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Buick 455 Cylinder Heads - 455 Head Check

Buick 455 Engine Cylinder Head Test
From left to right are the... 
   
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Buick 455 Engine Cylinder Head Test
From left to right are the stock iron heads...
Buick 455 Engine Cylinder Head Test
...the Edelbrocks...
Buick 455 Engine Cylinder Head Test
...and the TA Performance... 
   
  read full caption
Buick 455 Engine Cylinder Head Test
...and the TA Performance versions (the last of which has slightly larger valves). The combustion chamber shapes are slightly different, but they are all within 2 cc of each other. Ignition timing for best power was 32 degrees total with the stock heads, 34 with the aluminum heads.
Buick 455 Engine Cylinder Head Test
These photos compare the different... 
   
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Buick 455 Engine Cylinder Head Test
These photos compare the different shapes of the spark plug holes on the Edelbrock heads...
Buick 455 Engine Cylinder Head Test
...and the TA units. With... 
   
  read full caption
Buick 455 Engine Cylinder Head Test
...and the TA units. With the Edelbrocks, a little grinding would have been needed to clear the dipstick tube; you can see here that we plugged the hole after loading the pan with Lucas sauce.
Buick 455 Engine Cylinder Head Test
We used E3 spark plugs throughout... 
   
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Buick 455 Engine Cylinder Head Test
We used E3 spark plugs throughout our test. The only thing notable about this is that the TA heads needed a cleanup tap run through the plug holes, while the Edelbrocks did not.
RPMStockEdelbrockTA Performance
LB-FTHPLB-FTHPLB-FTHP
2,200388162430180427179
2,300390171424186423185
2,400402184423193425194
2,500415198427203431205
2,600423210434215437216
2,700429220441227444228
2,800434232448239451241
2,900440243457252459253
3,000447255466266467267
3,100455268474280476281
3,200464283483294485296
3,300471296492309492309
3,400477309501324499323
3,500483322508339506337
3,600488344513352513352
3,700491346516364518365
3,800492356518375522377
3,900494367519386523388
4,000495377519395523399
4,100495386518405523409
4,200492394518414523418
4,300489400518424524429
4,400485406519435526440
4,500481412519444527451
4,600479419518453526461
4,700478428515461525470
4,800476436512468524479
4,900474442508474522487
5,000469446505481519494
5,100462449502487414499
5,200456451498493508502
5,300450451494498502506
5,400444457488501496510
5,500438459479501489512
5,600431459468499481513
5,700419455458497472512
5,800408451444491462511
5,900395444433486452508
6,000383437419479441504
AVG452349483379489385

SOURCES
ARPJMS Racing Engines
Ventura, CAMonrovia, CA
800/826-3045626/357-2718
805/339-2200jmsracing.com
arp-bolts.com 
 Lucas Oil Products
E3Corona, CA
Ponte Vedra, FL800/342-2512
e3sparkplugs.com951/270-0154
 lucasoil.com
Edelbrock 
Torrance, CAMSD Ignition
800/416-8628El Paso, TX
edelbrock.com915/855-7123
 msdignition.com
Holley Performance Products 
Bowling Green, KYPercy's High Performance
270/781-9741Linn Creek, MO
holley.com888/737-2970
 percyshp.com
Hooker Headers (a Division 
of Holley)Rockett Brand Racing Fuel
Bowling Green, KYGlenview, IL
270/781-9741 (tech)800/345-0076
800/465-5391 (dealers)rockettbrand.com
ilovemyhookerheaders.com 
 TA Performance
Jet-HotScottsdale, AZ
336/447-2000480/922-6807
jet-hot.comtaperformance.com


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If you love torque, you'll love this series. Part one of three.
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