I have a 394 cui big block B engine, going in my 70’ 4 speed challenger with a 3:91 8 3/4 rear. Motor is going to be running with the stock steel crank, LY rods fitted with ARP 8740s, and old school TRW pop up forged pistons for some compression. My goals is to make like 500-600 hp out of this motor, and to bring my challenger into the 11s. Have a custom Bullet solid roller cam, 11:1 compression, was looking at the INDY EZ-1s, but when I emailed Hughes racing engines they told me the TrickFlows are better heads and too go with them. What are y’all opinions on which heads would reach my goal? I was bouncing back and forth deciding if I should get the MAX WEDGE ports or not, being this motor will need to be spun up too 7,000 rpm to make my desired power. Today at my local track a guy with a dart swinger running a 440<500 stroker with Indy 400-1s told me that the trick flows aren’t really as good as they seem, and that the INDYs in reality with hit my goal easiest. Some general opinions and experience with each head would be very helpful. Thanks !

 

I've seen some nice numbers from big blocks with TF 240 heads, 765hp for a bracket motor without trying hard.

If I was to by a new set of heads this is what I would use, I've never heard anything good about Indy if you have a problem with there products. I swore them off years ago after a conversation with the owner.

 

Trickflow. No question.

 

If you Go with the INDY heads........ Deal with one of there dealers for the heads.... With both sets of heads, Make sure you have someone that can perform the correct adjustments and set up the heads for you application.
I would also look at a lighter Piston.. Just my 2 cents..

 

that’s what I was planning. Was going to buy the set of Indy max wedge heads that are CNC’d with the install kit from Hughes Engines, but when I contacted them directly they said that they recommend the trickflows over the INDYs by a lot. What’s always been my big delima with the trickflows, is that the minimum bore size that’s specified on their website is 4.320, which is .010 larger than the bore of my .060 over 383 (4.310). Hughes said that they’ve installed the heads on 383s with no issues, and have had many people do it with luck, just wasn’t sure. Looking for real world dyno comparisons and performance, from people who have used these heads on preferably a 383, but it doesn’t really matter. The 383 shortblock has reworked LY rods w/ arp bolts that are on heavy old school forged pop up TRWs, it’s what I have to work with and I’d like to get the most out of it while making it last. I’m aware that I will be spinning this motor to 7k rpm, reason for wanting to get best possible heads is because far down the road when this motor eventually isn’t enough or if it blows, I have a 440 block that I will want to build up with very high quality components, and I want to be able to reuse heads and some upper end parts from this motor, hence why I’m looking into large port-high flowing heads (for a 383 at least) that will make the 383 need spin very high to make the good power.

 

Also, what I like is that I’ve always been told and seem that the trickflows are truly a very high quality head and look great, while Indy has their known lacking parts of quality and service at times. Hughes sells the CNC’d set of INDY ez max wedge heads with the install kit for like 3300$, while the trickflows come fully CNC’d from the factory, truly completely ready to bolton and flow similar to the INDYs, for like 2400$ On Hughes... I may be a bit off on that price, it’s been a while since I’ve looked those heads up on their website, though I know the trickflows are a lot less chunk of compared to the CNC’d INDYs.

 

I know of a slightly less than 500 cid B motor that makes 760hp on TF 240 heads. That's the smaller head.

 

That sounds great, I have slightly less than 400 cid. Those are great numbers, seems you’re leaning towards the trick flows. At that point the question would be the regular 240s or the max wedge versions.

 

I doubt that you would need more than the 240s if you can make 760 hp with them.

 

that’s a true statement, but that also comes down to the setup and what other components it has. Is there anyone in here that runs a hot 383?