Re: Approval of Super Stock Class Aftermarket Cylinder Heads
 

Funny thing about the "upgraded" cylinder heads, is that like many other things that get "upgraded", such "upgrades" became allowed because so many people were outright cheating , and I guess NHRA threw their hands up in the air, and now the cheating was now made acceptable. I am a little to young to remember when Stocker cams had to meet the OE lift, duration, and valve spring pressures, but I certainly remember when NHRA allowed porting, welding, and epoxying heads for Super Stock, because so many cheaters were running ILLEGALLY ported and welded heads, and then trying to cover up their cheating. So, NHRA gave in, and now the cheaters, were suddenly the innovators! So yes, the "upgrades" allowed the SS cars to go faster, and no longer had to cover up their cheating. Then came all the approved aftermarket heads, intake manifolds, carbs, etc, all under the guise that it was "too hard" to find factory heads. Find it strange that the big and SB Chevy racers, and 390 Ford, and some MoPar racers that run common combinations, that all were produced by the millions, can`t find any OE heads, but the handful of heads produced for stuff like Max Wedge MoPars, that have all been used for racing for 60 years, can still be found. There are a lot of combinations in the NHRA rulebook, that are not "blessed" with accepted, aftermarket heads, intakes and carbs, kinda makes for a tilted playing field, no? Seems kinda strange to look under the hood of a "Stocker", with lightweight aftermarket seats, wheelie bars, and a 4 gallon fuel cell,and see a Quick Time or Edelbrock carb, sitting on an non factory intake manifold, bolted to Edelbrock aluminum heads, makes you look at the window to see if you are looking at a "Stocker, Super Stocker, or PRO bracket car.

Re: Approval of Super Stock Class Aftermarket Cylinder Heads
 

There isn't a soul, including myself, that would disagree with you! But, here we are..

Re: Approval of Super Stock Class Aftermarket Cylinder Heads
 

From what I understand Edelbrock isn't casting "Replacement Heads" any longer... have been on back order for more than a year?
Only interested in late model LS/Coyote stuff?
And I understand they cast the castings for GM also, which have been unobtainium lately also.
Correct me if I wrong... (I hope I am...)

Scanning evil bay, seems castings for the mid late 60s stuff is also going for astronomical prices, and some (most) of what I've seen is junk!
Same goes for carburetors and intakes...
So...

Same for swap meets locally, most stuff is used up or ground up, even the common stuff, let alone anything rare...
Missed out on some decent square port heads and aluminum intake at a decent price, by the time I got to the back 40, someone else had already put money down on them...

Oh well, I guess you got to get up early, and move fast!...

Any way that's just my observations.

Re: Approval of Super Stock Class Aftermarket Cylinder Heads
 

Same issue with the aftermarket replacement heads for SB Fords, they come with too large of valves so all of the seats have to be removed, the ports need to be welded up and new smaller seats installed before you can proceed with trying to make a viable and legal head, the initial cost of the aftermarket castings is by far the cheapest part of the project. Also, there is a HP adjustment if you choose to run them.

Re: Approval of Super Stock Class Aftermarket Cylinder Heads
 

Jim,
This is one of the many reasons why I proposed the Profiler Porter's version of the cylinder head to NHRA.
During my discussions with them, they said that if NHRA was to approve the SBC cylinder head, they would make their Ford small block cylinder head available as a Porter's cylinder head casting also.

Profiler is owned by Ex-Pro Stock racer Ray Franks. The main company is called High Tech Castings (HTC). Been in business since 1972 doing aerospace castings for just about every aircraft/aerospace company. Later in the late 1990's he started Profiler, using aerospace casting technology to make high-quality cylinder heads. He started Profiler-Performance Products in order to market the cylinder heads and intakes. The companies are family owned, operated, and housed in the same facility. They design the products, machine the tooling, make the molds, pour the metal, heat treat, machine, market, and sell the products. Nothing is imported; made in the USA. The best part of Profiler is that they are racer friendly.

