"A" vs "C" cylinder head

Lem Evans wrote:

Curt wrote:At one time, there was a huge difference in the performance abilities between the A & C heads. With all the advancements of the A head, that margin has closed up quite a bit.

You are assuming that advancements have not been made to the C heads too. I don't know that I'd call the difference HUGE for current A & C heads but, the difference is very measureable.  

There are A heads out there reporting as much power as my well worked C heads are making. Where did I go wrong??

Curt wrote:

Lem Evans wrote:

Curt wrote:At one time, there was a huge difference in the performance abilities between the A & C heads. With all the advancements of the A head, that margin has closed up quite a bit.

You are assuming that advancements have not been made to the C heads too. I don't know that I'd call the difference HUGE for current A & C heads but, the difference is very measureable.  

There are A heads out there reporting as much power as my well worked C heads are making. Where did I go wrong??

Time to step it up then There are A's out there making over 1200hp now, that was strictly C and better territory not that long ago. I will bet that there will be a set of C's going over 1300hp on a single carb before long.

Curt, I'd be the last guy to say that you did anything "wrong" but, please notice what I said in my 1st post "as things evolve". Both style cylinder head packages have evolved.

Some of the chief suspects in this evolution are; valve shape, valve job, the ports, 1450 or bigger carbs, ring package, piston coatings, camshaft, etc. It's like the rest of the world....not much is standing still.

I'd say the A head is where the take it out of the box and bolt it on head options end. C heads and the other exotics all are intended to be a place to start for the professional head guys. I'd doubt you are going to order a set of A heads from TFS, bolt them on and make 1,200+ hp NA. At some point cost to get those big numbers can make moving to a C head or better a better choice. All depends on what you want to achieve.

garys gt wrote:How much does a C head cost ready to run with similar valvetrain as the A head would come with ?

differeance in cost including intake was $68 . That starting with bare A or C. heads.

that was several years ago price. The C head can hit 490+ cfm with most port work done in the bowl area and the right valve job.

DanH wrote:

garys gt wrote:How much does a C head cost ready to run with similar valvetrain as the A head would come with ?

differeance in cost including intake was $68 . That starting with bare A or C. heads.

that was several years ago price.  The C head can hit 490+ cfm with most port work done in the bowl area and the right valve job.

your telling me the only difference between the 2 heads is $68 starting from a clean build

bruno wrote:

DanH wrote:

garys gt wrote:How much does a C head cost ready to run with similar valvetrain as the A head would come with ?

differeance in cost including intake was $68 . That starting with bare A or C. heads.

that was several years ago price.  The C head can hit 490+ cfm with most port work done in the bowl area and the right valve job.

your telling me the only difference between the 2 heads is $68 starting from a clean build

I think Dan is saying that at one time the price difference between the bare castings was only $68.

DanH wrote:

garys gt wrote:How much does a C head cost ready to run with similar valvetrain as the A head would come with ?

differeance in cost including intake was $68 . That starting with bare A or C. heads.

that was several years ago price.  The C head can hit 490+ cfm with most port work done in the bowl area and the right valve job.

True,BUT that is where the real expence between the 2 really starts to separate with the BIG BIG jump in price going with the C's and the Shaft rockers.

Bruno's O.P. said "all out". So, if a guy were to get it all out, the wallet would be included in "all".

Baller.....

Wouldn't all out be A441's? (Like Frank Merkl's)

"All out" is a perpetually moving target. That's the evolution Lem's talking about.

68formalGT wrote:Wouldn't all out be A441's? (Like Frank Merkl's)

Maybe but, O.P. was "A vs C"

maverick wrote:"All out" is a perpetually moving target.  That's the evolution Lem's talking about.

Yep, a decade old 'all out' don't work any more

My definition of ALL OUT, usually pertains to cash or funds.

bbf-falcon wrote:

DanH wrote:

garys gt wrote:How much does a C head cost ready to run with similar valvetrain as the A head would come with ?

differeance in cost including intake was $68 . That starting with bare A or C. heads.

that was several years ago price.  The C head can hit 490+ cfm with most port work done in the bowl area and the right valve job.

True,BUT that is where the real expence between the 2 really starts to separate with the BIG BIG jump in price going with the C's and the Shaft rockers.

It was $68 including the shaft rockers for the C head. Remenber the valve train is the same, the A also has shaft rocker. head studs not included in the price, intake manifolds are.