A460 heads

557gt September 19th 2009, 6:16 pm

Hey guys. Another newbie needing some help. What is a fair price for a new set of the old style Ford Motorsport a460 heads? Heads are bare castings. How much better will these heads be than my current set up? I currently have a 557 with cnc ported edelbrocks that flow around 400 int. and 260 exh. at .800. I'm getting some pistons to build an a-headed 572. About what will the a460 heads flow out of the box on a 4.5 bore? Any problems with these older style heads, casting problems, etc? Also, who ports these heads, what are some realistic flow numbers when ported, and what's the going rate? Trying to decide whether I need to buy these and get them ported or if I should go with the new style? I would love to buy something like the TEA ported a460's, but I don't know if my budget will allow it. Anyone do a comparable job for less?

Sorry to ramble on. I just want to get any info I can before I spend a bunch of money. Anyone with some a460 style heads let me know. I will also need a cast single 4 barrel intake. Thanks in advance,
Robert

bruno September 19th 2009, 8:02 pm

Lots of great questions .... i believe someone will come along an answers these for you

ps whats the detailed build of the car you have the 557 in and what times did it run ??

557gt September 19th 2009, 9:02 pm

It's a stock suspension mustang. I race in a heads-up drag radial class. The car is 3,425lbs. with me in it. Currently I have a 557 with a Cobrajet block half-filled, Hawks racing 4340 crank, 6.8 Eagle rods with L-19 bolts, Probe pistons, custom roller camshaft for nitrous, Edelbrock heads cnc ported by Keith Kraft. I spray 325hp on a fogger. I have to progress the nitrous to keep it from spinning. I run a powerglide with a very tight PTC nitrous torque converter. 3.73 gears. We race on 275/60-15 drag radials. I run 5.40's at 132mph in the 1/8th mile. I think it would go faster with more nitrous, but I didn't want to ruin my engine. I know the stock block has it's limitations.
I am very pleased with what I have been able to run, but I think it's time to step up. My plan is to go with an a460 block, 4.5 bore, and a460 heads. I will probably have to change camshafts also. My car is still together, but I plan to take it down in the next few weeks. I will have to sell some stuff to help pay for the new parts. You know how it is. You can never be fast enough. Rolling Eyes

bbf-falcon September 20th 2009, 6:37 am

JMO, but I would go w/new style 18 bolt TFS Aheads w/ your build . The 18 bolt deal will be be better for you running all that juice. Charlie Evans (on this site) is the guy to discuss this subject with, he is the HEAD guy Laughing

665 falcon September 20th 2009, 8:11 am

Hi Robert, i don't no what the flow numbers out of the box are on the old style. But my ported heads flow 452 INT 315 EX. Charlie Evan's did the work on them. As far as a price i paid 3,500 that included Charlies work on the heads an intake to match and a cam. That was about 5-6 years ago so you might be able to get them a little cheaper i don't no. I feel the Kentucky crew gave me a good deal on every thing.
You can expect some good power from the 572 that was my combo, it made 912HP and 768TQ N/A that's was me doing the work and after i grenaded it Embarassed

i decided i needed more help and had Lem Evan's put it together Cool

. Now at 588 cubes she made 942HP and 792TQ N/A and felt that my cam was little on the small side but hey, who im i to argue with Lem Laughing

. Bobby Z

bruno September 20th 2009, 9:22 am

Robert,
very impressive numbers indeed !!!!
what did she run on motor if you dont mind me asking

bbf-falcon September 20th 2009, 10:07 am

665 falcon wrote:Hi Robert, i don't no what the flow numbers out of the box are on the old style. But my ported heads flow 452 INT 315 EX. Charlie Evan's did the work on them. As far as a price i paid 3,500 that included Charlies work on the heads an intake to match and a cam. That was about 5-6 years ago so you might be able to get them a little cheaper i don't no. I feel the Kentucky crew gave me a good deal on every thing.
You can expect some good power from the 572 that was my combo, it made 912HP and 768TQ N/A that's was me doing the work and after i grenaded it i decided i needed more help and had Lem Evan's put it together . Now at 588 cubes she made 942HP and 792TQ N/A and felt that my cam was little on the small side but hey, who im i to argue with Lem . Bobby Z

