Hemi "nail head" valves?

Looking at an old article I see these mentioned by Chuck Lofgren. Would reach out to him but it says shop is permanently closed.

https://www.hotrod.com/articles/mopp-0603-2005-mopar-muscle-engine-challenge-results/

I asked Ferrea about them and they don't know what they are.

Anyone have an idea or just not commonly used/beneficial? Thank you.

IFAIK, this originally referred to the small head diameter valve used in 1953-66 Buick V8 engines.
They may be referring to the head shape, or rather the stem-to-head radius, in which the head fits the stem like a "penny on a stick" or letter "T". This is the opposite of what hemi engines commonly use, the "tulip" valve with a big convex bell instead of a radius.

I’m sure the blank they’re using for their 5/16” stem BBC valves could be made at the correct Hemi length if one really wanted to try it

Of course, for flow testing the length wouldn’t matter.
Just buy the appropriate BBC valve and see how it works.

I had some old Top Alcohol style Hemi heads here a couple years ago.
Some variation of the castings made by Stage V.

2.400 intake valves iirc........ and a normal looking non-tulip design.

Lofgren is still doing business as far as I know.
A buddy was at his shop last week talking transmission with him.
He is difficult to get on the phone , but he is definitely still there.
If you really want to get in touch with him , I will find a good number for you.

I tried a Manley BBC 2.25" intake valve in my MCH ported bracket heads. I lost flow from .100" on up with the BBC valve.

Lift Manley 12850 BBC MP Intake Valve
0.050 34.30 32.63
0.100 64.84 72.37
0.150 95.38 114.62
0.200 133.03 146.00
0.250 167.33 180.72
0.300 203.31 219.20
0.350 238.87 256.02
0.400 277.49 297.30
0.450 311.57 332.25
0.500 347.93 362.21
0.550 369.65 387.22
0.600 384.86 403.09
0.650 397.97 406.98
0.700 399.91 417.61
0.750 406.40 419.97
0.800 411.12 423.20
0.850 412.29 428.24

Those are some noticeable losses in flow.

It seems as though if it were the hot ticket, you’d hear more about it.

Great info mr_340

Thanks for the responses guys. Sounds like tulip is the way to go.

A nail head works great in a millennium hemi head, but not so much in a conventional. The millennium port has enough runner length, and short turn to allow it. Cuts a bunch of weight off the valve too.

^ appreciate the info

After Lofgren won the Royal purple Hemi challenge, he parted out the engine and I bought the heads. I put them on my red F.A.S.T. GTX. The intake valves are very flat on the backside. The late Glen Knowlton did all of the head work on them, he was a genius. They flowed around 420ish, but according to Glen the more important thing was the outstanding flow at lower valve lift numbers. The exhaust side flowed 315. I still have those heads laying around here somewhere.

Regarding that contest, according to Chuck the rules were very clear about displacement. When so many of the entries were found to be cheating on the displacement, or else they never read the rules, the organizers just let them all run anyway. Chuck was not happy about that. Then they made up some crap for the article about a misunderstanding of the rules.I'm so glad that Chuck won it because he was about the only one that was legal. You can probably reach him at KTRE. Knowlton's thunderheads racing engines.

outstanding flow at lower valve lift numbers
The tulip shape masks the port at low lift

An asymmetrical valve job goes a long way to help the short radius problem too, and helps every hemi I've ever touched,

Anything that significantly affects low lift flow also affect the best choice of LSA and overlap. Less flow needs more OL, narrower LSA.
If it's faster with more low lift flow, maybe the cam was too small?

Hemi Joel, neat that you own those heads

I could see how if it's faster with optimizing low lift flow maybe it just needed more cam. What are we talking when we say low lift? I'm planning on keeping lift low (sub .640) as I'm running stock rockers.

I have started the turn for the short side right under the 45* seat angle in some applications, is this similar to what you do?