As you stated, it is difficult to find good quality castings. When you find them, expect to pay a premium. I have seen good Chevy 041X castings as high as $1200.00 for a pair! Moreover, there are not a lot of guys that will weld and port cast iron heads anymore. Also, recyclers and junkyards are disappearing due to increased values or properties and EPA. Much of the expended cast iron, aluminum, and steel gets purchased and shipped to China also.

Re: Approval of Super Stock Class Aftermarket Cylinder Heads
 

I knew Ray pretty well when he was racing. I'd add to the praise for who he is as a man and a racer.

He developed a small portable clutch disk surfacing machine that did a great job. It soon became a standard tool in every racer's trailer. I never heard a single team complain about his product or the support he offered. He's a smart guy, breaking new ground for decades. If he says he'll do the heads and intakes, take it to the bank.

Re: Approval of Super Stock Class Aftermarket Cylinder Heads
 

I don't know that Edelbrock has completely stopped casting the "replacement heads". I would think that they have reduced their foundry operations substantially, and they make what they need most, and then select something lower on the list when they need to fill in some time gaps. You'll see them cast short runs of parts that they know there's enough pent up demand for that they can sell 95% of what they produce in less than 90 days. So, if you see something that you want or need, or think that you will in the foreseeable future, you better buy it.It could be a long time before you see it again.



Unfortunately, Edelbrock has joined the ever growing number of companies absorbed by the massive private equity hold corporations. This has hit the automotive performance industry extremely hard, and does not look to be slowing down. The companies that you depend on for parts, and the companies that they depend on for materials, in ever increasing numbers, have been purchased by people who care ONLY about the 30 day short term bottom line. Hence, so long as they can maintain their profit targets by producing only A and B movers, you're not going to get too many parts, and you're going to pay dearly for them.


As far as aftermarket parts go, that genie is out of the bottle, we're never getting it back into the bottle, the best we can do is control it and improve it where possible. I'm another person who doesn't care for all of the aftermarket parts, Hell, I wish they'd never allowed smaller journals, or porting and polishing. All it did was allow more cheating, and escalate the cost. But they did. It's a waste of time, especially in a discussion like this one, to cry over the spilled milk. And NHRA can't put the genie back in the bottle, either. They tried recently, they got sued for doing it. Don't expect them to try too hard in the future.


The best that you can do is try to get the most usable and most affordable parts accepted. And try to keep some of the ludicrous crap out.

Re: Approval of Super Stock Class Aftermarket Cylinder Heads
 

I received this email from Edelbrock, April 19, 2023

Richard Lyon,

In stock alert! We wanted you to know that these products are now available:
NHRA Small-Block Chevy Cylinder Head Bare

The Edelbrock #60887 Performer RPM Bare NHRA Stock/Super Stock cylinder heads are designed for 1955-86 Small-Block Chevy applications. These cylinder heads deliver great throttle response and power from 1500 to 6500 rpm.

Price: $722.95

Click here to stop alerts for this product.

Re: Approval of Super Stock Class Aftermarket Cylinder Heads
 

I received a similar email a while back, regarding the big block rectangular port heads.


If anyone should need either of those part numbers, if you think you might need some in the future, I strongly suggest you purchase them now. You may not see them cast again for an extended period of time. We've waited at least a year for several part numbers. It took nearly 18 months to get what used to be a relatively common big block Chevy intake manifold for a Super Stock engine.



Remember, the Edelbrock foundry is in California. I'm quite sure that California would prefer that it was not. California could make it a lot more difficult, and expensive, to operate that foundry, at the drop of a hat. Understand that it is extremely difficult to get permitting, etc., to build and operate a foundry anywhere in the U.S. at this point. And those currently in control intend to make it more difficult. They certainly have no desire to see you continue to enjoy your hobby/sport.

Re: Approval of Super Stock Class Aftermarket Cylinder Heads
 

I spoke with folks from Edelbrock several times They have no plans to run any NHRA approved cylinder heads. Their focus is the new platforms.

One guy did say if you purchased 50 sets it may be taken into consideration.