Bobby, I don't want to jack this thread ,so you have a post Smile

Lem Evans September 20th 2009, 11:12 am

665 falcon wrote:Hi Robert, i don't no what the flow numbers out of the box are on the old style. But my ported heads flow 452 INT 315 EX. Charlie Evan's did the work on them. As far as a price i paid 3,500 that included Charlies work on the heads an intake to match and a cam. That was about 5-6 years ago so you might be able to get them a little cheaper i don't no. I feel the Kentucky crew gave me a good deal on every thing.
You can expect some good power from the 572 that was my combo, it made 912HP and 768TQ N/A that's was me doing the work and after i grenaded it i decided i needed more help and had Lem Evan's put it together . Now at 588 cubes she made 942HP and 792TQ N/A and felt that my cam was little on the small side but hey, who im i to argue with Lem . Bobby Z

Boobie Z , I've got a little better cam that what we were using years ago but I think the biggest gain you may get will be the bigger new style TFS intake manifold .

557gt September 20th 2009, 12:49 pm

bruno wrote:Robert,
very impressive numbers indeed !!!!
what did she run on motor if you dont mind me asking

I have never ran it on motor with the new converter. But with my old 10 inch nitrous converter, It would run 6.10's-6.20's. With a loose converter and more gear I feel that it would have gone some high fives.

c.evans September 20th 2009, 8:14 pm

IF, you are starting with a clean sheet of paper, and you are getting a new aftermarket block, new heads, pistons and more CID, etc.,,,then it is a golden opportunity to do something correctly. In your case, since you are spraying it 325 Hp, I would suggest that you go with the TFS A-460-18 bolt heads, as the additional head bolts create a better clamping force, thus in effect creating a better head gasket. Use Cometic gaskets. Then I would use the new style TFS intake manifold, drill and tap for your foggers or whatever. You can build a 598 that would be right at 1000 Hp naturally aspirated and add your spray from there. The new style TFS A-460 heads heads are very nice out of the box and user friendly.

Hope this helps,
Charlie

557gt September 20th 2009, 10:41 pm

Thanks for the replies guys. Gives me some ideas on what to do next. It's nice to be able to ask people involved with BBFs. Around my area, it's either small blocks or big block Chevys. Glad to see I'm not alone. Smile

schmitty September 21st 2009, 11:53 am

When you're here, you're with family, and when you're with family you're never alone. Cool

D. Sea September 21st 2009, 12:10 pm

schmitty wrote:When you're here, you're with family, and when you're with family you're never alone.

CHARLIEB December 14th 2012, 7:34 pm

There are several trick flow 18 bolt heads for a 460 motor, which one would be the best for a 598 ci ?
The 340cc or the 360cc heads

rmcomprandy December 14th 2012, 8:21 pm

CHARLIEB wrote:There are several trick flow 18 bolt heads for a 460 motor, which one would be the best for a 598 ci ?
The 340cc or the 360cc heads

I think the 18 bolt heads are all the same head ... just available with your choice of CNC'd chambers or CNC'd ports, all with different valve sizes.

70FB December 14th 2012, 9:54 pm

c.evans wrote:IF, you are starting with a clean sheet of paper, and you are getting a new aftermarket block, new heads, pistons and more CID, etc.,,,then it is a golden opportunity to do something correctly. In your case, since you are spraying it 325 Hp, I would suggest that you go with the TFS A-460-18 bolt heads, as the additional head bolts create a better clamping force, thus in effect creating a better head gasket. Use Cometic gaskets. Then I would use the new style TFS intake manifold, drill and tap for your foggers or whatever. You can build a 598 that would be right at 1000 Hp naturally aspirated and add your spray from there. The new style TFS A-460 heads heads are very nice out of the box and user friendly.

