BBC Oval Port Heads ?

[HP HUNTER]

Originally Posted by Rich Biebel

Welcome back Ed......although that thought is probably not going to be real popular on here...LOL
And on those oval port heads I did not have any sophisticated equipment and no flow bench.....just old school experience. And my work was just as fast as extensive work done by Bruce after me....and that was surprising.....

131 MPH @ 3800 pounds and thats a stretch = 655 HP in New Jersey conditions. Rich, the fuel system on that car was far from capable of supplying fuel in those wheelie conditions, A mallory 140 does not have enough line pressure to push the fuel forward under those conditions, and the 330 foots proved that in my eyes, so I think its hard to say the new head work couldn't have been better. The exhaust system was also a disaster, all it takes is one system to hold a car back. I feel the car was far from optimized. Something to consider. There is no way in this world your going to optimize a BBC oval port head without a flow bench. Ive seen guys do a nice port without the bench, but to take it too the max your gonna need some equipement. I always run tulliped exhaust valves. But I would say Rich you did put together a good running bracket program for Ed. Welcome back Ed.

[1320racer]

Originally Posted by HP HUNTER

131 MPH @ 3800 pounds and thats a stretch = 655 HP in New Jersey conditions. Rich, the fuel system on that car was far from capable of supplying fuel in those wheelie conditions, A mallory 140 does not have enough line pressure to push the fuel forward under those conditions, and the 330 foots proved that in my eyes, so I think its hard to say the new head work couldn't have been better. The exhaust system was also a disaster, all it takes is one system to hold a car back. I feel the car was far from optimized. Something to consider. There is no way in this world your going to optimize a BBC oval port head without a flow bench. Ive seen guys do a nice port without the bench, but to take it too the max your gonna need some equipement. I always run tulliped exhaust valves. But I would say Rich you did put together a good running bracket program for Ed. Welcome back Ed.

Some things never change!

1. Your reply to this thread in no way helps nor answer's the op's question.

2. this thread ain't about HP, fuel systems, exhaust systems nor my former car that I sold 5 years ago.

3. Rich has forgotten more about porting heads than you have yet learned!

4. My former car has not had a Mallory Comp 140 pump on it since 2006. Further after doubling pump output and increasing the main fuel line from 3/8" to -8, it was worth exactly NOTHING on the time slip.

5. The 3 1/2" exhaust system on my former ride that weighed over 50 lbs. was the 3rd system on this car in 8 years. It was also the least restrictive, killing only 7 hundreds in the 1/4.

6. My heads were flowed before Larry and Bruce touched them, during port development and upon completion.

7. Most important, your only knowledge of my former ride is what you have gleaned over the years reading everyone of my posts.

8. FYI, 3880 lbs. to be exact!

[HP HUNTER]

Originally Posted by 1320racer

Some things never change!

1. Your reply to this thread in no way helps nor answer's the op's question.

2. this thread ain't about HP, fuel systems nor my former car that I sold 5 years ago.

3. Rich has forgotten more about porting heads than you have yet learned!

4. My former car has not had a Mallory Comp 140 pump on it since 2006. Further after doubling pump output and increasing the main fuel line from 3/8" to -8, it was worth exactly NOTHING on the time slip.

5. The 3 1/2" exhaust system on my former ride that weighed over 50 lbs. was the 3rd system on this car in 8 years. It was also the least restrictive, killing only 7 hundreds in the 1/4.

6. My heads were flowed before Larry and Bruce touched then as well during port development and upon completion.

7. and most important, your only knowledge of my former ride is what you have gleaned over the years reading everyone of my posts.

8. FYI, 3880 lbs. to be exact!

1.The 3880 pounds is hard to believe, just because I own the same car.


"Rich has forgotten more about porting heads than you have yet learned!"

2. Im sure Rich is an excellent engine builder, but I find that extremely hard to believe based on my performance compared to yours.

3. As an engine builder, theres people that can utilize the work you can do for them and theres people who can't. Its possible Larry's work was not used to its potential.

