Hi new member long time reader
I am building a sled pulling truck that requires iron heads. Big blocks are limited to. 472ci but must run factory castings. I have a set of 286 heads with one being cracked and in need of welding. Small blocks are limited to 434ci and can run aftermarket heads but must be cast iron. I also have a couple sets of w2 heads Rpm would need to be run around 8,000 to 8,500. If going small block I would get a 48 degree block and heads. Which heads would make more power if ported and the rest of the combo is correct. Thanks Grant

286 heads are kinda frail....... so I can’t see myself getting too excited about those in that application.

Are the replacement 518’s legal?

My suspicion is that the really sharp SB guys could probably get the W2’s to be as good or better than the typical ported MW heads.

What’s the block rule?

What heads are legal for the Chevies and Fords?

I would think a 650 horse deal wouldnt be out of the realm of possibility with well done W2 heads and the associated goodies( roller, compression, etc)
Not sure what a big block could make....

I think I could get away with the replacement heads not sure tho. They are changing the rules to allow big blocks to have an aftermarket block as well. It was small block only for aftermarket blocks. The big block fords run cast iron super cobra jets and there are a few that run really well. One is supposed to be around 900hp. Not sure on the chevys. One was dynod the other day and made over 800 but haven’t seen any other engines on the same dyno to compare it to

What can the other SB combos run for heads?
Dart iron heads? Any cc limitations?
Valve angle rule?

What’s the intake manifold rule?
Cam rule?
Carb rule?
Compression rule?
Fuel rule?

I think a 434 Ford with Cleveland 4bbl heads would be a good SB combo........ if you could find heads that weren’t already used up.

It ain't hard to make 725 to 775 HP on pump swill,850+ on race gas, with the right parts in a BB
The big deal is getting a stock block to live at 8000 + RPM at WOT for more than 15 seconds
On your deal a good 400 block is the only one I would consider using if you decide to build a BB

They have to be cast iron heads is all. There is one small block Chevy that has darts on it. Not sure which ones they are. Everything else is big block. Any intake as long as it is cast and mass produced. No sheet metal intakes. Any camshaft and carb allowed other than a stretched dominator. I can run a normal 4500 tho. I do have a 400 block In tho shop. Any race gas is allowed other than alcohol

There use to be a set of cast iron 440-1 on here for sale
Buy them and then look at a 3.391 or 3.900 stroke crankshaft with a Indy 400-3 intake and a 1050 CFM or bigger dominator carb. and bore the 400 block to either 4.350 or 4.360 (make sure on the C.I. first, you may need a shorter stroke) and buy a good set of aluminum main caps with ARP studs, no girdle shoot for 14.0 + to 1 compression ratio and a good set of rockers and pushrods and go have some fun
The heads will need to flow at least 370 CFM at .700 lift, more air will make more power

The cast iron 440-1 are illegal. Big blocks must run factory castings. Any suggestions on porters if I went with the w2s now that shady dell is out of the picture?

Running a Mopar with those rules is definitely going at it the hard way.

Is the Ritter block legal for a SB?

You know they don’t make w2’s anymore, right?
So you’re looking at used, or some NOS someone might have on the shelf.

I had a set of brand new W2 heads for sale on here for a long time. Nobody was interested on here but a local guy showed up one day and bought them. So they are out there but not much demand for them.

Yes it is legal. I already have a couple sets of w2s They seem to be easier to come by than max wedge heads

Might be worth a call to Kent to see if he has any connections for porting those w2’s.

Chad Speier out in Ft. Hays, KS ported a local guy's cast iron W2's. With a 340 block stroked to 418 he is making an easy 600 HP on pump gas.

Who to go for porting W2s is a tough one, most people don't want to mess with Iron heads these days. Mine were done by Ryan and he said they would support 700HP. I am in the area of 600 now with low(10:1) 91 octane compression.

I had a local cylinder head guy freshen up the Valve Job last winter and he liked and was impressed by the work Ryan had done, its too bad that whole deal went south.

600-650hp from W2’s on a high compression stroker shouldn’t be that hard at all.

If it’s a pretty serious class........ I doubt that would be competitive though.

With all the stuff that’s available for SB and BB Chevies........ you should be able to build one of those that makes another 100hp....... just by shopping in the Summit catalog.

700-750hp from a 286 head or some W2’s is gonna take some work.

If I could be around 700 I would be happy. We can run a vac pump also to help squeeze the most out of it as possible. Rules state the engine must match the truck. I already have the chassis done so I’m stuck with Mopar powered which I would prefer anyways. I could step up to the pro stock class that allows aluminum heads and 485ci. My buddy runs a ford in that class with kaase p51s that makes 950 and is getting the new sr71s next year. They really limit the Mopar heads in that class as well. No b1s. So victors or indys would be the better choices for it.

I’m not really a SB guy, but with those rules...... I’d build the w2/Ritter SB before I went with 286 heads on a stock block.

Trying to get a handle on this. Bigblock's can't run the Indy cast iron 440-1 head but Smallblocks can run the cast iron W-2's?!

Call this guy: https://speierracingheads.com/index.html

He posts a lot of stuff in the Yellowbullet naturally aspirated tech section.

Yup big blocks must run factory castings. Small blocks can run aftermarket. Hemis are allowed for the big block but I don’t have the budget to do that. It’s supposed to be more of a budget minded class whereas the pro stock is a higher dollar class. We already get accused of cheating enough with the pro stock ford I help with. If the dodge runs good in its class I don’t want to hear about it.