Then you put a head gasket on the head, located by the dowel pin holes, and then I go......... Hmmmmm
First pic is a Cometic, second is the TF recommended Fel-Pro 1009.
The Fel-Pro is right at the edge of the square. I put some bluing on the head and scribed where the end of the head gasket lays.
I'm thinking there's gonna be a little leak here if you don't do something about it.
I also have a Victor graphite faced gasket here that was wide enough in this area that it would probably seal this off okay, but the gasket fire ring was ever so slightly inside the chambers in a few areas.
IMO, for the next batch of castings, TF should just fill these squares in. There is one at each end of the head, and they both have this same issue.

Fill with epoxy or weld er up!

But yeah that should be changed on the casting.

Overall, the fit and finish on these heads is quite nice, even though I found a couple of things done differently than I would like.
The machining looks real good, and the heads have been very nicely deburred.
The part number they show for head bolts is the same as used for Victor heads.
The rocker shaft bolt holes don't seem super deep and TF recommends using studs, and I would agree with that.
Obviously a company that's making and selling as many heads as TF does must have their reasons for doing certain things the way they do, and I'm sure I don't have the credentials to argue with those reasons, but there are a couple of things I would do a little different.
The guide clearance was pretty much right at .0008, although there were 3 exhaust guides on one head that were really closer to .0006. That's really tighter than I like to see them.
After brushing out the guides with solvent and wiping down the valve stems, they "felt" nice and smooth, but since the heads were already here and apart, and my customer wants me to use my best judgement on them, I honed them out for a little more clearance. I set them to .0010 intake and .0012 exhaust.
Another thing I would do differently is, the OD of the 45 on the exhaust valve job was like .015-.020 larger in diameter than the valve. I don't know if this is intentional on their part, or a slight mistake when they set up the cutter. My preference is to have the OD of the 45 to be .005-.010 inside the OD of the valve, particularly on street heads.
The 45 on the intake seat was right at the size of the valve at 2.19.

Why do these head companies recommend that 1009 gasket when it overhangs more bores than not?

Kevin

Heck if they are that bad I'll just buy a set of Elderbrocks. Are the Indy heads that much better than the TF,s?

Fill the hole with right-stuff and go on. As for eddelbrocks instead, well they all have tight guides also, most pro shops like to hone them out while most DIY guys just bolt em on and don't have an issue.

Yeah I just don't know alot about Aluminum heads. Never owned a set. Would I better off to buy the Indys?

My guess would be they all have inconsistencies do to mass production.

I have a few different rockers here I test fit to check the sweep.
The standard HS rockers are really too long. The TF specified part number is the rockers that fit the RPM heads, and they are shorter, so they should fit well.
I also checked an Indy/Dove rocker. Slightly too long.
A Comp Pro-magnum looks pretty good, but the best sweep of the rockers I have here was with a Crane Gold. I believe the "short" HS rockers are supposed to have the same shaft to roller relationship as the Crane Golds, although I haven't had any of those to check myself.

The things I've said I would do differently on these heads are really kind of nit-picky things. Of the currently available BB Mopar offerings, I would say these have the nicest overall fit and finish, especially when you take the price into consideration.
I don't see how you can go wrong with these things for $2000, if they will work in your combination for the level of performance you're after.

Keep in mind, TF guarantees you won't have any problems with the guides, valve job, valves, springs, etc. for two years, and I'm sure most of the heads they sell will get taken out of the box and bolted on.

And what is the "right-stuff" to fill the hole whit??

That's what I would like to know. Permatex?

Permatex??

Gasket Sealent.

I know what Permatex is, so you will fill that hole whit Permatex? I dont think thats is what i whant to do as a solution.

Permatex and JB Weld has been fixing leaks for years lol.

great to see an informative post Dwayne! just sitting in the shadows enjoying the info..... even though I've fallen back to my first mopar love.... small blocks!

Right stuff .. ... THE RIGHT STUFF , a gasket sealant.

I would just fill them with JB Weld .

People would be goin' out of their damn minds if this little square was on a "Chinese" head casting...

Thanks Dwayne.


Right stuff
http://www.autozone.com/sealants-glues-a...ker/416211_0_0/

Is there anything on the Is there anything on the deck of the block that would intersect that square divit in the head like any open passage?