4. I can tell you your exhaust system on the 522 inch 9.89 ET (in New Jersey conditions) aftermarket engine is far from optimum. Ed, its center in, center out.

5. As always Ed I enjoy our give and take, but lets keep it to the facts.

6. 4. My former car has not had a Mallory Comp 140 pump on it since 2006. Further after doubling pump output and increasing the main fuel line from 3/8" to -8, it was worth exactly NOTHING on the time slip.

How much line pressure were you running forward?

7.HMMMMMMMM
Been using Willy's adjustable restrictor plate for the past 6 seasons. That said, there is no simplier, easier or quicker way to adjust your ET up to 5+ tenths in less than 30 seconds.

LOOKS LIKE WE JUST PUT A NUMBER ON THAT 522. LOL

[1320racer]

Last reply to you and here's more facts...

1. Know one cares what you believe and for the record...

Here's the published GM/Chevrolet weights for 1968 Chevelle's as follows...

2 door sport coupe...3685 lbs.(curb weight)
strato buckets...........+21
floor console..............+16
front disc brakes.........+44
power brakes.............+11
396 cu.in. V-8............+11
3-spd automatic trans.+31
dual exhaust..............+40
power steering...........+29
heavy duty battery......+15
radio - AM/FM............+9
radio stereo equipment +12

Total vehicle weight....3,924 lbs.
driver.........................+185

Vehicle and driver....4109 lbs.


Now my former car

Less aluminum wheels, water pump, intake manifold, heads, radiator, driveshaft

ADD for 6 point rollbar, 5 point harness, water pump drive, MSD box, electric fuel pump/filter/regulator, plumbing/wiring, girdle rear cover, rear suspension, 11" rear drum brakes, trans cooler, CSR trans shield, driveshaft loop, gauges/tach, etc.

Oh and that doesn't include the tilt column, rear window defogger, factory floor mats and probably 30 lbs. of undercoating!

RACE READY WEIGHT....3870 lbs. with the 522 and no power brakes, 3880 lbs. with the cast iron headed 468 and power brakes weighed on numerous scales at tracks throughout the northeast, mid atlantic and southeast.


2. EVERYONE that has seen my former car in person was impressed with it's performance.

3. as to "New Jersey conditions"....

Posted Jul 29th, 07, 10:49 AM on Team Chevelle by Ken Jett

"My family and I are in Connectticut on vacation. Yesterday I drove over to Island dragway to meet the infamous 1320racer, a.k.a. Footbraker, a.k.a. Ed Bigley.

Now to the interesting stuff I hung out with the Bigleys, Ed, his wife, son and daughter all day. Ed's car is super clean. I think he said the restoration was done in '87, but it looked as nice or nicer than most other quality chevelles I've seen that have been restored more recently. Same for jr's dragster. Very nice piece! Ed's car ran well despite the terrible air and left on the back wheels every pass. The track temperature was over 140 degrees.

P.S. So much for mineshaft Jersey air. I picked up Ed's weather station (same one I use) on a couple of occassions and it was reading over 4,200'. Yesterday was as hot as most of the summer days we race in at Atlanta."

Nuff said!

4. 9.72 @ 138 IIRC spinning the tires after opening the restrictor plate a few turns on Sunday Morning at Cecil County, October of 2008, the last time I raced the car

[HP HUNTER]

Originally Posted by 1320racer

Last reply to you and here's more facts...

1. Know one cares what you believe.

2. EVERYONE that has seen my former car in person was impressed with it's performance.

3. as to jersey conditions....

Posted Jul 29th, 07, 10:49 AM on Team Chevelle by Ken Jett

"My family and I are in Connectticut on vacation. Yesterday I drove over to Island dragway to meet the infamous 1320racer, a.k.a. Footbraker, a.k.a. Ed Bigley.

Now to the interesting stuff I hung out with the Bigleys, Ed, his wife, son and daughter all day. Ed's car is super clean. I think he said the restoration was done in '87, but it looked as nice or nicer than most other quality chevelles I've seen that have been restored more recently. Same for jr's dragster. Very nice piece! Ed's car ran well despite the terrible air and left on the back wheels every pass. The track temperature was over 140 degrees.

