Jon/Frank: You guys just bummed me out regading the MP catalog
misprint on the ported 360 magnum head assembly. I guess I should
ahve known that price was too good to be true. Guess I'll have to
locate someone to modify some stock heads.
Regarding the 5-angle valve job. Valve shoulders are cut at 2
additional angles vs. the 3-angle job creating more but less
pronounced ridges on the valve shoulder and allowing smoother movement
of gases and air/fuel mixture into and out of the combustion chamber.
I recently talked to a guy who does what he calls a "radial" valve job
where instead of cutting along a straight edge set at different
angles, the valve is placed on something akin to a lathe and a grind
is done continually along the valve shoulder producing no ridges or
"bevels" to interrupt flow. Cool no? He can do heads like this with
"chevy-style" heart-shaped combustion chambers which he claims cuts
down on the Mopar Magnum engine's natural tendency to detonate
(especially at WOT). You may have heard of this guy (Ron Connally - RC
Performance Engineering, Whitmore Lake Michigan). Only problem with
his services...very pricey! I think he said $1500/head (makes Magnum
Performance, Inc. look good in comparison). I talked with him at
length about a Hi-po build up. He said if you want to use your
existing 5.2L in a rebuild, try gaining some cubes by stroking it out
with a balanced 360 crank (making it 343 cu in.). I still think why
not just get a 360 and still be further ahead in the cubes department?
Oh well just more food for thought. Still more food for thought; how
about these guys at TNT Motorsports (Houston, TX) who stroked out a
360 to something like 392 cu.in.?! Talk about mucho grunt!!
Too many options can make the deciding tough, but interesting.
Rob
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