Hope this helps,
Charlie

Me like!!!!!

Wheelie58 December 15th 2012, 8:46 am

I agree with Charlie on the 18 bolt deal with spray.
If you can swing it, get the 360 cc port. We built a "budget" 638 for a customer with all used parts, and bolted on a new set of 340 CC Trick Flow A460s right out of the box. These were factory assembled heads. We took them apart just to inspect the valve job and guide clearance...lubed them up and bolted them on. We used an untouched Trick Flow single manifold with a nasty...nasty old Dominator of unknown heritage.
No vacuum pump...no crank trigger...just a very innocent looking wet sump, 4.75 stroke BBF. As I recall it made 990 HP at 6200 RPM and some ridiculous torque number (good) at way low...
I kind of figure that the factory ported "360s" or even better, some of Charlies ported A heads would have made lots more power, but at 6800 to 7200 or so.
It was a good example of port volume on a big engine. My 618 has 412 CC ports, and it pulls up to near 8 grand, still making good power.
Go big if you can...
Keith
PS..
If you go with the pre-owned 10 bolt setup, just be very critical about the head installation procedure, use a Cometic gasket from Lem (with his special holes..) A1 or ARP stud kit and be conservative with your timing setup when spraying...pull lots of timing out with the hose turned on. Lots of 10 bolts engines out there doing fine with proper assembly and tune.

CHARLIEB wrote:There are several trick flow 18 bolt heads for a 460 motor, which one would be the best for a 598 ci ?
The 340cc or the 360cc heads

CHARLIEB December 15th 2012, 10:56 am

[quote="Wheelie58"]I agree with Charlie on the 18 bolt deal with spray.
If you can swing it, get the 360 cc port. We built a "budget" 638 for a customer with all used parts, and bolted on a new set of 340 CC Trick Flow A460s right out of the box. These were factory assembled heads. We took them apart just to inspect the valve job and guide clearance...lubed them up and bolted them on. We used an untouched Trick Flow single manifold with a nasty...nasty old Dominator of unknown heritage.
No vacuum pump...no crank trigger...just a very innocent looking wet sump, 4.75 stroke BBF. As I recall it made 990 HP at 6200 RPM and some ridiculous torque number (good) at way low...
I kind of figure that the factory ported "360s" or even better, some of Charlies ported A heads would have made lots more power, but at 6800 to 7200 or so.
It was a good example of port volume on a big engine. My 618 has 412 CC ports, and it pulls up to near 8 grand, still making good power.
Go big if you can...
Keith
PS..
If you go with the pre-owned 10 bolt setup, just be very critical about the head installation procedure, use a Cometic gasket from Lem (with his special holes..) A1 or ARP stud kit and be conservative with your timing setup when spraying...pull lots of timing out with the hose turned on. Lots of 10 bolts engines out there doing fine with proper assembly and tune.

Thank You for the great information Keith, I will be looking at the 360cc heads for my build, I will have ask charlie how much his heads will cost. I seen some at TEA for $3,799.95 flowing 463 on intake and 364 on exhuast @ 800 lift.

fordpwr2000 December 19th 2012, 7:32 am

Has there been a new improved A-460 TFS intake developed? Just wondering if its worth upgrading, mine is 2005 vintage. Thanks Greg

c.evans December 19th 2012, 9:21 pm

fordpwr2000 wrote:Has there been a new improved A-460 TFS intake developed? Just wondering if its worth upgrading, mine is 2005 vintage. Thanks Greg

\

Greg,

No, not worth upgrading. You are still good to go. TFS has one of my welded single plane R&D intakes up there now doing some testing with it. (They've had it since September and I'm ready for it to come back) Rolling Eyes

. When you are at 1000 - 1100 Hp any gains in horsepower are small incremental gains.

Uncle Charlie

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