Older Motorsports A460 heads

I need to be enlightened. Should I not waste my time with these or are they close to what TFS A460 heads are ? I currently have SCJB's and want to step up and yes I know all the parts I need to change out.
Let's just keep this apples to apples ( TFS vs. Motorsports )

Thanks,
John

That would depend on what and who has worked on them. New heads are for sure made with better quality aluminum and come "out of the box" with more potential than some ported old stuff.

I'm running a set of 1988 Motorsport A heads and they make good power. Never been on a dyno but I've been 5.18@ 134 with a way too loose converter @ 2550 lbs. If it's not making 1000 hp it's darn close. I believe it'll go low teens or maybe 5.0's when I get the new converter installed.

John,
There is a great disparity between the original A460 heads that are out there. There are some well developed quick running heads out there but, there is some under developed and/or beat up stuff to.

It'll come down to finding a reliable seller i.m.o.

Things to watch out for, even if the porting was well done:
1] Do the springs need to be replaced
2] What is the condition of the valve guides
3] Are the margins too thin on the valves
4] Excessive milling
5] Etc.

This would apply to the other styles of used heads also.

With all the info I've been reading it looks like new is the way to go................

John Myrick wrote:With all the info I've been reading it looks like new is the way to go................

Starting new is always a great way to go provided you have the budget.

Emailed Lem to see what I'm looking at

So would those older heads you have be ok for a stroker street motor depending on price and cost to repair or are they considered cores now?

duff429 wrote:So would those older heads you have be ok for a stroker street motor depending on price and cost to repair or are they considered cores now?

I don't have them, was just asking since some are available

BigDave65 wrote:I'm running a set of 1988 Motorsport A heads and they make good power. Never been on a dyno but I've been 5.18@ 134 with a way too loose converter @ 2550 lbs. If it's not making 1000 hp it's darn close. I believe it'll go low teens or maybe 5.0's when I get the new converter installed.

Same here. My Tbird at 2500 lbs went 8.08 @ 167 (5.16 @ 133 in the 8th) with an old ported set of Motorsports. And the tune was definitely not on the ragged edge. They were bought from a trusted source though which made the decision easier.

99zx9r wrote:

BigDave65 wrote:I'm running a set of 1988 Motorsport A heads and they make good power. Never been on a dyno but I've been 5.18@ 134 with a way too loose converter @ 2550 lbs. If it's not making 1000 hp it's darn close. I believe it'll go low teens or maybe 5.0's when I get the new converter installed.

Same here.  My Tbird at 2500 lbs went 8.08 @ 167 (5.16 @ 133 in the 8th) with an old ported set of Motorsports.  And the tune was definitely not on the ragged edge.  They were bought from a trusted source though which made the decision easier.

More details about the setups please!

FalconEh wrote:

99zx9r wrote:

BigDave65 wrote:I'm running a set of 1988 Motorsport A heads and they make good power. Never been on a dyno but I've been 5.18@ 134 with a way too loose converter @ 2550 lbs. If it's not making 1000 hp it's darn close. I believe it'll go low teens or maybe 5.0's when I get the new converter installed.

Same here.  My Tbird at 2500 lbs went 8.08 @ 167 (5.16 @ 133 in the 8th) with an old ported set of Motorsports.  And the tune was definitely not on the ragged edge.  They were bought from a trusted source though which made the decision easier.

More details about the setups please!

N/A 600" single 1050, aluminum rod. Nothing exotic.

Damn my car needs to lose weight.

70FB wrote:Damn my car needs to lose weight.

it's free et! To a point....

dfree383 wrote:

John Myrick wrote:With all the info I've been reading it looks like new is the way to go................

Starting new is always a great way to go provided you have the budget.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slldMEPvUqA

N/A 600" single 1050, aluminum rod. Nothing exotic. [/quote]

Pretty puny carb for 600 inches....

72mav wrote:

N/A 600" single 1050, aluminum rod. Nothing exotic.

Pretty puny carb for 600 inches....[/quote]

It is. But the car is only certed for 8.50 and I mostly just run brackets. Actually, these heads went 7.80s in a slightly heavier door car with a tunnel ram so no doubt it would love more carb.

99zx9r wrote:

72mav wrote:

N/A 600" single 1050, aluminum rod. Nothing exotic.

Pretty puny carb for 600 inches....

It is.  But the car is only certed for 8.50 and I mostly just run brackets.  Actually, these heads went 7.80s in a slightly heavier door car with a tunnel ram so no doubt it would love more carb.[/quote]

When did you buy those heads and where did they come from? Just curious cause it sounds like they could be my dads old heads. Can't remember exactly what he ran but I know with a single carb on an unported Motorsport intake it ran 8.0x @ 168 at about 2520#, and with the trick flow tunnel ram and 2 carbs it was 7.8 or 9x @172. Weighed about 2550 with the tunnel ram

Thats still very impressive for sure. I understand your small carb choice. makes good sense.

Regards.
Al

FalconEh wrote:

99zx9r wrote:

BigDave65 wrote:I'm running a set of 1988 Motorsport A heads and they make good power. Never been on a dyno but I've been 5.18@ 134 with a way too loose converter @ 2550 lbs. If it's not making 1000 hp it's darn close. I believe it'll go low teens or maybe 5.0's when I get the new converter installed.

Same here.  My Tbird at 2500 lbs went 8.08 @ 167 (5.16 @ 133 in the 8th) with an old ported set of Motorsports.  And the tune was definitely not on the ragged edge.  They were bought from a trusted source though which made the decision easier.

More details about the setups please!

My combination is nothing special, just some good parts with a killer set of heads. I was fortunate enough in 1996 to find a brand new set of A460 heads and block still in the boxes. Started out with a mild port job and ran mid to high 5.40's. at 557 cubic inches. Now I'm at 588, got the heads ported. Still using 2.300 intakes and 1.880 exhaust valves. Cam is .802 I .768 Ex. 280 and 290 @.050 duration. Crower crank, Oliver Rods and a set of Lem's special Diamond pistons. I'm using a 1st generation TFS intake manifold, which I believe is the same as the FMS intake. It's the short one. It's only had some port matching done to it. Topped off with a Pro-Systems 1250+ carb. I really haven't been able to tune on it due to the converter being so loose. I'm shifting @6800 rpm and went across the line @7600!