Does A Small-Block V8 Engine Benefit From CNC-Ported Aluminum Heads?: Video
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It’s a good question when considering aftermarket upgrades for any car: is the value provided worth the investment? That’s the question today, featuring Motor Trend’s Engine Masters series.
The episode features one standard small-block V8 engine displacing 383 cubic-inches. It’s a completely production unit regarding the heads, but the episode dives in to see if CNC-ported aluminum heads make that much of a difference. It’s obvious they’ll crank out more power, but how much?
Running baseline tests show the 383 small-block produces 440 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque, both healthy numbers. The iron heads do their job, and do them well.
Installing the aluminum heads tells a very different story. This story is full of 36 more ponies, and 12 more lb-ft of torque.
Are they worth it? We think so. Those are sizable gains, and the aluminum ported heads made more power throughout the entire powerband except for one small area in the beginning. Check out the entire episode above to get the entire picture of the installation.
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Why the shock?
The aftermarket is loaded with a ton of good ported and CNC heads that do some amazing things and they are not all that expensive compared to what they use to be.
Today you can get a fully assembled pair for what one head casing used to cost with a lot more advanced design in the head.
More power, less weight!
Wait! …uhh?
And then the tuning begins, as does the smiles!