P.S. So much for mineshaft Jersey air. I picked up Ed's weather station (same one I use) on a couple of occassions and it was reading over 4,200' .Yesterday was as hot as most of the summer days we race in at Atlanta."

Nuff said!

4. 9.72 @ 138 IIRC spinning the tires after opening the restrictor plate a few turns on Sunday Morning at Cecil County, October of 2008, the last time I raced the car

I would agree the weather gets far from the mine shaft Disneyland conditions you get there in the Spring and Fall, but after all one look at the NHRA records in Stock and S/S there sure are a lot of UNCORRECTED records from NJ. You have no idea what bad racing conditions are until you've raced in a 23.XX baro, infact my oval port Chevelle ran faster in a 23.xxx baro than you ever ran in a 30.3 baro. Just Fact. Im sure many people were impressed with your Chevelle, just theres far more faster examples now. Its going to be hard to impress a Stock S/S racer with that Chevelles performance. Are you sure this is your last reply?


"Oh and that doesn't include the tilt column, rear window defogger, factory floor mats and probably 30 lbs. of undercoating!"

Well you got me there, I have pictures of the underneath of that car, and there one hell of a lot undercoat on there, never seen a restored car with undercoating like that.......... AWWWW LOL

[FINESPLINE]

Originally Posted by 1320racer

Some things never change!

1. Your reply to this thread in no way helps nor answer's the op's question.

2. this thread ain't about HP, fuel systems, exhaust systems nor my former car that I sold 5 years ago.

3. Rich has forgotten more about porting heads than you have yet learned!

4. My former car has not had a Mallory Comp 140 pump on it since 2006. Further after doubling pump output and increasing the main fuel line from 3/8" to -8, it was worth exactly NOTHING on the time slip.

5. The 3 1/2" exhaust system on my former ride that weighed over 50 lbs. was the 3rd system on this car in 8 years. It was also the least restrictive, killing only 7 hundreds in the 1/4.

6. My heads were flowed before Larry and Bruce touched them, during port development and upon completion.

7. Most important, your only knowledge of my former ride is what you have gleaned over the years reading everyone of my posts.

8. FYI, 3880 lbs. to be exact!

You two ought to get together over a good steak and some drinks. I would gladly video the whole thing as the the conversation would be priceless. THINGS NEVER DO CHANGE ! LMAO

[1320racer]

Not interested, I've got no tolerance for snake oil salesmen.

[HP HUNTER]

Originally Posted by FINESPLINE

You two ought to get together over a good steak and some drinks. I would gladly video the whole thing as the the conversation would be priceless. THINGS NEVER DO CHANGE ! LMAO

Snake oil.... Here's Ed's real problem, the shop built to beat Ed. It would be nice to film Ed's breakdown as he comes to terms with the reality his Chevelle just wasn't as fast as he thought. LOL

[Doug Blackley]

Wasn't this thread started by someone with a specific question before it got hijacked by the self appointed all knowing one. And yet we still managed to give him the info he requested

[Rich Biebel]

Originally Posted by Doug Blackley

Wasn't this thread started by someone with a specific question before it got hijacked by the self appointed all knowing one. And yet we still managed to give him the info he requested

Yes it was Doug but there is no fun reading about who can do a set of heads....

Ed was allowed back on here by Ken so I have to assume he does not mind when a war of words takes place over something like who had the quickest 3880lb Chevelle with no rim screws, no fire hose fuel system, no big tires and may or may not have had a 1.2xx 60 foot time.....LOL

I'm fighting off a cold so this is entertainment...

Carry on Ed and the other HP hunter dude....and the most important thing I forgot was how to even do cylinder heads, period.....Nobody in their right mind would want to......Port 40+ year old cast iron heads for chicken feed......and invest a fortune in machines and a shop that you will likely never make a decent living in....without making a superhuman effort....