt on. I'm assuming you would want him to do the intake too right? So now I've purchased an intake and had it flowed. Now I get rockers, valve covers, custom headers, and all the other w-9 specific bits. 6K probably wouldn't cover it all.

First off.. all my parts were 25% less to start
with and the porting wasnt near what your thinking
so it ended up much less

You're right! I doubt 6k CDN would cover it. J.Rob

I think MattW is probably dead on. First, you purchase the heads, then you have them ported and flowed right? Because I've always been told they are ueseless as cast. So what is my bill from Brett Miller or someone when I get them back assembled and ready to bolt on. I'm assuming you would want him to do the intake too right? So now I've purchased an intake and had it flowed. Now I get rockers, valve covers, custom headers, and all the other w-9 specific bits. 6K probably wouldn't cover it all. [/quote]

MattW would know he has gone down this road. His castings were 1g each with no guides or seats but came CNC ported-thank god. Mr. P-body must not realize that these heads require almost 2k in rockers, W9 intake, W9 headers, You're also not going to put a Ferrea 5000 series valve in a head like this so there's $700 or so in good valves, $300-$400 retainers, $600 good PAC springs, the actual guides, seats, seals, guide installation, guide honing, seat installation, valve job, bowl/throat blending, flow testing (not a one time flow test either), intake porting, head resurfacing to get chambers the way you want. I could go on and on. W9's are bad to the bone for the small wedge but not for a real budget deal. J.Rob

MattW would know he has gone down this road. His castings were 1g each with no guides or seats but came CNC ported-thank god. Mr. P-body must not realize that these heads require almost 2k in rockers, W9 intake, W9 headers, You're also not going to put a Ferrea 5000 series valve in a head like this so there's $700 or so in good valves, $300-$400 retainers, $600 good PAC springs, the actual guides, seats, seals, guide installation, guide honing, seat installation, valve job, bowl/throat blending, flow testing (not a one time flow test either), intake porting, head resurfacing to get chambers the way you want. I could go on and on. W9's are bad to the bone for the small wedge but not for a real budget deal. J.Rob [/quote]

I know what I paid.. I built it.. not worth my
time to argue about it.. I guess you dont make
any parts
EDIT
just so we are clear here.. your talking the top end
of the engine, not the lower end

Mike not everyone got %25 off their Mopar parts. If you had nothing, could you buy all new parts and have all the machine work done for the same money today?

If I had nothing I wouldnt be building engines
or cars

I would, but I'd start with gen 3's.

I'm being as clear as I can, Mike.
We are talking about the top end. I have not built a W-9 engine, you have. We are looking for specifics, not one liners.
25% off of what? What did you spend? What did you farm out? What did you do yourself? Don't take the time to argue, or defend your general statements, take the time to spell it out for us. That's what we're looking for, Real 1st person experience.

We are supposed to be clearing the air on SB head choices, so why is it so hard for people to say:

> This is what I chose.
> This is what I spent on heads.
> This is what I spent on an intake
> This is what I spent on rockers
> This is what I spent (in time or money) on port work.
> These are the problems I had, or the things I Do or Don't like about my choice.

One more.

>This was __ years ago.

I bought the heads new, intake new, rockers new
all of that was 25% off, porting was done by
Shady Dell I worked out a deal for $700

On something like the w9 deal, don't forget the:
-water manifold and plumbing
-head gaskets
-head studs
-valve covers
-valley cover

It would be interesting to see some itemized lists of everything that's needed for one of these top ends, along with the current costs of those parts and labor.

Some of you think I built this thing in a couple
of weeks.. no.. it took me a few years to put
this together.. I got a new block at a swap meet
and the valve covers.. the block sat for a while
till I got my machine work done.. including what
I had to do to the block(clearancing the block so
the crank fit... I got the top end parts right
away and after head porting they sat.. I did the
intake porting.. then I got the pistons.. again it
sat.. then the dry sump pump.. I built the tank
and oil pan.. then I started to mock it up a few
times.. so this wasnt a short time... no I didnt
keep all of the receipts

Edelbrock Performer RPM
Shady Dell Stage II Port
2.05 intake valve upgrade
K-motion K-800 solid roller springs.
Erson 1.6 Roller Rockers.
Victor 340 port matched to the heads.

This is what I ended up with after asking about a set of W-2's on here. I'm not real sure, but I expect with these on 408-430 ci in a 2850# car I should be able to hit mid 10's easily without having to RPM it to death or pull the valve covers every other pass. I gave way less than $2500 including shipping and such.

Back to the OP's question, I've seen gobs of stock stroke 340 and 360 stockers going deep into the 10's with "unported" X and J heads. 12's should be a cake walk without spending too much dough at all.

I have to assume that for $2500, you didn't buy all that stuff "new".